Challenging times reveal which stations can adapt and which continue to struggle. This year’s index highlights both resilience and decline across Europe’s busiest hubs. Zurich Main Station once again takes the top spot, proving that reliability and quality can be sustained even under pressure. At the same time, Wroclaw Glowny makes a remarkable debut: not only the first Polish station in the ranking, but also second overall, signaling the rapid rise of Eastern Europe in infrastructure and passenger services. Other stations, like Berlin Main Station and London Paddington, have rebounded impressively thanks to shorter delays and better amenities, while long-time leaders such as Bern and Montparnasse saw only minor drops. Yet, persistent problems remain in countries like Germany, Spain, and the UK, where delays, blackouts, and political interventions continue to shape passengers’ experiences. The results show a rail landscape in transition, some stations setting new standards of excellence, others revealing the deep cracks still to be repaired.
We ranked fifty of Europe’s busiest railway stations, measured by passenger volume, to highlight where consumers can expect the best travel experience. The evaluation considered ticketing options, in-station services, accessibility, free Wi-Fi, rail coverage at both national and local levels, and ride-sharing availability. This sixth annual edition builds on earlier research using official reports, online data, station maps, real-time updates, and our own analysis.
To make the results more meaningful, we introduced additional categories alongside the overall ranking: “super-stations” with over 100 million passengers, smaller hubs with under 50 million, and a separate list for newcomers to the index. Scores range from very high to very low across all categories, showing no preference for station size. Passenger volumes reflect the most recent data available as of August 2025, though in some cases operating companies did not provide updates.
Passenger numbers rose sharply at several major stations. Gare du Nord grew from 226.7 to 257 million travelers, Frankfurt Main from 127.7 to 164.2 million, and UK hubs like Liverpool Street, Stratford, and Paddington all saw strong gains. Yet declines were also notable: Essen fell from 55.5 to 33.6 million, Dortmund from 54.7 to 47.5 million, and Napoli Centrale from 59.2 to 50 million—though some shifts reflect changes in reporting rather than real-world traffic.
Switzerland continues to excel. Zurich averages just 1.33 minutes in wait times, with only 4% of trains delayed, while Bern performs even better, confirming the benefits of competition and dense infrastructure. By contrast, Berlin’s Main Station has improved since last year—waiting times halved, delays reduced, and new restaurants added—though it still faces challenges.
Other stations remain weak points. Gare de Lyon reports long waits, though disruptions appear temporary. German stations dominate the bottom of the rankings, with Dortmund, Gesundbrunnen, and Ostkreuz struggling with poor amenities, high delays, and inadequate services despite heavy traffic. Until structural reforms take hold, consumer frustration in Germany is unlikely to fade.
There are several upsides to choosing one of the top five stations for arrival or departure, such as less time spent waiting for trains, more convenient operating hours for ticket booths, more ticket packages to choose from, more accessible entrances, platforms, and restrooms for people with disabilities, more shops, kiosks, restaurants, and first-class lounges, quicker connections to and from the station and better national coverage.
Research Director
Policy Fellow
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