15 Abandoned Rail Stations Around The World

Train stations are meant to be bustling with life, but some have fallen into silence, left behind as time marches on. The ticket windows are closed, the platforms empty, and the only sound is the wind creeping through cracked windows. So, let’s take a look at 15 partially and fully abandoned rail stations around the world that are frozen in time, full of history and mystery.

Penn Station (New York, USA)

A monumental loss to New Yorkers, the original Penn Station was demolished in the 1960s and replaced by the modern structure that exists today. The station’s demise led to widespread outcry and the birth of the preservation movement.

Canfranc International Railway Station (Canfranc, Spain)

Once the pride of international travel, Canfranc International Station connected Spain and France through the Pyrenees, featuring one of the longest platforms in Europe. However, after a tragic train accident and political tensions, it closed in the 1970s.

Beelitz-Heilstatten (Beelitz, Germany)

This former sanatorium, known for treating tuberculosis patients, also housed a railway station within its grounds. Constructed during the early 1900s, Beelitz-Heilstatten’s eerie charm lies in its decaying walls and crumbling tracks, which blends medical history with the haunting beauty of neglect.

Psyrtskha Railway Station (Abkhazia, Georgia)

The Psyrtskha Railway Station stands as a relic of Soviet ambition and architectural romanticism. Built in the mid-20th century, the station was once a part of a scenic rail route connecting Black Sea resort towns. Today, vines creep along its weathered facade, and silence dominates the air once filled with the clatter of arriving trains.

Lagos Old Railway Station (Lagos, Portugal)

Built in the early 20th century, the structure reflects classic Portuguese railway architecture: tiled detailing, modest iron canopies, and a low-slung, functional design. Though not grand or monumental like others across Europe, its intimacy and coastal setting gave it character.

Anhalter Bahnhof (Berlin, Germany)

Anhalter Bahnhof opened in 1880 as one of Berlin’s busiest terminals, connecting travelers to cities like Rome, Vienna, and Athens. Severely damaged during WWII bombings, its remains were later partially demolished by East German authorities.

Union Station (Indiana, USA)

Indianapolis Union Station was the first union station in the world—a pioneering hub where multiple rail lines converged under one ornate Romanesque Revival roof. However, with the rise of automobiles and air travel, rail traffic dwindled, and the station fell into disuse by the 1970s.

Helensburgh Railway Station (New South Wales, Australia)

The original Helensburgh Railway Station opened in 1889 and served coal miners and early settlers in the New South Wales Illawarra region. Abandoned in 1915 when the railway alignment changed, the station was left behind—tracks removed, tunnels sealed.

Swanbourne Station (Buckinghamshire, England)

This one on the list was a part of the Oxford–Cambridge Varsity Line. It featured a single platform and modest station buildings. Over time, the station was closed to passengers in 1968 due to the nationwide Beeching cuts, which targeted underused routes.

16th Street Station (California, USA)

Designed in Beaux-Arts style, this station featured a grand waiting room and elegant interior finishes. It was a hub for transcontinental travel. But the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake severely damaged the station, and Amtrak relocated shortly after.

Long Island City Train Station (Long Island City, New York, USA)

Once a major station in Long Island City, this location now stands abandoned after the closure of the nearby ferry terminal. Shifts in transportation and industry lead to this station falling into disuse. Can you imagine the hustle that once filled its platforms?

Danushkodi Railway Station (Tamil Nadu, India)

Dhanushkodi Railway Station marked the southernmost rail terminus of British India, connecting pilgrims and traders to Rameswaram Island. It was destroyed in the devastating 1964 cyclone that killed over 1,800 people and swept away the entire Pamban-Dhanushkodi branch line.

City Hall Subway Station (New York, USA)

This station served as the crown jewel of New York City’s first subway line. However, its tight loop and short platform couldn’t accommodate longer trains as ridership grew. Hence, it was closed in 1945 due to low usage and operational limitations.

Michigan Central Station (Detroit, USA)

Michigan Central Station in Detroit was once the tallest rail station in the world. It served as a major passenger hub for the New York Central Railroad, connecting Detroit to cities across the U.S. As rail travel declined post-WWII, the station fell into disuse and was officially closed in 1988.

Buffalo Central Terminal (New York, USA)

Rising like a lost skyscraper from Buffalo’s East Side, Buffalo Central Terminal opened in 1929 as a beacon of Art Deco rail ambition. But rail travel declined post-WWII, and the station emptied by 1979. Left to the elements and vandals, it became a haunting symbol of Buffalo’s downturn.