Antwerp, the second largest city in Belgium, located in the Flemish part of the country has one of the most beautiful and spectacular central stations you have ever seen! In 2007 big works will be finished and it will be no longer a terminal station like it used to be.
The station is also called the 'Railwaycathedral'. Look at the pictures and you know why :p.

http://www.haagsebeemden.nl/hsl/HST_belgie/3D/images/foto%205.jpg


http://www.haagsebeemden.nl/hsl/HST_belgie/3D/images/foto%206.jpg


http://www.haagsebeemden.nl/hsl/HST_belgie/images/Foto%20station%20Antwerpen-Centraal%20anno%202006.jpg


http://www.haagsebeemden.nl/hsl/HST_belgie/3D/images/foto%208.jpg


http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/3472/centraalstationgrotehalvc1.jpg


http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/6017/centraalstationhal2af9.jpg


http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/2954/centraalstationdetailtw0.jpg


http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/8853/centraalstationetagessg7.jpg


http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/1148/savondsvh6.jpg


http://img57.imageshack.us/img57/220/centraalstationarchitecrr3.jpg


http://img78.imageshack.us/img78/1741/285968309b96d74e456ocf0.jpg


http://img315.imageshack.us/img315/59/hslantwerpenkf9.jpg


http://www.foudurail.net/photoantwerpen/tunnel2.jpg


http://www.foudurail.net/photoantwerpen/berchem01.jpg


http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g2/De_Snor/DSC01171.jpg


http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g2/De_Snor/DSC01170.jpg


http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g2/De_Snor/DSC01174.jpg


http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/1758/antwerpen10december2006tk3.jpg


http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/7938/antwerpen10december2006wr2.jpg


http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/2466/antwerpen10december2006nj8.jpg


http://img364.imageshack.us/img364/6879/antwerpen10december2006xf8.jpg

Oh wow, it is very nice. I particularly like the inside.

I went to Antwerp in 1998 to visit my wife's cousin who was living there at the time. We took the train from Paris but I don't remember this station at all. Did the terminal look like this in 1998?

Wasn't the structure designed by Eifel?

No it's not designed by Eiffel.
It was build between 1899 and 1905 and the building was also inspired by the Pantheon in Rome but it doesn't look like it at all :).

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/1876/17731807a0ec9d7704bdi3.jpg


http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/4669/285976838fe986f02f0ogv4.jpg


http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/7628/281575787d46a11bb61bec8.jpg


http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/7100/19787774429ac965e28gg3.jpg

By 1998, it saw just the start of this revamp. The opening of Anvers-Central </blokkiepesten> is what I anticipate most in the new year. It truly is a 'cathedral of transport'. Magnificent!!

and it will be no longer a terminal station like it used to be.

That's only partially true. The present level as well as the new level below it will remain the 'end of the line'; only the tracks at the lowest level (-2) will provide through service for the HSL Amsterdam-Paris.

Yes idd so it will be no longer a terminal station :).
Not only trains for the HSL will go through the tunnel, also trains who go the other part of the city and the north of Belgium.

It will no longer be a terminal-only station - that would be a more appropiate description of the future layout of the tracks ;)

really beatiful.

Wonderful renovation...
did you know that in the late Seventies they wanted to demolish this building...:ohno:

Wonderful renovation...
did you know that in the late Seventies they wanted to demolish this building...:ohno:
The most beautiful station in the world has already been demolished... Penn Station in New York. I hope it doesn't happen again.
I'm glad to see the works going well in Antwerp, haven't been there in a while. It will be nice not to have to get off at Berchem (my god what an awful station) again and change for Antwerp Central.

a work of art !

The whole stations is beautiful, not just the main train shed.

Here are photos from inside the main waiting room.

http://www.pbase.com/jchambers/image/49590041/original.jpg

http://www.pbase.com/jchambers/image/49590042/original.jpg



And behind those arched windows in the upper part of the photo is the main train shed you can see in the other posts photos
http://www.pbase.com/jchambers/image/49590043/original.jpg

The waiting room looks like Grand Central Station's main hall!
I really love this station!

I do too.

Can't wait till it's finished! Great station for an even greater city!

They just started working at the second entry in front of the main building. It will be finished at the end of this year.

http://www.haagsebeemden.nl/hsl/HST_belgie/3D/images/Foto%207.jpg

http://www.b-rail.be/corp/assets/images/projets/projecttgv/Photo-17.jpg

Several pictures of the recently finished lowest floor, which will handle HST traffic. Unlike in the past, international trains can now travel north through a tunnel beneath the city.


http://img365.imageshack.us/img365/7228/stationb003me1.jpg

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/1175/stationb008xe1.jpg

http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/6457/stationb012xd6.jpg

http://img357.imageshack.us/img357/3511/stationb016no1.jpg

http://img357.imageshack.us/img357/862/stationb018mc1.jpg

Discover the new part of the Antwerp Central railwaycathedral :):

Yw5f2q0RScI

Magnificent, seems similar to London St Pancras in that a grand railway cathedral is being revitalised thanks to the ever expanding European high speed railway network :)

beautiful:drool:
maybe i should visit

Yesterday I was in Antwerp. It was a historical moment for me: the first time that I entered the new part of the magnificent railwaycathedral where they worked on for about 8 years. It's realy impressive and the whole station isn't finished yet. At the end of this year floor 0 & -1 will open (floor +1 is already open since several years)! At the lowest floor -2 wich has just opened (about 20 meters underground) the trains can ride through a 3,8 km long tunnel under the city of Antwerp to the north of Belgium. Also high speed trains like Thalys will use the tunnel for travels to the Netherlands.

http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/660/1003631jw4.jpg


http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/2131/1003600dc6.jpg


http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/7058/1003607pg0.jpg


http://img361.imageshack.us/img361/724/1003612hp6.jpg


http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/103/1003613xx5.jpg


http://img361.imageshack.us/img361/9061/1003614yu3.jpg


http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/4858/1003616pk5.jpg


http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/9963/1003617fd0.jpg


http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/5654/1003618au6.jpg


http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/6071/1003619qp4.jpg


http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/4263/1003633ps6.jpg


http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/7735/1003625vy2.jpg


http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/4084/1003628lg5.jpg

When will the lower railway in the tuneel be opened?

When will the lower railway in the tuneel be opened?

The railwaytunnel and the -2 floor of the Central Station opened at march 23 this year.
With the tunnel trains can travel to the north of Belgium and international trains can go to the Netherlands, without making a tour around the city wich cost much more time.


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v465/snot/HST-Ports/Fotohst-net_groot.jpg


This part is open right now:
http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/2581/doorsnede4rc8.gif

The lower tunnels may well be open but does anyone know when high speed trains will start running the Brussels/Amsterdam route via this station?

The lower tunnels may well be open but does anyone know when high speed trains will start running the Brussels/Amsterdam route via this station?

NS Hispeed starts it's regional services from 09-12-2007 via the new highspeed-line. Though the maximum speed will be restricted to 160 km/h untill december 2008. From 12-2008 Thalys will run via the new line from Amsterdam to Brussels and Paris at 300 km/h.

Some more pics:

http://www.ludovico.be/antwerpen/station/ANTW07D20N7019.JPG

http://www.ludovico.be/antwerpen/station/ANTW07D20N7027.JPG

http://www.ludovico.be/antwerpen/station/ANTW07D20N6626.JPG

http://www.ludovico.be/antwerpen/station/ANTW07D20N6680.JPG

http://www.ludovico.be/antwerpen/station/ANTW07D20N6982.JPG

http://www.ludovico.be/antwerpen/station/ANTW07D20N6693.JPG

http://www.ludovico.be/antwerpen/station/ANTW07D20N6812.JPG

http://www.ludovico.be/antwerpen/station/ANTW07D20N6742.JPG

http://www.ludovico.be/antwerpen/station/ANTW07D20N6921.JPG

http://www.ludovico.be/antwerpen/station/ANTW07D20N6752.JPG

http://www.ludovico.be/antwerpen/station/ANTW07D20N6760.JPG

Thanks for the info thtc

Some other pictures of the Antwerp Central Station:

The lowest level: 20 meters underground:
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/1170/451302544bc39cbd824brc0.jpg


Waiting room:
http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/9224/548742045ec625780c1oik6.jpg


http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/3803/4837071051ff8499352ohm4.jpg


http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/885/pict00660mv0.jpg


http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/2540/pict0249zn5.jpg


http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/998/pict02440uk8.jpg

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/998/pict02440uk8.jpg

Is this the entrance at the Kievitstraat?

Is this the entrance at the Kievitstraat?

It's idd close to the new Kievit entrance but this is not the new entrance itself. It's the part on the picture below that is coverd with glass and it looks very nice if you walk there :):

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/736/19928brrfx7.jpg

This station is amazing!

Wow! really cool design.

New pictures of the Antwerp Railwaycathedral thanks to member 'Da_Vinci'.


http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff297/Da_Vinci_photos/100_1114.jpg


http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff297/Da_Vinci_photos/100_1132.jpg


http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff297/Da_Vinci_photos/100_1195.jpg


http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff297/Da_Vinci_photos/100_1196.jpg


http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff297/Da_Vinci_photos/100_1161.jpg


A second and spectacular entrance to the station is been built:
http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff297/Da_Vinci_photos/100_1169.jpg

Christmas-time! (pics made by Da Vinci)

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff297/Da_Vinci_photos/100_1052.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff297/Da_Vinci_photos/100_1073.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff297/Da_Vinci_photos/100_1066.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff297/Da_Vinci_photos/100_1060B.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff297/Da_Vinci_photos/100_1070.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff297/Da_Vinci_photos/100_1062B.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff297/Da_Vinci_photos/100_1075B.jpg

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff297/Da_Vinci_photos/100_1094B.jpg

New 'old' floor in the 'tickethall': (pics by De Snor)

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g2/De_Snor/DSC04260.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g2/De_Snor/DSC04259.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g2/De_Snor/DSC04258.jpg

Extremely cool!

This station is so amazing! I can't wait to take the highspeed train Antwerp-Amsterdam next year!

More pics:

http://l.yimg.com/www.flickr.com/images/spaceball.gif

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/132/401088196_e8890b27f5_b.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/171/451302544_bc39cbd824_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2370/2172269803_79f14de952_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2055/2178349829_421b217e11_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3082/3141046254_55d99bf138_b.jpg

This will become the second entrance to the station (as you can see it's not finished yet):
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3131/3141045746_af99f6c61d_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3110/3150556879_0d9a234f1c_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3096/3143787010_72e575f29f_b.jpg
Underground platforms

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3216/3153952589_2c4358b3dc_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3122/3153953019_07479f5b77_b.jpg
Let's go up

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3093/3153953577_45af2aa23d_b.jpg

http://www.53a-pix.co.uk/picture/Station1-AC-291203.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/57/208485473_5542be5275_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3267/3140216081_1c6e24dfd7_o.jpg
Central hall

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3053/3071855582_33d23aa44c_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3224/3079752687_cb1e162b96_b.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1164/1294788389_f6399fb20f_b.jpg

Great station!

All congratulations.

Antwerp is one of the oldest and beautiful stations in Belgium, renewing it adding tracks under the station running under the city was a challenge. They did it and the result is not only super, it is stunning and astonishing! A real must see and live.

I love the details: colours, textures, shapes, finishings, you can see wheel of escalators, it is a real masterpiece of railway architecture that must be showed to areas like California creating new networks.

Congratulations again to Belgian Railways who have created a new diamond on the crown! With Liège and Antwerp, Belgium has two incredible international level railway stations nobody can be ashamed of!

:applause:

In my opinion:

Antwerp is the best railwaystation in the Benelux countries! It's combining old architecture with new!

Liege is the second best railwaystaion of the Benelux! It's an amazing modern design.

Keep on going Belgium...

Some more pics of the second entrance (made by kristofke).

Still not finshed yet:

http://www.tripreport.be/station/station%20-%2001.jpg

http://www.tripreport.be/station/station%20-%2002.jpg

http://www.tripreport.be/station/station%20-%2003.jpg

http://www.tripreport.be/station/station%20-%2004.jpg

http://www.tripreport.be/station/station%20-%2005.jpg

http://www.tripreport.be/station/station%20-%2007.jpg


More can be found here: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=733614&page=13

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3143/3080575720_954dd4c92b_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3277/3079782625_3c84afdd7e_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3050/2280814659_33e8ac0355_b.jpg

In my opinion:

Antwerp is the best railwaystation in the Benelux countries! It's combining old architecture with new!

Liege is the second best railwaystaion of the Benelux! It's an amazing modern design.

Keep on going Belgium...

Agreed! Antwerp is simply stunning. I love the blend of modern and classic, still keeping it apart of daily usage. Marvelous station!

Perfect combination of old & new , a true landmark :eek:

I used to pass there every day (now only twice each week :( ), and it never ceased to amaze me :)

What I like most is the brickwork in the centre of the station. Due to that, the transition from old to new isn't that brute. The signalisation could still improve a bit, but I'm talking about details here. Any station with 4 floors (and some floors in between) is doomed to be slightly complicated when you first enter it.

Greetings,
Glodenox

This is one of the projects Belgium, Flanders and Antwerp can be proud of.
One of the greatest, nicest, most stunning stations in the entire world! No doubt about that.

The station features in this promotional stunt for a Belgian TV-show, it's quite entertaining. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYAUazLI9k

(Any reason why embedding won't work here?)

7EYAUazLI9k

;)

It's a real Youtube-hit!

The 'roof' has been cleaned:

BEFORE
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/57/208485473_5542be5275_b.jpg

AFTER
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3617/3583829355_00aa921f36_b.jpg

The renovation/construction is now officially completed! :banana:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3439/3953068800_b7d276fe5e_b.jpg

I LOVE this train station! It is my favorite in the world. Stunning.

ABSOLUTELY SPECTACULAR, BOTH THE RESTORED OLD PART AND THE NEW ADDITION !

Great!!!! I was only once there in a train, and didn't had time to go off the train... from Paris to Amsterdam. A Shame...

The Belgians are working much better and harder than the Dutchies in the north. I hope the High-Speedtrain towards Rotterdam/Amsterdam is finishing up soon, so that Antwerp(en) gets more travellers and tourists. And Antwerp gets something back by that from the huge investment they did by building the Tunnel and Station.

When was that? Only some years ago, you wouldn't have passed Antwerp Central, you would have stopped at Antwerp Berchem, and taken the grand tour around Antwerp. Only in 2007, when the new tunnel opened, you would have passed at Antwerp Central station.

^^ Maybe earlier in the nineties. Before the big renovation and extension started, international trains from Amsterdam to Brussels and Paris stopped at Central Station.

I noticed that there aren't any photos of the renovated exterior on this thread:

Pics by Da Vinci:

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f21/Fotos_Wieland/Skycrapercity/100_3106.jpg

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f21/Fotos_Wieland/Skycrapercity/100_3107-1.jpg
This whole part, the two towers left and right and the lions, were replaced during that renovation, after they were removed decades ago.

7EYAUazLI9k

;)

It's a real Youtube-hit!

It´s a favourite since i found it on youtube :D

AMAZING station :drool: ...was love at first sight :D

the best rail station i've ever seen

Damn sony music and copyright...

The station is a real landmark btw, maybe one of the most stunning ones in Europe. I have to see it myself one day...