Rossio railway station

The Rossio Railway Station (Portuguese: Estação de Caminhos de Ferro do Rossio) is a railway station in Lisbon, Portugal, located in the Rossio square. The station was formerly known as Estação Central (Central Station) and that designation still appears in its façade. Trains gain access to the station, which is in the central urban area of Lisbon, through a tunnel which is over 2.9 km (1.8 mi) long.

Rossio Railway Station

Estação de Caminhos de Ferro do Rossio
Main façade towards Rossio Square.
LocationRossio Square, Lisbon
 Portugal
Coordinates38°42′53″N 9°8′32″W
Line(s)Linha de Sintra
History
OpenedMay 1891
Previous namesEstação Central (Central Station)
Location
Rossio Railway Station
Location within Portugal
Services:   Sado (CP+Soflusa)  Sintra (CP)
  Fertagus  Azambuja (CP)  Cascais (CP)
Azambuja
Praias do Sado-A
Espadanal da Azambuja
Praça do Quebedo
Vila Nova da Rainha
Setúbal
Carregado
Palmela-A
Castanheira do Ribatejo
Venda do Alcaide
Vila Franca de Xira
Pinhal Novo
Alhandra
Penteado
Alverca
Moita
Póvoa
Alhos Vedros
Santa Iria
Baixa da Banheira
Bobadela
Lavradio
Sacavém
Barreiro-A
Moscavide
Barreiro
Oriente
(Soflusa)
Braço de Prata
Terreiro do Paço
Santa Apolónia
Penalva
Marvila
Coina
Fogueteiro
Roma-Areeiro
Foros de Amora
Entrecampos
Corroios
(z)(7)
Sete Rios
Pragal
Campolide
(z)(s)(u)*
Benfica
Rossio
Santa Cruz-Damaia
Cais do Sodré
Reboleira
Santos
(z)
Alcântara-Terra
Alcântara-Mar
(c)
Amadora
Belém
Queluz-Belas
Algés
Monte Abraão
Cruz Quebrada
Massamá-Barcarena
Caxias
Agualva-Cacém
Paço de Arcos
Mira Sintra-Meleças
Santo Amaro
Rio de Mouro
Oeiras
Mercês
Carcavelos
Algueirão-Mem Martins
Parede
Portela de Sintra
São Pedro do Estoril
Sintra
São João do Estoril
Estoril
Cascais
Monte Estoril

Lines:a Alentejoc Cascaisz Cintura
n Norteo Oestes Sintrau Sul7 C. Sete Rios
(*) Campolide (‡) Alcântara overpass
indicates a station with metro transfers
Source: Official website
(station names according to source)

History

The station was commissioned by the Portuguese Royal Railway Company and was designed between 1886 and 1887 by Portuguese architect José Luís Monteiro. It was built in one of the most important squares of Lisbon, the Rossio, and connected the city to the region of Sintra.

The tunnel was excavated under the city and is considered one of the most important works of engineering in Portugal dating from the 19th century. It was completed in 1890, and soon after Lisbon's Circle Line with a connection to the North Line also opened. The station became Lisbon's main passenger terminus until 1957, from that date only a few long distance trains terminated at Rossio, mainly West Line services, until the early 1990s.

Sidónio Pais, the fourth President of Portugal, was assassinated in Rossio Station in December 1918.[1]

The station was closed to rail services from 22 October 2004 until 12 February 2008 due to tunnel renewal work.

Architecture

Statue of King Sebastian of Portugal on the façade of the station. The statue was accidentally destroyed in 2016

The Neo-Manueline façade dominates the northwest side of the square and is a Romantic recreation of the exuberant Manueline style, typical of early 16th century Portugal. Its most interesting features are the two intertwined horseshoe portals at the entrance, the clock in a small turret and the abundant sculptural decoration. Inside, the platforms are connected by ramps to the façade level and are covered by a cast-iron structure executed by a Belgian firm. The station is an important example of Romantic (façade) and cast-iron (platform cover) architecture in Portugal.

On 3 May 2016, a 126-year-old statue of Sebastian of Portugal that stood in a niche between the entrance portals was accidentally destroyed by a person who knocked it over by climbing up for a photograph. The person was arrested.[2]

See also

References

  1. "Sidónio Bernardino Cardoso da Silva Pais". Archontology. Archontology.org. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  2. Khalip, Andrei. Selfie gone wrong fells 126-year-old statue of Portuguese king. Reuters. 4 May 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
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