An Eerie Look At The World's Most Remote Train Stations

End of the line

Being a keen traveler means exploring iconic landmarks, bucket list cities and gorgeous natural wonders, but it's also about discovering some of the world's lesser known spots. If you feel like venturing off the beaten path, then these remote train stations would certainly help you to do so. From an abandoned metro station in rural China to a Scottish railway terminal in the shadow of Ben Nevis, these are the most secluded rail stops on the planet.

Dent, England, UK

Dent station in Cumbria, UK, sits 1,150 feet (351m) above sea level, making it the highest main line station in England. Situated on the Settle-Carlisle Line, which is often considered one of the world’s most scenic railway routes, the station is five miles (8km) away from the idyllic village of Dent, with its cobbled streets, 12th-century architecture and historic pubs – all of which would make the hike downhill worth your while. Regular trains service Dent from Leeds and Carlisle every day.

Tanggula Railway Station, Tibet, China

Amazingly, Tanggula in Amdo County, Tibet, is the highest railway station in the world. Positioned at an elevation of 16,627 feet (5,068m), the station lies on the Qingzang Railway route, which connects the cities of Qinghai and Lhasa. The station is unstaffed and while some trains do stop here, the passengers have to remain on the train as the surrounding area is pretty much uninhabited.

Okuoikojo Station, Shizuoka, Japan

There's no denying the otherworldly beauty of Okuoikojo Station. Nestled among breathtaking scenery in the Japanese prefecture of Shizuoka, this train station lies in the heart of the area's mountain country, on a tiny cliff outcrop in the middle of a lake. As stunning as it is remote, Okuoikojo sits on the steepest railway in Japan and would make for one seriously unforgettable pit stop, no matter what the season. Those afraid of heights better look away.

 

Wondabyne railway station, New South Wales, Australia

Likely one of the strangest railway stops in the world, Wondabyne in Australia is located on the shores of Mullet Creek, 40-minute drive from Sydney. It's the only train station in Australia inaccessible by road – in fact, it can only be reached by boat. What's more, the station has no ticket machines, no guard and its platforms are so short that you can only board and alight using the rear carriage. Passengers must also flag the train down in order to catch a ride.

Alpine Station, Texas, USA

If you ever find yourself venturing to Big Bend National Park by train, then you might just pay a visit to Alpine Station. This unmanned depot is a stop on Amtrak's Sunset Limited and Texas Eagle routes and also connects the town of Alpine with the rest of the United States. This remote corner of Texas lies at an elevation of 4,475 feet and is surrounding by soaring mountain peaks. Regular trains run to Alpine from Houston, but the journey takes around 15 hours.

 

Berney Arms, England, UK

Counted among England's most remote and least-used stations, Berney Arms serves a settlement of the same name on the Halvergate Marshes in Norfolk. Located right in the heart of the Broads National Park, the station is surrounded by fields, rivers and lakes, and is several miles from any road. Just two trains operate daily in each direction through Berney Arms and there's not so much as a ticket machine or a waiting room on the station's barely-there platform. In fact, the station was only used 42 times between April 2019 and March 2020.

Jungfraujoch, Valais, Switzerland

As well as being one of the world's most secluded stations, Jungfraujoch in Valais, Switzerland, is also one of the most beautiful. Nicknamed the 'Top of Europe', this station is the highest in the continent and has been providing services since 1912. At 11,332 feet above sea level, Jungfraujoch isn't just record-breaking. Those who hop aboard at Jungfraujoch can soak up breathtaking Alpine scenery, from Aletsch Glacier all the way to the Black Forest mountain range in Germany.

Lekhapani Station, Assam, India

Located 4,856 feet above sea level, in the Tinsukia district of Assam, Lekhapani Station was the easternmost railway station on the Indian Railways map, until it closed in 1993. The station lies close to Namdapha National Park and the nearest city, Guwahati, is a staggering 321 miles away. Today, the defunct station is a ghost town, with the tracks barely visible among the grass and a plaque that reads "India's Last Frontier" decorating the eerie landscape.

 

Rhosneigr Station, Wales, UK

If you're ever exploring the Welsh island of Anglesey, then you might pass through Rhosneigr (pronounced ros-nay-guh). This remote village is well worth a visit, thanks to its gorgeous coastal path and sandy beaches, however, getting there isn't necessarily easy for those without a car. Rhosneigr's train station lies a mile outside the village, with nothing but fields on the horizon. To get dropped off here, you need to tell the conductor in advance, while those wanting to get picked up must stick their arm out, as if hailing a bus.

Canfranc International Railway Station, Huesca, Spain

As magnificent as it is haunting, Canfranc International was once the biggest train station in all of Europe. Nestled high in the Spanish Pyrenees, on the remote border of Spain and France, the station was known as the 'Titanic of the Mountains' when it first opened in 1929. Sadly, Canfranc International was forced to close in the 1970s and slowly fell into a state of disrepair. Today, you can visit the site in its latest incarnation: a luxury hotel.

 

St. Marys Junction, Ontario, Canada

Amazingly, this tiny train station in rural Ontario is a National Historic Site of Canada. Constructed in 1858, the secluded stone station was built for the Grand Trunk Railway, which ran from Sarnia, Canada, to Portland, USA, and was the first railway line of significant length ever built in the country. Today, St. Marys Junction is closed and lies some 50 minutes' drive from the nearest cities of Kitchener and London, with nothing but fields and trees for miles around.

Cook, South Australia, Australia

A vast and diffusely populated country, Australia has corners that many tourists will never see. One of those places is Cook, a ghost town in South Australia, which was built when the Trans-Australian Railway was created back in 1917. It's nestled in the middle of nowhere, somewhere along the longest straight railway track in the world. In fact, it's around 513 miles away from Port Augusta by train and 62 miles north of the Eyre Highway. 

 

Bakkai Station, Hokkaido, Japan

Despite enduring some harsh blizzards during its time, Bakkai Station has been in operation for close to a century. Located near the northern tip of Japan’s Hokkaido island, it’s the most northerly unmanned station in the country and is often battered by brutal winds, covered in snow and chilled by icy temperatures. It’s perhaps no wonder, then, that its wooden buildings have undergone countless repairs in that time. It’s served by the JR Hokkaido’s Soya Main Line.

Dunrobin Castle, Scotland, UK

Dunrobin Castle was once the private train station for one of Scotland's oldest inhabited fortresses. The stop was solely used by the Dukes of Sutherland, who could literally step off the train and straight through the gates of their stately home. The station is said to have been constructed by the third Duke in 1870, who was reportedly a keen train spotter. Today, visitors of Dunrobin Castle can use the station during the summer months to visit the enchanting property and its gardens, but check the website for timings.

Altnabreac Station, Scotland, UK

Altnabreac is one of the most inaccessible train stations in the whole of the UK – and it’s no wonder when you consider the fact that it lies some 40 miles away from the closest town and 12 miles from the nearest road. Strangely, there’s nothing really in Altnabreac, aside from trees and open meadows. The station offers a tiny, overgrown platform, but not a whole lot else. Only a few trains pass through each day, but we're sure the scenery would make the journey worthwhile.

Psyrtskha Railway Station, New Athos, Abkhazia

Over in Abkhazia (a breakaway region of Georgia), lies the incredibly picturesque Psyrtskha Railway Station. The transport hub can be found overhanging a lake, surrounded by mountains, and though it has long since been abandoned, the train tracks that once served the station are still very much in use. Visitors to the region can step inside the old station to take in its wooden paneling, impressive ceiling and idyllic lake views.

Kácov Station, Czech Republic

This remote railway station can be found in the small village of Kácov in Czech Republic’s Central Bohemia region, almost 40 miles (63.3km) from th-e nearest city, the country's capital Prague. There's little to see or do here, which is likely why the station was closed a long time ago. Despite this, the rundown depot still offers plenty of charm. In fact, it was even used as a filming location for the 2001 Czech drama, Dark Blue World.

The Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Depot, Colorado, USA

Crested Butte is one of the most secluded towns in America. It spans less than one square mile and lies more than 20 miles from the next closest town, Gunnison. Here, you’ll find an old railway depot dating back to 1883. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Depot was built when Crested Butte was a growing mining town and was closed, along with the mines, in the 1950s. Today, the building is used by local non-profits and the area’s caretaker.

Banff station, Alberta, Canada

Despite being an iconic bucket list destination for many, Banff is remote and not so well connected. The town in Alberta is known for its stunning -National Park, Rocky Mountain peaks and abundance of wildlife and adventure pursuits. Located 80 miles west of Calgary, 250 miles southwest of Edmonton and 530 miles east of Vancouver, Banff Station gives those unable to drive or fly the chance to venture to one of the world's most spectacular places.

Skagway, Alaska, USA

Few places in Alaska might be considered accessible, but Skagway certainly wouldn't. Tucked away in a remote valley on the southeast coast of Alaska, Skagway was established as a Gold Rush town back in 1897, which is why a train station was built here in 1898. Today, tourists can book trips on the historic narrow-gauge railway, stepping off the train to explore Glacier Gorge or Bridal Veil Falls. The route, while remote, is considered one of the most scenic in the world.

Sugar Loaf Station, Wales, UK

Not only is Sugar Loaf Station the most geographically remote train station on the Heart of Wales Line, but it also happens to have an adorable name. Despite being positioned about a mile away from the popular Sugar Loaf mountain viewpoint in Carmarthenshire, the station is the least used stop in all of Wales, even closing between 1960 and 1980, due to lack of use. In fact, according to statistics by the Office of Rail and Road, Sugar Loaf sees on average just 14 passengers a week.

Karskaya station, Arctic Circle, Russia

What could be more remote than the Arctic Circle? Karskaya station lies at the end of the Obskaya–Bovanenkovo Line in Russia and is the most northerly railway station in the world. The railway tracks and station at Karskaya were constructed in 2011 by Gazprom, an energy corporation based in Saint Petersburg, since Karskaya is home to a huge gas field.

Corrour Station, Scotland, UK

Savvy movie fans might recognise the name Corrour Station from the iconic British black comedy Trainspotting. As beautiful as it is remote, Corrour is a 20-mile hike away from the nearest town and over an hours' drive from Fort William. It's the UK's highest mainline station, located 1,300 feet above sea level, and is home to the remote Station House Restaurant. It also happens to lie in the shadow of iconic Ben Nevis.

 

Estación Del Fin Del Mundo, Ushuaia, Argentina

Its name translates to ‘the station at the end of the world’ and we reckon that sounds about right. The world’s most southerly train stop in operation, Estación Del Fin Del Mundo – also known as Cascada de la Macarena Station – is located near Ushuaia on the Tierra de Fuego peninsula. Those who take the scenic route to this dinky station, which is served by the Tren Del Fin Del Mundo, will be rewarded with views of the La Macarena waterfall, the Pipo River and thick lenga forests along the way.

Shimonada Station, Ehime, Japan

It’s difficult to imagine a more tranquil location for a train station than this. Japan’s Shimonada Station, located in the Ehime province on the island of Shikoku, seems almost to teeter on the edge of the Seto Inland Sea, creating a popular spot for photographers at sunset and sunrise. It’s serviced by the main train line operating on the island and around 18 daily trains pass through it. However, despite its enduring popularity with tourists, the number of passengers that use it day-to-day has been declining since the 1980s due to the opening of a new inland route. 

 

Thurso Station, Scotland, UK

The most northerly station in the British Isles – which also serves the most northerly town in mainland Scotland – is Thurso, a tiny outpost which sits less than a mile from the coast. The only way to get to this far-flung stop is via Scotrail’s Far North Line. Hop on board in Inverness and enjoy the leisurely four-hour journey, taking in plenty of breathtaking Highland scenery along the way. When you arrive, you’re just a short bus journey from John O’Groats, Great Britain’s northeastern tip.

Rannoch Station, Scotland, UK

Few railway stations can lay claim to such beautiful setting as Rannoch. Situated 18 miles from the village of Kinloch Rannoch in north-central Scotland, the tiny railway stop sits on a stunning plateau surrounded by the brooding Rannoch Moor and is considered one of the UK’s most remote stations. It’s served by the West Highland line and offers regular links to Glasgow, Fort William, Malliag and London Euston. 

Now take a look at beautiful images of the world's train stations