Atocha Railway Station, Central railway station in Madrid, Spain
Atocha Railway Station is a terminal in southern Madrid, serving as the largest hub in the Spanish rail network. Under a cast-iron canopy with Art Nouveau forms, tracks for long-distance trains, high-speed services and commuter lines spread across multiple levels.
The building opened in 1851 under the name Estación de Mediodía as the capital's first southern railway terminal. After a fire in 1892, Alberto de Palacio built the new hall using an iron framework inspired by contemporary Parisian models.
The hall takes its name from a wooden image of Mary venerated in Atocha, a district south of the city center. Travelers pass through a covered garden with palms and turtles on their way to the platforms, which serves as both waiting area and meeting point.
Access to the older hall with the tropical garden is through several entrances on the outside of the building. Travelers with hand luggage will find escalators and lifts leading to the different track areas.
Two separate metro stations with different names provide underground access to the two ends of this sprawling complex. Travelers often need to walk several hundred meters inside the building to reach the right departure zone depending on their destination.
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