Genval railway station

Genval railway station (Template:Langx; Template:Langx)Template:Efn is a railway station in Genval, Walloon Brabant, Belgium. The station opened in 1889 on railway line 161 between Brussels and Namur. It is operated by the National Railway Company of Belgium (SNCB/NMBS).

History

Early history

File:Gare-1-2-Genval-1920.jpg

The first and second Genval railway stations, pictured c. Template:Trim

The first railway station, probably built around 1900, was of the "Belgian State Halt Plan 1893" type, with a central body with four openings framed by two small asymmetrical wings, very similar to the one that had been built at the village of Template:Ill. It later became the goods station building. The second (current) eclectic-style railway station was erected near the first around 1910, as attested by the inscription "Anno 1910" above the main entrance. It was designed by the architect G. De Lulle, who adapted the characteristics of the bourgeois villa to railway use.Template:Sfn It has a number of similarities with Template:Ill.

21st century

At the beginning of the 21st century, the construction of the four-track line between Watermael-Boitsfort and Ottignies required major redevelopment work at the station.Template:Sfn The project included a large multi-storey car park with 570 spaces, built partly above the tracks.Template:Sfn The car park allows direct access to the platforms via stairs or lifts.Template:Sfn A bus station was then built on the site of the old car park.Template:Sfn The development is complemented by bicycles facilities and short-term parking spaces.Template:Sfn The civil engineering work on this site was carried out between 2009 and 2013. During this work, the first station building and the goods halls were demolished.

Architecture

The station's architectural style is eclectic with Art Nouveau decorative elements. The building, made of orange and yellow bricks, consists of a high central building with a low-rise extension on each side. The station's rear façade presents a wrought iron canopy with a porch roof (or glass porch) typical of the Belle Époque.

• Porch roof
  Porch roof
• Looking down at the tracks
  Looking down at the tracks
• View of the platforms and tracks
  View of the platforms and tracks
• Tracks under the car park
  Tracks under the car park

Art Nouveau decoration

The Art Nouveau decoration of the frontage consists of four beautiful ceramic panels and four sgraffiti, depicting red poppy flowers, plus one sgraffito depicting the "winged wheel", symbol of the railway since the 19th century. This "winged wheel" refers to Hermes, the ancient Greek god of travellers.

• Ceramic panel depicting red poppy flowers
  Ceramic panel depicting red poppy flowers
• Ceramic panel depicting red poppy flowers
  Ceramic panel depicting red poppy flowers
• Sgraffito depicting red poppy flowers
  Sgraffito depicting red poppy flowers
• Sgraffito with the "winged wheel"
  Sgraffito with the "winged wheel"

Train services

The following services currently the serve the station:

• Brussels RER services (S8) Brussels - Etterbeek - Ottignies - Louvain-le-Neuve
• Brussels RER services (S81) Schaarbeek - Brussels-Luxembourg - Etterbeek - Ottignies (weekdays, peak hours only)

Bus services

The following service(s) serve the station, operated by TEC.

• 366 (Ixelles - Court-Saint-Etienne)

See also

• List of railway stations in Belgium
• Rail transport in Belgium

External links

• Belgian Railways website