The Most Impressive modern train systems
Image courtesy of mark notari at Flickr.com
Today’s trains continue to be a very common means of transportation offering an alternative to sitting in a traffic jam for your commute and in the case of long distance travel, it is also very competitive by offering less expensive fares than its counterparts. There are various types of trains and how to measure its importance varies. It can be measured by number of stations, total of rails or users.
Most impressive around the world
Train stations come in all shapes and sizes; here are just a few of the most remarkable stations from around the world.
Stockholm Tunnelbana – Sweden
Let’s start off the list with an underground cave-like train system in Sweden. Unlike most it kept the natural rock carving type structure, but gave it a finishing touch by using it as a canvas. It has hand painted art on the cave paintings that make it simply beautiful.
This colorful and modern underground system also makes the list with beautiful bright colors and pieces of art decorating its walls. The Munich Public Transport System (MVV) not only offers the subway but also suburbian trains, streetcar and bus lines. This metro system has been functioning since 1972 and has evolved from a more minimalistic version into what is known today.
Shanghai Bund Sightseeing Tunnel – China
This psychedelic ride makes for an unforgettable experience. It runs through a glass tunnel full of flashing light under the Huangpu River. This is definitely one of the most fun ways to commute!
Moscow's Komsomolskaya Station – Russia
The station has become a hub considered to be the doors to Moscow and the rest of Russia. It was opened in January 30, 1952 and is now considered the most important station of their whole system. It is the busiest station of all of Moscow serving three lines.
Frankfurt's Bockenheimer Warte station - Frankfurt
This underground train doesn’t stand out because of its tunnels or stations, but its entrance. The entrance seems like it was a train busting out through the sidewalk and was reportedly inspired by Rene Magritte.
Metro Bilbao – Basque Country – Spain
Distinctive for its entrance as well, the architect Norman Foster famous for other landmarks from around the world designed the Bilbao subway system. It is known for its simple and well-lit spaces, but the tubes that hold the trains and emerge to create the entrance are simple beautiful.
New York's City Hall station – United States
We all have this mental picture of ugly, rundown and dirty subway stations, but that’s not always the case. In New York there is one that is quite impressive in its architecture and practicality, but it has yet to be used since 1945.
Chicago's O'Hare Station – United States
This station has very characteristic curved glass-tiled walls. They are backlit and illuminate the platform and at the same time absorb the sound from the station. It holds some resemblance to an airport terminal as you emerge through the escalators. The O’Hare terminal station was built in 1984.
Dubai Metro Stations – United Arab Emirates
These stations show the history and future of Dubai by including traditional and modern designs. Inspired by diving and pearl-fishing, many of its designs model seashells and the elements of nature. Even though they don’t completely step away from the wind towers, oriels, alleyways and internal arches distinctive to antique Arab buildings.
Image courtesy of Jason Mrachina at Flickr.com
Pyongyang Metro – North Korea
Due to the little information that is known from the outside of the country, there is not much information on this station other than it used to be used for military purposes. It has since then taken on an important role in the country’s transport infrastructure.
As mentioned before stations can be measured in many different ways including size, which is this case will be done based on the number of stations.
The following are the ten largest stations around the world.
New York City Subway – New York, United States – 421 stations
Paris Metro- Paris, France – 303 stations
Madrid Metro – Madrid, Spain – 300 stations
Seoul Subway, Seoul, South Korea – 296 stations –
London Underground (“The Tube”), London, England – 270 stations –
Shanghai Metro, Shanghai, China – 263 stations
Beijing Subway, Beijing, China – 232 stations
Mexico City Metro, Mexico City, Mexico – 195 stations
Moscow Metro, Moscow, Russia – 194 stations
Tokyo Metro, Tokyo, Japan – 179 stations
