The World’s Best Train Station?

We've talked about many different rail stations on this channel from small to large, but many have asked me - what is MY favourite station? Let's find out together!

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Ever wondered why your city's transit just doesn't seem quite up to snuff? RMTransit is here to answer that, and help you open your eyes to all of the different public transportation systems around the world!

Reece (the RM in RMTransit) is an urbanist and public transport critic residing in Toronto, Canada, with the goal of helping the world become more connected through metros, trams, buses, high-speed trains, and all other transport modes.

[RMTransit]

Make sure to share this video if you enjoyed it! Let me know your favourite rail stations down in the comments below ⬇

[coyotelong]

The layout of Berlin’s S-Bahn system, with a North-South corridor, an East-West corridor (intersecting at Friedrichstraße), and the “Ringbahn” circling around the edges of the city and linking it all together is just so genius

[peterhorus]

4:16 Originally it was planned to put canopies over all the outside platforms but since the tracks are curved it proved more time (and money, of course) consuming because every single glass panel was unique. But the station had to be finished for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany so they simply declared it finished with the main hall built and never bothered to complete the covers afterwards...
Edit: Oh, and the model you show later actually shows the original design of the covered platforms of the Stadtbahn.

[commercialcritic]

After living in Berlin for a semester, I can confidently say Berlin really is a rail city and it’s main station is amazing. Shout out to Sudkreuz too!!!Though I do have one gripe with the central station, which is also ironically one of its strengths……it can be a bit too big and overwhelming for first time and once in a blue moon passengers. For regulars it is easy, but the fact it is so big makes it easy to turn yourself around, especially if you go up the wrong escalator and have to turn around. But overall, it is great and I would trade NY Penn Station for it any day of the week.

[fritzp]

As somebody who lives in Berlin, and uses Berlin Hbf all the time: Yes, it's a nice station, but the three drawbacks you mention are serious. Especially the lack of a waiting area where you can just sit down for half an hour or so before getting on a train. I imagine part of the reason why it doesn't exist is that they don't want homeless people there, but how about actually addressing the issue of homelessness instead of making public spaces less inviting for everybody? Or even simpler: how about simply improving public spaces everywhere so not all people in need of them will flock to the same places?

The elevators are indeed painfully slow, which means that traveling with a stroller, a wheelchair, a bike, etc. takes forever. And the elevators usually stop at every level, often without people getting in or out, because somebody pressed the button five minutes ago, but then gave up and left. I think they're slow on purpose so they aren't the fastest means for getting around, which would make them overcrowded. But they don't need to be as comically slow.

The toilet situation is a common issue in Germany. Very annoying. I've actually taken trains just to use the toilet (which is free in the train, but costs money in stations). Since stops aren't far apart within Berlin and trains are frequent, you can just get out at the next stop and head right back.

[-bitoddish]

Berlin Hautbahnhof was the first major train station in Europe I ever visited and I was stunned, I spent hours walking around the station as I just couldn’t believe a transportation hub this amazing could exist

[paul]

Berlin Hbf may be fancy and "cool", but nowhere close to the best. Its confusing, slow and unpractical. Platform changes take ages, and its made worse by height difference between levels. Almost any path has to cross through the mall area and relies on multiple escalators. The Station was also insanely expensive, still has issues with the roof. Also its location is not really anywhere useful, unlike many other Hbfs. I would argue the stations in Cologne, Hamburg and Munich are better, if maybe not quite as flashy.

[namenamename]

One detail I only noticed when I visited myself and that I love is that on the high level platforms, the station signage says "Hauptbahnhof (Lehrter Bahnhof)", which acknowledges the former, much smaller station that once stood there and was demolished to make room for the new Hauptbahnhof.
The last Lehrter Bahnhof was just an S-Bahn station, but there was once a big intercity terminus there, which was closed even earlier. The line that terminated there was the Berlin-Lehrter Bahn, which to this day connects Berlin to Lehrte by Hannover, one of the most important east-west connections in Germany. So the name Lehrter Bahnhof is very on the nose, it's the station you'd get on if you want to get on the line to Lehrte.

[ikka]

When I first came to Berlin, inside of this station was my first sight after setting foot on Berlin. And a architecture, building, city planning enthusiast. It was candy for my eyes. I was thinking this feels like an airport terminal but for trains.

[rjsieder]

I visited Berlin for the first time this past September, arriving via ICE from Wolfsburg. I was blown away by this station. No matter where you looked, there's a track! I had looked at DB's station map prior to arriving, but it didn't get close to preparing me for the actual station. I had time to wander around, and was very impressed by the station in general. I took the S-bahn out and the U-bahn back before taking the ICE back to Wolfsburg, so I got to use all parts of the station. Yes, it is a bit of a hike from one level to another, but that's nothing compared to so many other locations where the hike takes you outside, or to another station altogether (hello Paris).

[benedikthoppe]

The biggest functional problem with the station is actually that the platforms upstairs are too narrow to deal with the increasing passenger numbers. In the medium term, DB plans to reconstruct them. While it is not yet sure when and how, one thing that is for sure is that the holes will probably be removed to free up some space.

[Tobi-lnxr]

Have you ever been to the Leipzig main station? Because I think if you would see Leipzig, you would probably change your opinion.

[cosmic_jon]

Berlin has a lot of nice stations, and with all kinds of styles. Some are modern glass and stainless steel like Hauptbahnhof, some are that classic green riveted steel like Eberswalder Str., some are fancy brick like Hackescher Markt. And those are just the above-ground stations.

[Critizens]

The northern plaza, Europaplatz, will get a total overhaul in a few years. They are ongoing construction works for the new S-Bahn tunnel, so it was always planned to finalize the Europaplatz after those construction works finished.

[nilreb]

The station is under appreciated by Berliners. Just like with the Berlin airport its construction had its problems and has left the public with a negative attitude right from the start, people hate the elevators and the fact that the roof has been manufactured but not fully installed so that 1st class passengers have to exit trains in the rain has made it a target for ridicule. So in that sense it is one thing: its typical for Berlin

[minecrafter]

2:42 The "above ground utilities" you are referring to are a staple of construction sites in Berlin. They are not redirected utilities, but pipes to remove water from construction sites, because Berlin is built on swampland and any foundation work requires pumping the water away.

[meantares]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and that includes you too. Berlin hbf is for a daily or frequent commuter not very practical and a lot of time is lost in the transit between the top and bottom levels. Also, it’s a pain finding platforms 1, 2 & 7, 8. if you’re new to the station then good luck. I happened to miss a connection because I couldn’t find the platform.
That aside, there is too little furniture in the station and the ones that are there are outright uncomfortable. Besides, the station is very cold and waiting in winter is a torture.
So, although the views are great, the station itself is not.
Btw, check out Salzburg hbf and Wien by Hbf. Architecturally, they are amazing.

[mcjm_noonewillfindthis]

I think Wien Hauptbahnhof (Vienna Main Station) comes quite close. I personally really like it! It has a big Bus terminal, elevated and underground Tracks and platforms, U-Bahn, At grade and underground trams and it's connected to neighboring office towers. It also offers a large variety of shops and restaurants and it's very well served by trains from all over Europe

[Sacto]

I wonder have you ever talked about Tokyo Station itself. Tokyo Station not only accommodates the high-speed _Shinkansen_ trains, but also a lot of JR East commuter rail and even has a subway station for the Tokyo Metro Marunochi Line. And it has a huge shopping area above and below ground (including a Daimaru department store attached to the station) and connections to nearby office buildings. And even a historical buildings on the west side of the station.

In short, the only other stations probably similar to Berlin Hauptbahnhof are Tokyo Station, St. Pancras in London and Gare du Nord in Paris.

[derlaurenz]

❤❤❤❤ As a German, Berliner and train lover you melt my heart with this. Not only isn’t Berlin necessarly held in high regard amongst Germans, I never thought Berlin would “beat” cities like Zurich, Vienna, Amsterdam in terms of their central station 🎉