The stations have progressively acquired a historical, sociological and aesthetic importance that surpasses their simple technical function. They are, like the railway itself (1825-1830, the first steam trains in England), one of the characteristic elements of the industrial and urban development of the century. Railway stations appeared in the United Kingdom during the 1820s, later developed in France and finally in all industrialized countries. The first in the modern sense appeared in 1830 on the Manchester-Liverpool line, the first to have a regular service.[1]​.

The stations were an important challenge for the architecture of the time, in terms of the structure of the building, since they required large spaces and, due to the large accumulation of smoke coming from the locomotives, great heights. This led to the construction of large metal vaults and the development of iron architecture. And the new materials provided by the industrial revolution were essential for their construction.

Over time the stations became completely functional. They were victims of a relative loss of identity during the 1950s until, partly thanks to high-speed trains at the beginning of the 1980s and a development of suburban rail service, the stations underwent a new architectural renovation. The development of most cities has caused the stations to be modernized by adding architectural details or creating underground platforms, such as in the cities of Madrid or Logroño in Spain and Buenos Aires in Argentina.[2]​.

To the passengers

Passenger services are usually concentrated in the so-called passenger building. They may have lockers, vending machines, restaurants, bars, toilets, lockers, lost and found, arrival and departure screens, waiting rooms, taxi and bus stops, parking, etc. The availability of services depends on the size and importance of the station, so that some very basic stations only have platforms.

Some passenger buildings (such as the Termini Station in Rome) are managed by companies other than those that manage railway traffic (in the case of Termini it is managed by Grandi Stazioni, a subsidiary of the one that manages railway traffic, Ferrovie dello Stato). These companies seek profitability from these buildings, which is why they usually include shopping centers inside the station.

In some countries in Africa and South America, and in some areas of India, traveler buildings are used as public markets and other informal businesses.

to the goods

Stations with merchandise service have special facilities for handling them, both their loading and unloading and their classification. Currently, standard-sized containers tend to be used as freight cars to facilitate this work. A special case of freight stations are dry ports.

Facilities for loading goods onto passenger trains are sometimes found at passenger stations, as is the case with car loading platforms used for autoexpresses.

To circulation

Sometimes the station itself houses the circulation cabinet and the interlock management and in others there are facilities thanks to a remote control, as is the case of Centralized Traffic Control.

to the trains

At some stations there are services for trains, such as water or fuel refueling, electrical coupling to provide heating to the train when it is not connected to the locomotive, parking, etc.

In generally border stations you can find a gauge change service.

Most stations are of two types:

Some stations have particular configurations, such as triangular stations that are formed at the meeting of two lines, or stations with crossings at different levels, as in Berlin's central station.

Las estaciones de ferrocarril presentan un riesgo para la salud y seguridad de los pasajeros. Los comportamientos de riesgo entre los viajeros vienen determinados en parte por su experiencia usando trenes o su edad. De este modo, una persona que no frecuenta estaciones puede estar desorientada y mostrarse insegura, mientras que un pasajero habitual puede estar demasiado confiado en situaciones de riesgo. Los actitudes más comunes que suponen un peligro a menudo son socialmente aceptadas, encontrándose entre ellas estar demasiado cerca del borde del andén, adoptar posturas inestables y embarcar o desembarcar de forma tardía.[3]​.

Los incidentes suceden tanto cuando hay trenes en el andén o cuando está vacío. Los principales riesgos existentes mientras el tren se encuentra en la estación incluyen tropezar entre el hueco y el andén, resbalones o bloqueos en las puertas. Mientras el andén está vacío los incidentes pueden suponer caídas a las vías o golpes al estar demasiado cerca de un tren en movimiento.[3]​.

Algunas de las medidas para reducir los riesgos en las estaciones son:[3]​.

Terrorist attacks

The risks that the stations suffer from terrorist attacks are very high. In Europe, one in three attacks occur on trains or railway stations. In these infrastructures, the attacks were carried out through the use of explosives (44%), immolations (32%), knives (20%) and firearms (4%).[4]​ Given their characteristics, stations are considered just as vulnerable as airports.[5]​.

Two different security environments can be distinguished, depending on whether the station is high-speed or urban. A high-speed train stop allows greater controls since the journeys are less frequent, longer and with fewer stations than in a metro "Metro (transport system)"). Therefore, this transport system allows access controls, individual identification and the use of scanners. On the other hand, stations in cities have a large influx of people, several entrances from the street and a greater frequency of trains, which makes such exhaustive control unfeasible in comparison.[3]​ Video surveillance cameras, explosive detectors and security arches make it possible to reduce these risks and monitor the movements of people accessing the stations.[5]​.

Accessibility for disabled people is required by law in some countries. Considerations include:

The stations have progressively acquired a historical, sociological and aesthetic importance that surpasses their simple technical function. They are, like the railway itself (1825-1830, the first steam trains in England), one of the characteristic elements of the industrial and urban development of the century. Railway stations appeared in the United Kingdom during the 1820s, later developed in France and finally in all industrialized countries. The first in the modern sense appeared in 1830 on the Manchester-Liverpool line, the first to have a regular service.[1]​.

The stations were an important challenge for the architecture of the time, in terms of the structure of the building, since they required large spaces and, due to the large accumulation of smoke coming from the locomotives, great heights. This led to the construction of large metal vaults and the development of iron architecture. And the new materials provided by the industrial revolution were essential for their construction.

Over time the stations became completely functional. They were victims of a relative loss of identity during the 1950s until, partly thanks to high-speed trains at the beginning of the 1980s and a development of suburban rail service, the stations underwent a new architectural renovation. The development of most cities has caused the stations to be modernized by adding architectural details or creating underground platforms, such as in the cities of Madrid or Logroño in Spain and Buenos Aires in Argentina.[2]​.

To the passengers

Passenger services are usually concentrated in the so-called passenger building. They may have lockers, vending machines, restaurants, bars, toilets, lockers, lost and found, arrival and departure screens, waiting rooms, taxi and bus stops, parking, etc. The availability of services depends on the size and importance of the station, so that some very basic stations only have platforms.

Some passenger buildings (such as the Termini Station in Rome) are managed by companies other than those that manage railway traffic (in the case of Termini it is managed by Grandi Stazioni, a subsidiary of the one that manages railway traffic, Ferrovie dello Stato). These companies seek profitability from these buildings, which is why they usually include shopping centers inside the station.

In some countries in Africa and South America, and in some areas of India, traveler buildings are used as public markets and other informal businesses.

to the goods

Stations with merchandise service have special facilities for handling them, both their loading and unloading and their classification. Currently, standard-sized containers tend to be used as freight cars to facilitate this work. A special case of freight stations are dry ports.

Facilities for loading goods onto passenger trains are sometimes found at passenger stations, as is the case with car loading platforms used for autoexpresses.

To circulation

Sometimes the station itself houses the circulation cabinet and the interlock management and in others there are facilities thanks to a remote control, as is the case of Centralized Traffic Control.

to the trains

At some stations there are services for trains, such as water or fuel refueling, electrical coupling to provide heating to the train when it is not connected to the locomotive, parking, etc.

In generally border stations you can find a gauge change service.

Most stations are of two types:

Some stations have particular configurations, such as triangular stations that are formed at the meeting of two lines, or stations with crossings at different levels, as in Berlin's central station.

Las estaciones de ferrocarril presentan un riesgo para la salud y seguridad de los pasajeros. Los comportamientos de riesgo entre los viajeros vienen determinados en parte por su experiencia usando trenes o su edad. De este modo, una persona que no frecuenta estaciones puede estar desorientada y mostrarse insegura, mientras que un pasajero habitual puede estar demasiado confiado en situaciones de riesgo. Los actitudes más comunes que suponen un peligro a menudo son socialmente aceptadas, encontrándose entre ellas estar demasiado cerca del borde del andén, adoptar posturas inestables y embarcar o desembarcar de forma tardía.[3]​.

Los incidentes suceden tanto cuando hay trenes en el andén o cuando está vacío. Los principales riesgos existentes mientras el tren se encuentra en la estación incluyen tropezar entre el hueco y el andén, resbalones o bloqueos en las puertas. Mientras el andén está vacío los incidentes pueden suponer caídas a las vías o golpes al estar demasiado cerca de un tren en movimiento.[3]​.

Algunas de las medidas para reducir los riesgos en las estaciones son:[3]​.

Terrorist attacks

The risks that the stations suffer from terrorist attacks are very high. In Europe, one in three attacks occur on trains or railway stations. In these infrastructures, the attacks were carried out through the use of explosives (44%), immolations (32%), knives (20%) and firearms (4%).[4]​ Given their characteristics, stations are considered just as vulnerable as airports.[5]​.

Two different security environments can be distinguished, depending on whether the station is high-speed or urban. A high-speed train stop allows greater controls since the journeys are less frequent, longer and with fewer stations than in a metro "Metro (transport system)"). Therefore, this transport system allows access controls, individual identification and the use of scanners. On the other hand, stations in cities have a large influx of people, several entrances from the street and a greater frequency of trains, which makes such exhaustive control unfeasible in comparison.[3]​ Video surveillance cameras, explosive detectors and security arches make it possible to reduce these risks and monitor the movements of people accessing the stations.[5]​.

Accessibility for disabled people is required by law in some countries. Considerations include: