Adelaide Railway Station

If you are a train lover then you can’t beat the Adelaide Railway Station.
Actually, come to think of it you can because there is a train museum in Port Adelaide, and the trains simply come in, hang around for about 10 to 15 minutes, then leave so it isn’t even all that good for train spotting (there are better places along North Terrace between the bridge and the research centre, that is if they haven’t built over it by then).
Still, even if trains are not your thing, the building itself is quite impressive, and it is even listed on the heritage register. Even if you aren’t catching a train anyway, you should at least walk across the concorse because the granduer of this 1920’s building is outstanding. Hey, you don’t even have to cross North Terrace because there is a tunnel underneath. While you’re at it, you might even stop off for a coffee and one of the shops on the concourse and just watch people wandering past — who knows, you may even catch some people singing carols on the steps.

Lovely old building, a couple good shops and a few places where you can pick up a snack before going on the train. One of the nicest buildings in Adelaide and the hub for the Outer Harbour, Gawler, Noarlunga, Tonsley and Belair railway lines.
Been here quite a few times to catch the train and the addition of the metro card system on Adelaide metro public transport is a step in the right direction. A lot of the shops are newsagencies, cheap shops or tourist shops but you can still find a few good things, plus the underpass allows you to walk through Adelaide.

The Adelaide Railway Station is a gorgeous building, but the problem is it just doesn’t do too much. Sure the trains run to and fro, and they’re pretty much always on time, but other than that there isn’t much to spend your time on while you’re here.
There’s a newsagency, a café, and some fast food. Like John says, most of the railway station is actually the casino, and that’s not a good thing.
I do like that there’s always plenty of staff around at late. Train stations can be creepy when you’re catching the last bus home.

Having just come back from a trip in Japan, I’ve come to really appreciate the Adelaide Railway Station building. It’s an often overlooked and underappreciated building, but the architecture in both its design and its old gold tones makes it a pivotal feature of the Adelaide CBD.
Inside is just as beautiful, with grand halls and high ceilings. The station is clean, yet some of the shady characters hanging out both within and around it make it feel dirty. Despite the grandiose beauty of the place, you really do have to be careful sometimes, especially when it’s late. After witnessing some pretty nasty incidences and having friends of mine mugged in the station, you never know who you’re going to run into when you’re catching that last train home. I suppose it’s the same with trains in any country. It’s just a shame that the building’s character is brought down as a result.

I mention in one of my reviews that you need to find the entrance to The Cavern before you can suss it out, the Railway Station is one of the ways.
Aside from that, there are a lot of strange people who like to just chill here really, spend the day watching people come and go, sipping on coffee from one of the local vendors. The trains tend to run on time, not that I ever catch them, I’m one of the strange people killing time.
Actually, I like to use it as a quick thoroughfare to get to the entertainment centre, or to skip underneath North Terrace to get to Hindley, life can be faster if you utilise the station. Plus its big, shiny and classically beautiful.

Ahhh the Adelaide Railway Station. Many times have I rushed here after an evening out to catch the last train home. Easy to locate, and easy to find which train is yours! It’s quite a nice building, located just below the Sky City Casino (where else better to spend half hour whilst you’re waiting for your train?). It’s always clean in here, and there’s a few places you can also grab a bite to eat. There’s a great little doughnut place which has some fantastic nibbles, omnomnom. Unfortunately these places aren’t open at all hours, so if you have to wait an hour for the train, head to the Cas! The trains seem to get better and better every time I catch them. More upgrades and just a bit nicer.

The building is big, classic and charming. A pretty preservation of early Adelaide industry I’d say, aside from the fact that it’s melded to a bloody casino.
From the outside it looks nice, and when you walk in, down the stairs toward the platforms you get that feeling of being in an important station. Yet, I can’t shake the feeling that the building’s integrity has been sacrificed to the casino sitting on top of it. I wish I knew what this place was like before there were creepy bouncers and casino folk hanging around all around it. Not to mention the alternative retail potential of a train station, aside from pokies.
It’s the place to go if you want to catch a train out to Adelaide’s suburbs, of course. Trains used to run out to rural areas from this station but have since stopped with the popularity of overland coaches. The extra tracks leave the station in somewhat of a diminished presence when you’re coming or going.

Apart from being the central stop for all trains coming to and going from the city the Railway Station has more to offer.
I used to catch a bus from right outside so whilst waiting between buses some days I would go in here to grab a drink or a donut. There’s also a newsagent if you need to get the morning paper on your way through.
It’s a beautiful old building which is just nice to look at, more so on the inside in my opinion.
Not sure if they still do it but when I was a little younger they had an event each year to raise money, support and awreness for homelessness with a «sleep out» at the Railway Station. You could sign up and spend a night in here even… great cause but taking it a little too far, so I donated instead. Never been one for camping out!

This beautiful building is the central hub for all of the Adelaide metro trains. Well marked and trains leave exactly on time. It’s a bustling place of efficiency.
If you’re arriving by train have your ticket handy as you’ll need it to get out of the turnstiles. There is a free city bus and a tram stop right outside (go up the stairs). The tram is free to ride within the city.
Toilets are sketch. Blue lights to make it more difficult for people to use needles. And bar soap? WTF pleeeaaaseee!