Where is the last stop along the journey? Some of the most remote train stations in the world are in strange and interesting places.
Riding the rails can be a lot of fun for some people, and it gives passengers a great way to get from one location to another. Unfortunately, there is an end of the line somewhere, and the train has to turn around. Some railway stops are only visited by trains once a week or once a month. Here are some of the most remote train stations in the world.
Cook Railway Station, Australia
Cook Railway Station is located along the longest straight railway track in the world, making it a station that’s certainly in the middle of nowhere. This station is along the Indian Pacific Railway, which spans nearly the entire width of Australia. To reach the Cook station, the train must cross the width of the country, passing the Nullarbor Plain Flat, which is a treeless area. This stop was once an important stopping point along the route, but it’s nearly abandoned today, with only four people in the resident population.
Canfranc International Railway Station, Spain
This is one of the strangest old train stations in Europe, and it’s surrounded with mystery. Canfranc opened in 1928 and is known as an “abandoned Nazi railway station” located in the Pyrenean mountains. The size and splendor of this station are incredible and the beauty was excellent for the time. The story of this much-used station came to an abrupt halt in 1970 when a train derailment destroyed a bridge on the French side of the mountains, leaving this station abandoned.
Jungfraujoch Railway Station, Switzerland
This station is located underground inside a mountain and could easily remind you of a station used by Bond villains. This is the end of the line for the Jungfraujoch Railway, which was a pioneering feat of engineering. This is the highest station in Europe, sitting at 3,454 meters above sea level. After alighting the train, passengers can climb to the peak for a view of the Aletsch Glacier and the mountains that surround this remote station located at the end of the line.
Cascada de la Macarena Station, Argentina
Cascada de la Macarena Station in Argentina is the southernmost functioning station in the world. It is known as End of the World Station and is an attractive place for tourists to find their way to explore Tierra del Fuego National Park. This station is located in Ushuaia, which is at the southern tip of Argentina, and is sold as “The End of the World.” At one time in its history, this narrow railway was used to transport timber and prisoners to and from a remote penal colony in the area.
The Hurricane Turn, USA
Despite not having any official train stations, The Hurricane Turn is one of the most remote railway lines in the world. It is the last true “flag stop” train in the United States, allowing passengers to board and depart the train as they please by flagging the train down from a milepost along the track. This train is a lifeline for some Alaskans living off the grid and away from the road systems of the wild and remote parts of the state.
Tanggula Train Station, Tibet
The highest railway station in the world is located in Tibet, much like some of the highest items in the world. The Tanggula station sits at 5,068 meters above sea level and was chosen for the view from the platform and the dizzying heights. This station is found along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, which is the first route that links Tibet and China and it is also the world’s highest railway. Because of the incredible heights, the trains on these tracks are equipped with oxygen masks.
Caojiawan Metro Station, Chongqing, China
This metro station is located on the outskirts of Chongqing along Line 6. It is about as remote as you can get in modern China, and it’s part of an extension of the city’s metro network. The station appears to have been built in the middle of nowhere and is mostly overgrown now. The station might seem abandoned and remote, but it’s open to the public and much the same on the inside as any other metro station in the country, but it doesn’t have any commuters because its located in an expected area of expansion.
These are some of the most remote train stations in the world, offering some of the most interesting places where you could take a train and end up in the middle of nowhere.
