What is your favorite train station is

[Astroman 0]

My favorite train station is grand central station this station has to be one of the best in the world be couse it's a work of art and one of the few orignal train stations in New York City that are left.

[Constantina 5]

My favorite one is London Victoria.


When I pass there, I could spend a whole afternoon just watching the status board flicker!

[ILL Tonkso 1,239]

CHARING CROSS CHARING CROSS CHARING CROSS

 

By the way, my favourite station is Charing Cross.

 

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[Micah 16]

^^^ All three of them look great. Way to hard to choose.

[GAT-X105 3]

Grand Central is cool but it's lost most of its glory. nowadays it's a commuter terminal. But the trains I take from New Jersey go to Penn Station. Ew. At least the death of the old Penn saved Grand Central.

[K1A 0]

My Favorite is The Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal (LAUPT)

[Creathir 3]

Easy.
Union Station in Chicago, hands down.
 - Creathir   

[wallasey 8]

Liverpool Lime Street station! It's just a fantastic place to be!







Need I say more?

[+Guest]

This is Berlin central station, will be opened in April 2006.

 

 

 

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[louisville327 0]

Louisville has its own beautiful train station, called Union Station, naturally.







Unfortunately, like many once-grand train stations in the South and Midwest, it no longer serves passenger traffic. Our beautiful station sits largely unused. The US has allowed its once-grand passenger rail system to collapse in favor of superhighways and air travel.

Amtrak briefly restored passenger service from Louisville to Chicago, but the trip took 10 hours (it's only 5.5 hours by car) and very few people were interested. Needless to say, Amtrak has left again.

[GAT-X105 3]

The problem with Amtrak is that it shares rails with freight railroads that have priority, so Amtrak's trains tend to get massively delayed. That, and the current administration seems hell-bent on destroying passenger rail altogether.

That Louisville station is really nice, it looks like a cathedral.

[JayStimson 212]

Date: 12/26/2005 12:22:44 PM Author: GAT-X105 The problem with Amtrak is that it shares rails with freight railroads that have priority, so Amtrak's trains tend to get massively delayed. That, and the current administration seems hell-bent on destroying passenger rail altogether. That Louisville station is really nice, it looks like a cathedral.

quote>
Actually, the real problem with Amtrak is that they can't make any money. They've been a money loser ever since they were created (privatized).
Basically:
Airline travel is faster and much less expensive for long trips and for short trips, buses and cars are a better deal. Added to this that many large companies provide vans to their employees for van pooling. So you can see why trains can't compete (economically) in the US.
Case in point: My ex-girlfriend and I (couple years back) were considering taking a train to Seattle (west coast) from Detroit (mid-west) and thought it would be a pretty romantic vacation. Checking the prices it was $1,250 per person for the train (2.5 days each way) and only $800 per person to fly Northwest Airlines ... not a bargain airline (4.5 hours each way).
I also checked Greyhound bus lines and the travel time was about the same as the train. I don't recall the ticket price but it was less than air fare and way less then the train.
Bottom line ... trains are obsolete except for short commuter trips and these are usually handled by the El-train (like the one in Chicago) and subways (like those in NYC and Washington DC). e.g. money talks.

[louisville327 0]

Date: 12/26/2005 1:14:21 PM
Author: JayStimson

Bottom line ... trains are obsolete except for short commuter trips and these are usually handled by the El-train (like the one in Chicago) and subways (like those in NYC and Washington DC). e.g. money talks.

quote>

True, for now. With oil prices continuing to rise and the cost of both gasoline and jet fuel causing cars and planes to seem less economically viable, passenger trains may find themselves once again in favor.

Especially with technoligical revolutions with mag-lev trains and other high-speed methods of propulsion (that don't directly rely on cheap oil), train systems could come back in a big way.

That said, any massive, cross-continental construction project would cost billions if not a trillion dollars to complete, and would take years. Since the US government has been hell-bent on propping up the airline industry for years despite its inability to turn a profit (bankruptcy is the name of the game) and dumping billions in tax refunds and loopholes for the oil industry, it's no surprise companies like Amtrak struggle to provide basic, reliable service.

I believe the Republican-controlled Congress is trying to cut Amtrak's funding outside of the East Coast down to just about nothing. Seems like a strange thing to do with oil at $60 a barrel and every other airline sitting in bankruptcy protection. Before the oil revolution of the 20th Century, rail provided the most reliable regional and cross-continental transportation in this country. If oil becomes unprofitable to use as fuel over the next several decades, we may find ourselves relying on 19th Century technology once again.

[ILL Tonkso 1,239]

Trains obsolete? That is far from the case, In the UK rail travel is great for long distance, you can get a train to virtually anywhere in the UK.

[GAT-X105 3]

Louisville is right, all of the airlines operate with heavy government subsidies. And the airports and highways were built with public money, while railroads have to be maintained with the company's money.

It's true that Amtrak's service sucks. But if they improved that, then many more people would want to ride. Yeah, it's a lot slower than flying, but by all means a train ticket should be cheaper than an airline ticket. The US really does deserve a high quality long distance rail system. Too bad nobody's willing to put the effort into it.

[louisville327 0]

Date: 12/28/2005 7:47:23 PM
Author: GAT-X105
It's true that Amtrak's service sucks. But if they improved that, then many more people would want to ride. Yeah, it's a lot slower than flying, but by all means a train ticket should be cheaper than an airline ticket. The US really does deserve a high quality long distance rail system. Too bad nobody's willing to put the effort into it.

quote>

Just be patient. When it finally becomes economically viable to run a cross-continental, high-speed rail system in the US, companies will be scrambling over each other to get in the game. Until then, the political and economic climate is such that other transportation options are favored over rail.

Cars and airplanes are not ordained by God. If the economic factors that make them ideal begin to disappear (say, government subsidies and cheap gasoline), other options will have to take their place, or we'll all start spending a lot more time at home.

[vanshnookenraggen 0]

Grrrrrrrrrrrr!!! If it's your favorite maybe you should get the name right. It's Grand Central TERMINAL!!! Sorry to $%&^! but I go through it almost every day and it is a pet peve of mine.

[kaji 0]

hmm sorry if this is getting a wee bit off topic but since it trains its kinda related.

 

i agree with you there ill tonkso that you probably can get anywhere in the uk on a train but have you seen the prices?!?! most train operators in the UK (or england itself i forget specifics) are increasing their ticket prices by an average of 3.9% (for seasonal tickets) and to up to 8.5% on one regular line this year. Train companies are trying to give the impression that they are great for long distances in the uk but for the regular person to travel at certain times and pay a resonable price is becomming impossible. ive read that some poeple (with the promotion of the aviation industry as it is) would rather fly these distances. i looked this up and heres what i found:

 

for example to get from glasgow to southampton would cost

[rp2005 165]

Kuala Lumpur Central station, Malaysia ...

http://www.backpackerinfo.net/images/photos/Malaysia-Kualalumpur2.jpg align=baseline>

[frogface 354]

Kuala Lumpur station seems very nice, but sadly the closest I got to it was this:

instead I used the sentral station while nice and modern just doesnt have the charm of the old one


As for my favourite station I think it will probably be Paddington, it hasnt been spoilt by shopping complexes built into the train roof (e.g Victoria) and I quite like the airy roof. plus trainwise you get a good variety

sadly i'm on completely the wrong line so not much opportunity to go there my terminus is Victoria

[AJHAINC 0]

Date: 12/26/2005 8:47:43 PM
Author: louisville327

Date: 12/26/2005 1:14:21 PM

Author: JayStimson



I believe the Republican-controlled Congress is trying to cut Amtrak's funding outside of the East Coast down to just about nothing. Seems like a strange thing to do with oil at $60 a barrel and every other airline sitting in bankruptcy protection. Before the oil revolution of the 20th Century, rail provided the most reliable regional and cross-continental transportation in this country. If oil becomes unprofitable to use as fuel over the next several decades, we may find ourselves relying on 19th Century technology once again.

quote>

That isn't true! The Republican Controlled Congress passed a 1.4 Billion dollar Amtrak Subsidy which is a 200 Million dollar increase from the last fiscal year. Personally I think we should follow the English system, have the infastructure controlled by a separate company and let the train companies worry about running their trains. Which interestingly enough, is the same way the airline system is run.

Now to turn back to the topic My favorite train station is King's Cross Station in London.

[p2h5 3]

Canary Wharf Station in London (is certainly THE BEST underground/metro station) and I'd say prob station too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.icrs.org.uk/images/Photogallery/Dave%20Bosher/u0080.jpg width=753>

 

 

[GAT-X105 3]

Wow, that is a huge subway station. A lot bigger than anything in New York.

Speaking of New York (again)
Penn Station went from this


to this


Just the basement of Madison Square Garden. Supposedly the owners of the Garden want to build a new arena on top of the rail yards a few blocks west, where the Jets wanted to build a football stadium that got voted down.

[pikatchoum 2]

Canary Wharf is stuning Especially the entrance.

 

My favourite station may be the GArd du Nord in Paris:

 

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i very like the gare de l'Est too:

 

http://www.paris.org/Gares/de.l.Est/gifs/gare.de.l.est.hall.jpg align=baseline>

 

 

 

 

 

[Bee21 2]

p2h5: I remember walking through that station in London. It was so big, yet so empty, as it was the middle of the day!

[Frymon 0]

My favortie is Grand Central station,because can see it from my apartment

[GAT-X105 3]

Another really good station is Hoboken Terminal. It was build in 1907 by the Lackawanna Railroad, and today it's used by New Jersey commuter trains. It was one of the first stations to have the big trainshed, it was one of the few railroad terminals that was also built as a ferry terminal, and it has a really cool green copper roof.

It's being restored now, the waiting room inside is really nice, kind of like Grand Central but not as huge. And with a skylight. The outside isn't that impressive, because people got off of a train and right onto a ferry to New York. Also, I think some parts of the exterior were demolished. The exterior is currently being restored, and they might rebuild the old clock tower which would be REALLY cool.

http://www.schtiller-plevy.com/index.html?center%20content%20frame=hoboken.html

[Palantine1986 0]

MICHIGAN CENTRAL STATION!!!! HANDS DOWN....https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/files//396103879HzTAjA_ph.jpg align=baseline>

[p2h5 3]

 

Date: 1/4/2006 3:52:32 PM Author: Bee21 p2h5: I remember walking through that station in London. It was so big, yet so empty, as it was the middle of the day!

 

It is very quiet during the day, when the office workers are at work.  Every inch of space is needed between 8:00am and 9:30am and 4:30pm and 6:30pm!

 

It has def. been built to handle a much bigger capacity than is actually used at present; one of the two domed entrances was only opened last year, although the station was operating for a few years before that.

 

I love Grand Central (post refurb and clean up), of course, but it doesn't really feel like a station.

 

I like Waterloo International (London) too (particularly the way it curves around), although the style is a bit dated now it was very futuristic at the time:

 

 

 

 

 

York station (UK) is rather a stunning example of Victorian architecture:

 

 

 

 

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Finally, I think Milan Central Station deserves a mention:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ILL Tonkso 1,239]

Heres all of Londons Termini

 

Victoria.

http://jim.rees.org/nikon04/2550.jpg align=baseline>

 

http://www.mortimercat.co.uk/images/victoria_station2.jpg align=baseline>

 

http://www.johnnyjet.com/images/PicForNewsletterGatwickVictoriaStation.JPG align=baseline>

 

http://gallery.actsofvolition.com/files/original/photo39952.jpg align=baseline>

 

http://www.jimbatty.com/IMG/london/westminster/5H119723.jpg align=baseline>

 

And now St Pancras.

 

http://www.eecs.tufts.edu/~zblocker/britpics/pancras.jpg align=baseline>

 

http://www.scotthaddow.com/london/images/st%20pancras.jpg align=baseline>

 

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Waterloo.

 

http://www.ilexikon.com/images/e/e4/Waterloo_international.jpg align=baseline>

 

http://archiguide.free.fr/PH/RoUn/LondWaterlooStationGri.jpg align=baseline>

 

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http://www.nthward.com/photo_galleries/images/london_20MAR01_42.jpg align=baseline>

 

London Bridge (not fully a terminus but it does have terminus platforms and is a major station, plus a skyscraper being built on the roof)

 

http://www.tpbennettarchitects.co.uk/projects/images/londonbridgestation01.jpg align=baseline>

 

http://www.europaconcorsi.com/db/cache/pub/pub_439_w500h500q75bw1_10big.jpg align=baseline>

 

http://www.technochitlins.com/mt-archives/London_Bridge_Tower.jpg align=baseline>

 

http://www.railway-technology.com/projects/thames/images/thames7.jpg align=baseline>

 

Blackfriars

 

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http://fdelaitre.club.fr/SNH-Blackfriars.jpg align=baseline>

 

Fenchurch Street

 

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en-commons/thumb/6/66/250px-Fenchurch_street_station.jpg align=baseline>

 

http://lachlan.bluehaze.com.au/london2002/april2002/25apr2002c/mvc-005f.jpg align=baseline>

 

Liverpool Street

 

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http://www.geocities.com/nina_plett/public/lon51b.jpg align=baseline>

 

Charing Cross

 

http://www.zitaglio.com/globustour/Charing%20Cross%20Station%20800x600%20.jpg align=baseline>

 

http://www.semg.org.uk/location/pics/cdcx05.jpg align=baseline>

 

http://londonse.topcities.com/Gallery/London%20Terminals/Charing%20Cross/Charing_Cross.jpg align=baseline>

 

Kings Cross

 

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http://www.kingscrossvoices.org.uk/Images/History_of_Kings_Cross_clip_image002_0002.jpg align=baseline>

 

Euston

 

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http://www.intcul.tohoku.ac.jp/okada/DSC00015.jpg align=baseline>

 

Cannon Street

 

http://www.sheshen-eceni.com/images/cannon%20street%20railway%20and%20bridge1.JPG align=baseline>

 

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http://www.ludgatecircus.com/images/cannon_street_station_3.jpg align=baseline>

 

Paddington

 

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http://www.grimshaw-architects.com/Images/paddington.station/paddington.A.1.jpg align=baseline>

 

http://www.soulofamerica.com/tours/london_resources/photos_london_tours/Paddington_Station.jpg align=baseline>

 

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I think thats them all.