When it comes down to Rotterdam, there is a myriad of attractions that a tourist must see. However, since they are all in different parts of the city, the taxi can be very expensive. For this reason, it’s essential to talk about the Centraal Station as it’s a convenient and more affordable station. The Rotterdam Centraal Station is the primary railway station of the city.
The station is known to have around 110,000 passengers in a day. Currently, the station’s building is located at Station Square, which was opened to the public in March 2014. So, if you want more information about the station, keep reading below!
The Brief
Did you know that Rotterdam didn’t have a central railway station before the Second World War? Instead, the city had four stations around the city, but this solo central station was launched by Princess Beatrix in 1968, with which the line connected the central station Rotterdam’s southern area. Currently, the main station has seven island platforms, and there are thirteen platform tracks. In addition, there are three tracks that don’t have a platform.
As far as the new construction is concerned, it started back in 2004 to cater to the increasing number of trains. In addition, the previous station became too small to handle the ever-increasing number of passengers. Coming back to the point, the reconstruction contract was given to the Team CS, which transformed the station. Many people don’t know this, but there is a metro line D at this station, and there is line E, which continues to The Hague and Voorburg.
The roof right above the train tracks is covered with solar panels and has a smooth merging with the roof. In addition, there are around 25 shops in the wide hall, which include Starbucks, Sissy Boy, Dudok, and Rituals. This public transport terminal hosts over 110,000 passengers in a day and has been connected to the light rail system, RandstadRail. In fact, the research says that the passenger count will surpass the figure of 323,000 by the year 2025.
Design
It’s already evident that this is a renewed station and has its openings on the southern and northern sides. The north side has a more modest design to cater to Provenierswijk’s character. The entrance connects to the city. In addition, the northern side of the station doesn’t have huge architectural extensions, while the station has transparent architecture with more greenery. On the other hand, the city side has a huge entrance to cater to the urban feel as the metropolitan is made from wood and glass.
Destinations
When it comes down to the Rotterdam Centraal Station. It’s one of the four primary stations in the Netherlands and is connected to cities all around the country. Having said that, some of the local destinations include Zwolle, Amsterdam, Bergen op Zoom, The Hague, Gouda, Amersfoort, Breda, Tilburg, Roosendaal, and Haarlem. In fact, there are some international destinations, including Disneyland Paris, Paris, Brussels, and Antwerp.
Amenities
If you visit the station for the first time, the new travelers can access two supermarkets, two Starbucks branches, and multiple food takeaway options. In addition, there is a Station Living Room for people who reach the station early and need some place to sit down and relax. The southern side of the station has an underground bicycle parking area that can handle more than five-thousand bicycles. In addition, there are taxi stops on the southern and northern sides.
On top of everything, there is an underground parking area under the Kruisplein, which has been constructed with the water facility. The parking area can be accessed through the south tube of the Weena Tunnel.
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is that this is the new station that can help you reach Paris in less than 2.5 hours. you can reach various parts of Europe. In addition, this is a brighter, more sequential. And larger station as compared to the older building – it surely feels more international. The design is pretty efficient and supports the city’s ambitions for urban renewal and development. All in all, this station is a perfect combination of allure, comfort, capacity, and practicality.
