The best railway stations in Europe named – and it’s London’s St Pancras International that is No1 (with not a single French station in the top 10)
- Researchers ranked more than 50 of the biggest railway stations across Europe
- Stations were scored on factors including quality of signs and number of shops
- Zurich Central Station is second while Germany’s Leipzig Central Station is third
- At the very bottom of the ranking is Magenta station in the French capital
London’s St Pancras International has been named as the best railway station in Europe in a new ranking.
Researchers looked at 51 of the biggest stations across Europe and scored them on factors including the quality of signage, the convenience of accessing platforms and the number of shops and restaurants.
Zurich Central Station in Switzerland is second in the ranking while Germany’s Leipzig Central Station is third.
London’s St Pancras International, pictured, which has been named as the best railway station in Europe in a new ranking
The ranking, called the European Railway Station Index, has been compiled by the Consumer Choice Center (CCC).
Other factors that were taken into consideration when creating the ranking were the availability of ride-hailing services, the number of international destinations served, the average number of strike days and the existence of first-class lounges.
Topped-ranked St Pancras claims the number one spot because researchers say it has a ‘low number of strike days, high passenger convenience and international connectivity’.
Second-place Zurich was found to have a high number of shops and restaurants, while Leipzig claims third for serving 51 domestic and six international destinations.
Zurich Central Station is in second place. It was praised for its high number of shops and restaurants
Leipzig claims third for serving 51 domestic and six international destinations
In fourth place is Rome’s Termini station and in fifth spot is Munich Central Station.
Hamburg and Berlin Central Stations are joint sixth, with Milan Centrale Station in eighth.
Moscow Kazansky and Frankfurt Central Station make up the rest of the top 10 in joint ninth place.
Other railway stations in the UK in the ranking are Birmingham New Street (joint 11th), London Bridge (joint 14th), London Victoria (joint 20th), London Liverpool Street (joint 25th) and London Euston (joint 32nd).
The station at the bottom of the ranking is Magenta station in Paris.
Also faring badly are Nørreport Station in Copenhagen (50th), Haussmann-Saint-Lazare (49th) and Châtelet–Les Halles (48th). The latter two are both in Paris.
In fourth place is Rome’s Termini station. It is one of two Italian stations to make the top 10. The other is Milan Centrale
Fred Roeder, managing director of the Consumer Choice Center, said: ‘As any traveller knows, during peak times, many railway stations struggle with passenger peaks, and that experience trickles down to everyone who takes a train.
‘High points were awarded to the stations that offered great destinations around the continent and also had a healthy mix of shops, restaurants, and conveniences.
‘We also rewarded stations that experience the lowest number of strike days, something passengers in many countries could only wish for.
‘London St Pancras does not just look like a station from another world but also leads this index as Europe’s best railway station. Generally, Germany and Italy lead the way in Europe.
‘Half of the top 10 stations in Europe are in Germany and two are in Italy. Not a single French station made it in the top 10.’