Toronto Train Station has been crowned 5th as world most Luxurious

hollydolly

hollydolly

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Congratulations Canada.. on having the 5th most beautiful Train station .... Union Station Toronto...(y)

It has often been hailed for its cleanliness, which is impressive given its central location and busy terminal.

One visitor wrote: 'Very nice train station and great architecture linking the past and modernity... The CN Tower is within walking distance, as well as the baseball stadium. Nearby there are restaurants and shops. In the station there is also a food court in the basement and several shops. This is really a monument to visit.'
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..first 4 are in Japan...

Number 7 is Amsterdam.. @Messy

Its historic architecture gives it a museum-like feel, yet it functions as a modern hub that makes slipping in and out of Amsterdam surprisingly effortless. The lively flow of travellers, trams and boats around it creates an energy that makes the whole area feel alive and constantly in motion.'
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Joint 7th is Grand central station in New York city

Grand Central Terminal in New York receives 21.6 million visitors each year and has been described as the 'world's loveliest station'.

It was co-designed by architectural firms Reed and Stem and Warren and Wetmore and opened in 1913.

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Number 9 is Paddington station here in London...

Paddington station is perhaps most famous for one thing - the childhood favourite bear named after it.

The station itself has a statue of the beloved character, which many tourists seek out on their travels.

One visitor wrote: 'Our journey began with this little statue - and honestly, it couldn’t have been a better start. Paddington stands there with his suitcase and red hat, and in that moment London feels less like a busy metropolis and more like a city that welcomes you with kindness.'

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World's most luxurious train stations - a UK spot makes the top 10
 
In the 80s, the bank that I worked for bought and refurbished an old train station in Albany, N.Y. as their headquarters.

It was very intimidating to enter the main terminal, which served as a grand foyer.

The terminal could be reconfigured as a space for charity events, cocktail receptions, speeches, etc… but it was normally kept empty.

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Aunt Bea said:
In the 80s, the bank that I worked for bought and refurbished an old train station in Albany, N.Y. as their headquarters.

It was very intimidating to enter the main terminal, which served as a grand foyer.

The terminal could be reconfigured as a space for charity events, cocktail receptions, speeches, etc… but it was normally kept empty.

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wow, that's glorious !
 
I love train stations! When we lived in Detroit, we'd take the train from Windsor to Toronto every year or so and it was such an easy trip. We'd usually get off at the stop in the basement of the Royal York (I think that was the name of the hotel). Or maybe it was someplace else, but it wasn't the station.

There's something that a busy train station has that an airport will NEVER have. The echoes from all the marble, the sheer ornateness of everything, the sometimes-incomprehensible loudspeaker announcements ("Now leaving from track mumble-mumble, the Silver Star for mumble-mumble, mumble-mumble, mumble-mumble and points west."

Grandma and I used to take the train to go on vacations. I remember the people bustling around, the shoeshine men, sailors and soldiers sitting around on their duffle bags, the smells, the sounds.

As far as "union stations", my hometown of Indianapolis had the first one in the country. Prior to union stations, each railroad company had their own station. So, if you were going from New York to San Francisco, you'd have to take ABC railroad company to Indianapolis, then take a horse-drawn taxi over to DEF railroad company's station to catch the train to Topeka. In Topeka, you'd have to transfer a few miles to catch GHI railroad to....... and so on.

With union stations, it was just get off the train, cross the platform and get on the other train. Maybe even have time for a cuppa tea. Much, much easier.
 
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Aunt Bea said:
In the 80s, the bank that I worked for bought and refurbished an old train station in Albany, N.Y. as their headquarters.

It was very intimidating to enter the main terminal, which served as a grand foyer.

The terminal could be reconfigured as a space for charity events, cocktail receptions, speeches, etc… but it was normally kept empty.

View attachment 501123
Click to expand...
Imagine having a little table in the middle and being able to shout loudly, "Where's me dinner?" 😊
 
Im sure these little pictures printed in the media, don't do these stations justice. I know it certainly doesn't give London Paddington station Justice...

this is what PS looks like ...


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Almost all of the "most beautiful trains stations" were built around the turn of the 20th century during the industrial age. In those days, the rich re-invested their wealth back into societies that enabled them to accrue that wealth. These days, the wealthy just want more and more money and don't give much back in return.
 
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RambleTamble said:
Almost all of the "most beautiful trains stations" were built around the turn of the 20th century during the industrial age. In those days, the rich re-invested their wealth back into societies what enabled them to accrue that wealth. These days, the wealthy just want more and more money and don't give much back in return.
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So true..!
 
QuietByNature said:
Funny, how i have lived in Toronto all my life and even worked a couple of years a mere 2 blocks away from Union Station but yet have never set foot inside 😬😊
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I hear that type of comment from people living in Chicago. It always seems that people (like ourselves) who live outside the city visit all the architectural gems and take the architectural tours.
 
retiredtraveler said:
I hear that type of comment from people living in Chicago. It always seems that people (like ourselves) who live outside the city visit all the architectural gems and take the architectural tours.
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so true... for example.. I live 20 miles from the centre of London..I've been many places in London over the years... I live just 10 miles from North London yet I have never once visited Buckingahm Palace or even gone anywhere near it ! I leave that to the tourists
 
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