Estação Central do Brasil () is a major train station in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro. The station is located in downtown Rio de Janeiro, along the Avenida Presidente Vargas and across from the Campo de Santana park. It is one of the most famous train stations in Brazil, and was previously called Estação Dom Pedro II, a name by which it is still also known unofficially.

The station is the last stop of Rio de Janeiro's suburban railway network, as well as a hub for connection with the city subway and a bus station. Central do Brasil was also a preeminent stop in the interstate Central do Brasil railroad, which linked Rio de Janeiro with São Paulo and Minas Gerais, though the railroad is now deactivated.

The station opened in 1858, and the current station building in the Art Deco style opened in 1943.

History

thumb|left|The station building in the 1860s.

The construction of the first station in the centre of Rio de Janeiro began in 1855, to serve as the terminus of the new Estrada de Ferro Dom Pedro II (Dom Pedro II Railway) which was to connect the city, then the capital of Brazil, with the provinces of São Paulo and Minas Gerais. The location chosen for this station was the Campo de Santana, an area close to the city center and at the time the site of many government buildings. Its construction necessitated the demolition of the Igreja de Santa Ana (Church of Saint Anne) dating from 1735, but a wooden image of the saint, originating from Portugal, can still be found in a chapel at the station. The station, then known as the Estação do Campo due to its location, was opened along with the first section of the railway line from Rio de Janeiro to Queimados in March 1858 in the presence of Emperor Pedro II, Empress Teresa Christine and the bishop. The name of the station was shortly afterwards changed to Estação da Corte, in reference to the Imperial Court. and was completed in 1945.

Since 2014, the station has also been served by the Teleférico da Providência, a gondola lift service connecting it with the neighborhood of Providência.

Architecture

The Art Deco-style building features a twenty-eight-story tower and a large four-sided clock. The station is visible from almost every part of the city and at the time of construction it was the tallest building in South America and the tallest reinforced concrete structure in the world.

Layout

thumb|View of the tracks and platforms in 2024.

Lines

  • Deodoro Line
  • Santa Cruz Line
  • Japeri Line
  • Belford Roxo Line
  • Saracuruna Line

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In cinema

The film Central Station, by Walter Salles, is set in the station of the same name.

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Estação Central da Antiga Estrada de Ferro Dom Pedro II.jpg|Former building of the Estação Dom Pedro II, 1889

Bondes em frente à Estação Estrada de Ferro Central do Brasil (013RJ012019).jpg|Former building of the Estação Dom Pedro II, 1906

Antigo edifício da Central do Brasil (037SL03079).jpg|Former building of the Estação Dom Pedro II, 1910s

Estação Central da Estrada de Ferro Central do Brasil (1957).tif|Building of Central do Brasil, 1957

Estacao Pedro II - Central do Brasil (1979).jpg|Trains at Central do Brasil, 1979

</gallery>

References

  • Central do Brasil at supervia.com.br
  • Central do Brasil/Centro at metrorio.com.br
  • Photo Album of the Brazilian Railroads