Yekaterinburg Railway Station: a crossroads of continental significance.
In June 2020, the railway station of Yekaterinburg turns 106 years old. It is a transport interchange hub, is actively integrated into the urban environment and is a local landmark. In addition, it is one of the largest in Russia and the largest in the Ural region, occupies a leading place in passenger traffic after the stations of Moscow and St. Petersburg.
The station consists of several buildings: a new building, a baggage compartment building and two station buildings recognized as historical and architectural monuments. After the restoration in 2003, the old building became a Museum of History, Science and Technology, one of the most popular attractions of the city. The railway station of the station until 2010 retained the Soviet name Sverdlovsk-Passenger, after and to the present time Yekaterinburg-Passenger. The main building of the station has been reconstructed many times in its history, this was due to the growth of the population, and then with an increase in passenger traffic along the Trans-Siberian railway. The last and most extensive works were carried out in 2018. They were timed to coincide with the World Cup, which was also held in Yekaterinburg. The area of the station is 19,000 sq.m., at the same time it can accommodate up to 5,000 people. More than 18.5 thousand passengers use the station's services daily, while the maximum capacity is no more than 25,000 people.
The station is located at ul .22 Vokzalnaya street. It will not be difficult to get to it by car. A significant part of the forecourt is used as a parking lot, so there will be no problems with parking the car. Municipal parking is public, but paid. You can use taxi services. You can also get to the railway station by regular public transport (buses, trolleybuses, trams, minibuses) and by metro to the Uralskaya station, which is 200 meters away.
Up to 60 long-distance trains in seven directions and more than 180 suburban trains depart from Yekaterinburg railway station every day. Yekaterinburg-Passenger is a junction station of the Trans-Siberian railway. On domestic routes, trains run to Moscow, Novorossiysk, St. Petersburg, Anapa, Kislovodsk, Samara, Chelyabinsk, Perm and other cities of the country. In addition, the station provides direct non-stop communication with Minsk, Beijing, Warsaw, Gomel and other cities of the near and far abroad. Therefore, this station can be called a crossroads of continental significance. Suburban electric trains go to the stations: Sverdlovsk-Sortirovochny, Keramik, Kuzino, Shalya, Kamensk-Uralsky, Bogdanovich, Nizhny Tagil, Asbestos, Bazhenovo, Verkhny Ufaley, Druzhinino, Kamshylov, Egorshino and others.
The station infrastructure has been adapted for people with limited mobility. Six induction systems for the hard of hearing have been installed throughout the station complex (including in ticket offices and waiting rooms); navigation and information signs have been adapted for people with visual impairments.
All conditions for comfortable leisure are created at the station so that passengers do not get bored waiting for the train. The building has cafes, bars, restaurants, many shops, including souvenir shops. As we noted earlier, you can pass the time at the Museum of History, Science and Technology of the Sverdlovsk Railway (14 Vokzalnaya Street), which is located in the old station building. In the central waiting room there is a prayer room of the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. This is another local attraction. In addition, take a walk along the station square, there is a monument of industrial architecture of the early XX century - merchant Borchaninov's mill and a monument to tank soldiers and home front workers. In recent years, the square has often become a venue for exhibitions and concerts. Thus, the role of railway stations laid down in the 19th century as public spaces and points of cultural attraction is being revived.
There are also 24-hour help centers at the station. They are located in the foyer of the second floor and in the hall of long-distance ticket offices. On the third floor of the station there is a paid high-comfort waiting room, comfortable waiting rooms, a mother and child room. In the waiting room number four, designed for passengers with children, there is a children's play area. There is also a business hall for official receptions and meetings. Free Wi-Fi is available. In addition, passengers can use the services of luggage storage and hand luggage, office and sanitary services, services of stay or transit accommodation at the station (fourth floor of the building). There are ATMs, a barber shop, a nail bar and much more on site.
Since the station is located in the central part of the city, there are many cafes and restaurants around, in addition to those in the station itself. Shops and supermarkets, as well as a large selection of hotels and hostels. For example, the hostel «Penates », mini-hotel South, hotel «Marins Park Hotel», Orion Hotel, Crystal Hotel.
Yekaterinburg railway station welcomes passengers around the clock, providing them with a comfortable stay within the walls of the station. The infrastructure of the station complex, thought out to the smallest detail, allows travelers to usefully organize leisure time before the arrival of the train – how to relax in the waiting rooms, replenish their vitality in cafes, get acquainted with local attractions, and all this without leaving the territory of the station.
