Baghdad Central Station
History
The train station was planned by British architects and originally built by the British. It was considered as the "Jewel of Baghdad" for daily travelers. Historically passengers from Bagdhad were able to reach Jerusalem as well as London onboard luxury trains.The station offered telegraph services, it had also a bank, a post office, a saloon, shopping areas and a restaurant. The station even had an office with printing presses which are still printing the train tickets.
After the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, thieves snatched the station's furniture, lighting fixtures and even bathroom plumbing.
As of 2016, the Iraqi train fleet is made of only 6 trains, with only 1 overnight train operation, from Baghdad to Basra in Turkey.
Renovations
A $5.9 million renovation began in 2004 and was completed in June 2006. The renovation included all-new power plant and air conditioning system. The electrical, water, and sewer lines were replaced. The restaurant was rehabilitated and the roof, the windows and the plaster walls were replaced. All clocks were replaced and connected to one new central system. Also, the broken mosaic floor tiles were replaced.
A new entrance was constructed. Two new seven passenger elevators, new bathrooms and a hotel with 13 rooms were added along with a new fire alarm and sprinkler system
Gallery
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Baghdad Central Station, 1959
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Inside of the Station, 2010
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Main entrance, 2012
See also
References
- ^ "In pictures: The crown jewel of Iraq's railway". BBC News. 2016-11-28. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
- ^ "The building of Baghdad".
- ^ Smith, C.H. Lindsey. J M The Story of an Architect. Privately printed.
External links
- Ministry of Transportation - General Company for Iraqi Railways
- In pictures: The crown jewel of Iraq's railway - BBC News, 28 November 2016