From war to dying industries, abandoned train stations have stories as varied as the structures themselves

From the US to Australia and Singapore to Pakistan, abandoned train stations provide atmospheric windows to the past, and evoke ‘pride in the railway heritage’

Whether ravaged by war or no longer needed because of industrial decline, there are many different reasons railway stations become abandoned

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Bhoun Station in Pakistan is a spectacular example of an abandoned train station. From war to dying industries, there are many reasons train stations became disused. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 5:15pm, 20 Jul 2022

There’s something captivating about abandoned spaces, especially abandoned railway stations. Constant movement has been replaced by an eerie stillness; a portal to elsewhere has become a window into the past.

“Abandoned stations are quite a strong topic among railway-minded people,” says David Ross, author of several books on railways. “It’s digging back into a past that is very interesting, full of mechanical things that aren’t used any more.”

Ross’ latest effort is Abandoned Train Stations, a photo book with more than 200 compelling images of abandoned stations around the world. Ross researched the stations to find out why they were abandoned and what they were like when they were in service.

For that, Ross delved into his extensive home library, as well as his own experiences as a fan of railways. It is an interest that goes back several decades to his childhood in Scotland.

David Ross, author of Abandoned Train Stations. Photo: David Ross

“When I was a small boy in primary school, in a small village, my best friend was the son of the local stationmaster. We had the run of the station together,” he says.