Station building

Both in the past and in recent times, especially when constructed for a modern high-speed rail network, a station building may even be a true masterpiece of architecture.

Medium to large size station buildings will often also have offices for rail staff involved in the management and operation of trains.

[4] Several decades were needed to find a formula for station building architecture that would be easily recognizable in the urban space, like that of churches and town halls.

Initially, this was by use of traditional architectural symbols, primarily related to the form of a "gate", such as a portico, a triumphal arch or Propylaea.

One of the early ideas was to form the station building porticos to highlight the driveway and enlarge the scale of the dominant element of the facade.

The one feature that can be found in many of them worldwide is a canopy over the driveway, usually made of iron (e.g. part of the former London Victoria LBSCR station).

In countries not confined to the classical architectural tradition, station building designers soon began to use the theme of the clock tower, taken over from the town hall or church.

Architects also create railway station towers, and buildings and equipment associated with the movement of trains: control rooms, and even signals, sometimes grouped together on the platforms over the tracks.