Finlyandsky railway station in St. Petersburg. History and modernity

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

Finlyandsky railway station (Petersburg) is located on the Vyborg side in close proximity to the Neva. It is the only one in the city that has retained its original name. The metro station is located directly in the station building and allows passengers to quickly and comfortably reach any point of the metropolis. The Liteiny Bridge and a modern transport interchange on the embankment provide good transport links with other areas of the city and central highways.

History of emergence and development

The construction of the railway from St. Petersburg to Finland began in 1862. The first station building was erected in 1870. The railway was built by Finnish craftsmen. Features of the landscape and nature in the construction sites delayed the process and made it difficult and time-consuming. The Russian government allocated a gold fund, which the Finns used in the construction of the building.

Finlyandsky railway station at first looked like a wooden one-story building with a small waiting room, a luggage compartment and a room for the royal family. In front of him was a small square,railway tracks approached directly to the Neva. There was also a freight station. Later, the Finlyandsky Station united the railways laid in Sestroretsk and Borisov Griva. The tracks were reconstructed and raised above the ground in order not to interfere with the traffic on the main highways of the city.

Finlyandsky Station is famous for the performance of V. I. Lenin, which was held after his return from exile in 1917. He read a speech to the workers in which he proclaimed the beginning of a new time. In honor of this historical event, a monument to Lenin was erected at the station a few years later. After reconstruction, he moved to the square closer to the Neva.

Finlyandsky Station played a huge role during the war of 1941-1945. The first stage of the Road of Life began from it and continued to Lake Ladoga. It was from here that children, women, the elderly were sent to evacuate, and food and ammunition were brought here to maintain defense. In memory of these events and the role that the station played in the struggle to save people, a memorial kilometer post was erected not far from the platform. During the blockade and the war, the building was badly damaged and destroyed in places.

After the blockade was lifted, in the winter of 1943, it was the Finland Station that was the first to receive a train with food. The reconstruction of the building began in 1944.

Modern Finland Station

The modern station is a full-fledged and complete architectural ensemble, the main dominant of which is a sixteen-metertower with mirrored windows and a 30-meter spire. In front of it is a square with a monument to the leader, recreation areas and the famous "Singing Fountains".

The building after reconstruction has become a modern and multifunctional transport facility, which has everything necessary for the comfort of passengers. Ticket offices at Finlyandsky Station sell tickets for commuter trains and for the Allergo train, which runs to and from Helsinki.