Alameda railway station
Alameda (unofficially Estación Central) is a major railway station in Santiago, Chile, serving the south of the country, and is the city's primary and railway station, and is the only major railway station in Santiago after the closure of Mapocho, which used to cater trains to northern Chile. It is on the Avenida Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins, facing Matucana avenue. Overview. It opened in 1885, with the building designed by Gustave Eiffel in 1897, and its metallic structure built by the French firm Schneider of Le Creusot. It was declared a National Monument in 1983 by  the government, protected by law against being demolished or remodeled. It has long been a reference point for travellers and locals; it is so well known that it gave the name to the municipality and commune where it is located, Estación Central. It has experienced a revival as the government railway Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado has been modernized to restore the bygone appeal for train travel. These efforts have met with moderate success. It is an important hub for public transportation, with the underground Santiago Metro "Line 1" Estación Central metro station and three intercity bus terminals within  walking distance. Many local bus lines stop at the station and a medium-sized shopping center is adjacent. The nearby San Borja Bus Terminal is within walking distance and connected by a medium-sized complex of shopping centers. The central gates of the station are a transfer point to the metro station. Lines and trains. The following lines and trains terminate here: References. Station History