Top Railway Stations to See in Armenia

Yerevan Railway Station

Construction of the current Yerevan Railway Station on David of Sasun Square began in 1952 and was completed in 1955. The station opened on July 22, 1956, designed by architect Edmond Tigranyan.

Inside Yerevan Railway Station

Originally, the building was meant to feature a gilded dome, but it opened without one. The dome was added years later, completing the architect’s original vision. The railway station is an architectural marvel, impressing visitors both inside and out.

Gyumri Railway Station

Gyumri Railway Station is the oldest railway station in Armenia and serves as the main transport hub of the city of Gyumri. Established in 1897, the first train journeyed from Tbilisi to Alexandrapol (now Gyumri) on February 7, 1899, at 12:00 PM, linking the largest city of the Yerevan province to the wider region.

The current station building, constructed between 1974 and 1979, was designed by architect Rafik Yeghoyan. The station stands as one of Gyumri’s finest examples of Soviet modernist architecture, distinguished by its striking design and artistic details.

The façade is decorated with a monumental bas-relief, while the central dome, measuring 18 meters in diameter, is adorned with intricate stained glass in vivid colors, supported by intersecting arches designed by the renowned artist Hovhannes Madoyan.

A 30-meter-high tower on the left side houses a clock decorated with gilded zodiac signs, adding to the building’s unique and iconic presence.

Vanadzor Railway Station

Vanadzor Railway Station is another important transport hub located on the strategic Gyumri–Ayrum electrified single-track line. About 20 years ago, there were plans to build a branch line from Vanadzor to Fioletovo Station, but the project was never realized.

Inside Vanadzor Railway Station

Architecturally, the station is impressive, with an interior that resembles a museum, featuring a map of Soviet railroads and an authentic historical atmosphere. The station was built in 1976 based on a design by Kabgiprotrans. Construction was carried out by Assembly Train No. 307 of the Armtransstroy trust. The project architect was G. D. Modzminashvili, and the site engineer in charge was G. B. Dodoryan.

Alaverdi Railway Station

Located on the left bank of the Debed River in Lori Province, Alaverdi Railway Station opened in 1899. The current building dates from the 1940s–1950s and comprises a three-story main hall, two platforms, and five tracks. Passenger trains no longer stop here since 2011, though access can be arranged with the on-duty staff.

Inside Alaverdi Railway Station

The station is renowned for its frescoes in the waiting hall, painted in the early 1960s by Rudolf Khachatryan (1937–2007). These are his only known monumental works, depicting characters from Hovhannes Tumanyan’s stories, the miners’ revolt during the Bolshevik Revolution, and a proud foundry worker against the backdrop of Alaverdi copper factory and surrounding mountains.

The abandoned Meghri Railway Station

The Meghri–Nakhichevan-Yerevan railway line, including the Meghri station, was opened in the autumn of 1943, during World War II. It was built to support industrial freight transport and to connect southern parts of Armenia with the wider Soviet rail network.

It soon became a vital alternative to the long and difficult highway connecting Yerevan and Meghri.

The Yerevan–Baku line ran from Yerevan through Nakhichevan, Meghri, and Kapan to Baku, with about 40 kilometers along Armenia’s southern border near Iran. Meghri station was rebuilt in the 1960s, and by the 1970s, 20–23 trains with over 50 wagons each passed daily.

After the Soviet Union collapsed and the Artsakh liberation war began, freight wagons from Meghri via Nakhichevan could no longer reach Yerevan. The station ceased operations, with the last train passing on the night of April 23, 1992.

Yerevan Children's Railway

Until now, I had only recommended train stations that are operational or were once in use. But I couldn’t resist adding one more — not a transportation hub, but a children’s attraction: the Yerevan Children’s Railway.

Nestled in Yerevan’s Hrazdan Gorge, this abandoned railway is a poignant reminder of Soviet-era Armenia. Built in 1937, it once delighted generations with its charming trains and stations named Motherland, Pioneer, and Happiness.

The chief architect of the children’s railway park was Mikael Mazmanyan. The original wooden station building was replaced in the late 1940s by a stone structure designed by Babken S. Hakobyan, with the final tower designed by Gohar Grigoryan.

Although now privatized and quiet, echoes of its past glory linger everywhere. For those who appreciate forgotten sites rich in history and atmosphere, this location comes highly recommended.