Antwerp Central station

Belgium - 2011

The original station building was built between 1895 and 1905. Antwerp Central replaced the original terminus on the line from Brussels. The stone clad buildings are topped by a vast dome above the waiting area. The viaduct into the station is also a notable structure designed by a local architect. The station is the finest example of railway architecture in Belgium. In 1998 large-scale reconstruction work began to convert the station from a terminus to a through station. A new tunnel, completed in 2007, has been excavated passing under Central station, with platforms on two underground levels. This allows Thalys, HSL 4 and HSL-Zuid high-speed trains to travel through Antwerp Central without the need to turn around. As with many Belgian stations there is wide variety of locos and rolling stock. Outside the Central station you can also sample the extensive tram network in Antwerp.

CLICK THUMBNAILS FOR LARGER IMAGES.