Paris Saint Lazare photo aid
Apr 14, 2012 20:36:37 GMT
Post by Deleted on Apr 14, 2012 20:36:37 GMT
Gare Saint Lazare was the very first train station built in Paris (1837), so it has been through a lot. It used to be the #1 train station in continental Europe, but now it is only #2 (after Gare du Nord), since the creation of the RER A express metro to the western suburbs, which drained off quite a bit of its traffic. Nevertheless, it still has 1600 trains a day, with a train leaving or arriving every 28 seconds during rush hour.
It serves just the western suburbs and Normandy, which is the smallest zone of any of the six big train terminals of Paris. There are no TGV trains at this station.
The current façade dates from 1889.
It has just undergone a very nice renovation, through which Parisians have been suffering for the last 5 years or so. It now includes a shopping mall that was just inaugurated 3 weeks ago.
In any case, it is an extremely simple and straightforward station, so nobody has any reason to get lost looking for their train on any of the 28 tracks. The lower numbered tracks are devoted to the nearest suburbs, and as the numbers rise, the trains go to places like Rouen and the cities of Normandy.
The ticket office and the various ticket machines are impossible to miss.
The traditional departure and arrival signs are very easy to read.
However, I like the new electronic cylinders with the information slowly twirling around.
The platforms themselves show where the trains will be stopping.
When the sign goes red and the information disappears, you are not supposed to board anymore.
However, there is a conductor watching the crowd, and he waits for the frantic runners.
Even the floor has information on it.
I like this trompe-l'oeil on the platform masking a big concrete cube.
more information coming...
It serves just the western suburbs and Normandy, which is the smallest zone of any of the six big train terminals of Paris. There are no TGV trains at this station.
The current façade dates from 1889.
It has just undergone a very nice renovation, through which Parisians have been suffering for the last 5 years or so. It now includes a shopping mall that was just inaugurated 3 weeks ago.
In any case, it is an extremely simple and straightforward station, so nobody has any reason to get lost looking for their train on any of the 28 tracks. The lower numbered tracks are devoted to the nearest suburbs, and as the numbers rise, the trains go to places like Rouen and the cities of Normandy.
The ticket office and the various ticket machines are impossible to miss.
The traditional departure and arrival signs are very easy to read.
However, I like the new electronic cylinders with the information slowly twirling around.
The platforms themselves show where the trains will be stopping.
When the sign goes red and the information disappears, you are not supposed to board anymore.
However, there is a conductor watching the crowd, and he waits for the frantic runners.
Even the floor has information on it.
I like this trompe-l'oeil on the platform masking a big concrete cube.
more information coming...