Baghdad Central Station

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Baghdad Central Station
Central station
Exterior of the station in 2017
Location	Qahira Street, Sheik Maaruf, Baghdad Iraq
Coordinates	33°19′25″N 44°22′49″E / 33.32361°N 44.38028°E / 33.32361; 44.38028Coordinates: 33°19′25″N 44°22′49″E / 33.32361°N 44.38028°E / 33.32361; 44.38028
Owned by	Iraqi Railways
Platforms	4
Construction
Structure type	Domed structure
Platform levels	3
History
Opened	1953

Baghdad Central Station is the main train station in Baghdad. It links the rail network to the south and the north of Iraq. The station was built by the to designs by J M Wilson, a Scot who had been an assistant to Lutyens in New Delhi and who subsequently set up a practice of his own in Baghdad.^[1] Construction started in 1948 and finished in 1953. The station is the biggest one in Iraq.

History[]

The train station was originally built by the British and it was considered as the "Jewel of Baghdad" for daily travellers. 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.

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^{[2][page needed]}

Gallery[]

• 

  Baghdad Central Station, 1959

• 

  Inside of the Station, 2010

• 

  Main entrance, 2012

See also[]

• Iraqi Republic Railways
• Railway stations in Iraq
• Baghdad Metro

References[]

External links[]

• Ministry of Transportation - General Company for Iraqi Railways
• In pictures: The crown jewel of Iraq's railway - BBC News, 28 November 2016

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Baghdad Railway Station.