Some people are simply devoted to rail travel. As long as there are no delays, cancellations and you can find a seat, travelling by train is a fantastic option.
In Europe, it’s all the more exciting as you can pass over borders simply by hopping on board at a railway station.
When it comes to Europe’s busiest stations, Germany takes the lead – with four out of the top ten located in the country.
Here we list the top ten most well used stations in Europe.
1. Gare du Nord, Paris, France
This station handles an astonishing 214.2 million passengers each year and is the busiest station not only in Europe but globally outside of Japan.
Many of its users are commuters from towns, villages and suburbs outside of Paris on their daily trip to work.
Around 3 percent of passengers use the Eurostar – which comes direct from St. Pancras International, London.
2. Gare de Châtelet – Les Halles, Paris, France
And second place goes to another Parisian station – Gare de Châtelet – with around 179.9 million passengers using it each year,
It is one of the world’s biggest underground stations helping to join up the Metro network.
3. Hamburg Hauptbahnhof, Germany
This is the first of the German stations on our list – and it boasts more than 175 million passengers every year.
It was opened in 1906 and includes its very own shopping centre.
4. Frankfurt Main Hauptbahnhof, Germany
The fourth largest in Europe is Germany’s second entrant on the list with 164.3 million passengers a year.
It opened in 1888 and replaced three separate stations.
5. Zürich Hauptbahnhof, Switzerland
This is Switzerland’s busiest station. It opened in 1847 and has more than 153 million passengers every year.
International services can take you across country lines to Germany, Hungary, Italy and France.
6. Roma Termini, Italy
This station in Italy’s capital has around 150 million passengers a year with 33 platforms.
It’s another station perfect for interrailing – with services to Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
7. München Hauptbahnhof, Germany
A third entrant on the top ten list for Germany – this time in Munich – which has more than 127 million users a year.
The first Munich station was built about 800 metres to the west in 1839.
A station at the current site was opened a decade later but it has been rebuilt numerous times after it was badly damaged during World War II.
8. Milano Centrale, Italy
A second entry for Italy – Milano Centrale station – which has around 120 million passengers a year. A new station replaced the original one in 1931.
9. Berlin Hauptbahnhof, Germany
This station is perhaps the most modern on the list – having only opened in 2006.
It has more than 110 million passengers every year and has five levels – including underground platforms. International services can take you as far as Novosibirsk in Russia.
10. Madrid Atocha, Spain
Spain’s one and only entry on the top ten list and it’s in the country’s capital Madrid.
It has around 108 million passengers a year. After a fire the station was almost totally rebuilt and opened in 1892.
