Every day countless commuters travel through Amsterdam Centraal and for lots of Amsterdammers it’s an everyday sight. We tend not to think about it too much but how does Amsterdam’s main train station compare to others in Europe?
Well, very favourably according to the CCC’s European Railway Station Index 2022! The index looks at the 50 largest train stations in Europe and ranks them from best to worst in terms of passenger experience and Amsterdam Centraal has ranked as joint second best.
So how is it calculated? Each station is ranked according to a few variables, including the annual number of passengers and how they are dispersed across the platforms, accessibility for those with mobility issues and connections.
Also considered are connections to the city such as taxi ranks, quality of wifi and shops and restaurants in the station. Last year the overall winner was Leipzig Central Station but this year Zurich HB has taken the top spot. Of course, events in Ukraine and the Covid-19 pandemic have both impacted the rankings as different countries and cities face different challenges.
This year has been great for train travel as the country recovers from the pandemic. New sleeper trains to Zurich and Vienna have been introduced. Plus, there is the promise of a new sleeper train to Barcelona coming this winter. So, without further ado here are the rankings:
- Zurich HB
- Frankfurt Main Hbf/Munich Hbf/Berlin Hbf/Milano Centrale/Amsterdam Centraal
- Gare de Lyon
- Roma Termini
- Hannover Hbf/Düsseldorf Hbf
It’s a little confusing because so many of the stations are tied but we’re proud of Amsterdam Centraal’s place in the rankings! If you’d like to read the full list then head to the CCC website.