Atocha, Madrid

Most of the rail stations of the world are quite utilitarian in that they are there to allow passengers to board and exit trains, to buy tickets, to eat in cafes, even to shop and bank. Madrid's Atocha rail station is all of the above and more.

The former main station building was taken out of service after a modern addition was completed to allow for high speed trains to use the complex. That old station was converted into a gallery of shops, bars, cafes and the main concourse converted into a huge indoor garden complete with "mist" watering system. A very attractive area to wait for the trains and loll around in a spectacular indoor setting.

The world looked in horror at the terrible events of 11th March 2004 when the Madrid train bombings occured at and close to Atocha station - killing 191 people and wounding 1,755

Atocha train station is beautiful to visit, even if you're not taking any train. We could say that the station is divided in two. One part is for Cercanias trains, while the other is for the AVE, or high speed trains. This last part, also known as Puerta de Atocha, is the most beautiful one, and the one that shouldn't be missed.

The original façade faces the Glorieta del Emperador Carlos V, oposit the Reina Sofía, where the Paseo del Prado begins. This is where the Atocha metro station is. However, on the other side of the building is the new entrance, with its clock tower and the monument for the victims of the 11-M terrorist attacks.

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The main train station of Madrid is Atocha. Most will remember the attacks that took place here on 11-March-2004.

The train station has grown a lot over the years, and the old train building is now converted to a station hall. But still a very interesting one as the climate inside is tropical, and tropical plants are groing under the roof now.

Very recommendable if it's cold and rainy outside. Just a quick heat-up.

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Modern station of the fast reilway. In hall of glass and cast-iron there is a very nice palm-room. Every day many people go from there to work and school. They buy in planty of shops or sit in one of the many cafes.....
Unfortunately, last time Atocha became famous for terrorist attempt....

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There is a botanical garden in this well designed steel building. There are some banana trees with fruits and also some tortoises. We have been there in december 2005, may be they are big enough to eat. I mean bananas, not tortoises. :)

Atocha station is one of the main train stations in Madrid. It is a building unique for its construction with metal and glass and also a characteristic interior with a wonderful green house and tropical garden. It is a very busy station with lots of shops and cafes. One can catch trains to Portugal and Madrid suburbs from there.

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In my trip to Madrid , we used Metro and also we decided to use train for going to Toledo from Atocha train station .Unfortunately we couldn't go to Toledo because the tickets had been finished.But we walked around in the station where there is a big garden full of trees.
Yes in it.In the train station

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Most people who travel on trains, or rent cars here in Madrid will at some point go through Atocha Staion. Regional trains such as the AVE, commuter trains (Cercanias) and Metro (Subway) trains all go through here. The old part of the station, near the AVE departure tracks has been converted into a nice tropical indoor garden which can be relaxing for the frazzled traveleer. There are birds and turtles and people asking you for money. There is also a restaurant at the other end which is fine if you are travelling but dont go to the station just to eat there.

Outside the station next to the Repsol Gas station currently under construction is a monument to remember the victims of the bombings on March 11,2004. It is set to be finished by the two year anniversary March 2006. One of the 4 trains that were bombed that day was at Atocha Cercania section (Commuter trains) and another of the 4 was approaching but was about 500 meters south of the station. and there is also a computer memorial inside the station, near the Cercania trains where you can read peoples to their friends and loved ones.

I have seen many railway stations allover he world, but was never impressed to such an extent: the huge Arocha station hall has been turned into a tropical rain forest: the noise of birds, waterfalls, a huge variety of vegetation, plants and trees, with a permanent temperature of aroun28-30°C. A nice place to enjoy all this is the Samar Kanda restaurant above this forest, be it for a meal or just a cocktail, A good tip on a rainy day.

I enjoyed visiting the main train station in Madrid which also happened to be a botantical gardens. I can't comment on the trains themselves but if you are in the area it is worth a stop and have a look!!

The main one where this picture was taken is Estacion de Atocha. There are logs of shops and cafes here at the station adn you can catch all the national high speed trains.

It stads on the site of the old city gates and was apparently opened in 1851. Destroyed by fire in 1892, the reconstructed and refurbished in 1992.