LIEGE GUILLEMINS RAIL STATION
Architectural Wonder of Belgian Rail Travel
It is has been
described as one of the most beautiful railway stations in the world.
Though,
that depends on your taste. It is certainly one
of the most stunningly unique and distinctive modern places to board
a train. Perhaps not a destination in itself, but surely a reason to
get off the high speed train journey through Belgium for a look and a
photo or two. The brand new reinvented rail station of Liege designed
by Spanish architect Santiago Calatava ranks with the some of the top
public space designs of the world. A mix of sci-fi futuristic “Alien” ribcage
and bare stark reflections of Belgian Art Nouveau, sleek and sweeping
forms of white steel which seems to hang in the air like a sail while
trains slide in and out across its nine tracks and five platforms.
As a train
station Liège-Guillemins is a bit bare and spare.
Other railway stations in Europe are crowded with snack kiosks, vendor
counters and souvenir stands, for the masses rushing through. The track
platforms of Liege are open and basic under the arching ribbed canopy.
Shops and stores are in the passage below, tucked between the platforms
with concave glass doors leaving the concourse open and clean. Luggage
storage lockers are on the ground level to the far west end of the station
along with the bike racks inside to keep the lines pure. The one disadvantage
of their location requires a walk 
outside to get there, not so pleasant
in rainy weather. The high arching glass and steel ribbed “dome” protects
from falling rain, but the openness of the space on the platforms waiting
for a train can catch a chill wind. And while the wide broad sweeping
steps to the platform level seem to attract the causal college age romantic
couple or group of lounging backpackers under blue skies, the station
while impressive to look at, and a photographer’s magnet, is probably
not made for hanging out.
With
two dedicated high-speed tracks Liège-Guillemins is a stop
for both Thalys and ICE trains (see European
High Speed Trains), connecting
the city of Liège to Brussels, Paris, Aachen, Cologne and Frankfurt,
with connections to the Eurostar to London via Brussels (see Benelux
Rail Pass). There are plans for a future direct Eurostar from London
to Liege. Local
Belgian
trains
take up the other tracks. Escalators rise upward to transition between
platforms, or down underneath to the concrete concourse below.
Visiting Liege
For
visiting Liege, the Gare Liège-Guillemins station is just a
bit too far for an easy walk. The city transit busses stop about a
hundred
yards from the station doors, requiring another venture under open skies.
The city bus ride to the centre ville of old town Liege is about 10-15
minutes through some often heavy traffic. There are some hotels and restaurants
around the station most to the west. The Best
Western Univers Hotel is
just across the street. To
the east of the station to the river is cleared open ground where building
development projects and additions
are planned for the future. © Bargain
Travel Europe
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SEE ALSO:
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CASTLE FRANCHIMONT - THEUX - LIEGE
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