36th part of Drama cultural routes - THE RAILWAY STATION - Greece

36th part of Drama cultural routes - THE RAILWAY STATION

Drama Cultural Route

36th part of Drama cultural routes - THE RAILWAY STATION

The largest railway network in Macedonia was built in the late 19th century by the “Jonction Salonique-Constantinople” Company, in cooperation with the Imperial Ottoman Bank (Banque Impériale Ottomane) and various Belgian and French firms. Its construction and exploitation was taken on by a French banker, René Baudouy. In 1896 the company opened the line, thereby linking Thessaloniki to Alexandroupolis and extending it to Constantinople. The Alexandroupolis – Pithion - Adrianoupolis segments had already been built by the Eastern Railway Company and had been in operation since 1872. The Railway Station of Drama is considered to be the “Jonction’s” best station ever. Built in 1895, its facilities included warehouses, an engine shed, a turntable, a water tower and various other installations preserved to this day in their original state. An additional floor was added to the passengers’ building in the early 50s. This station, like most others built in the late 19th century in Northern Greece, is in keeping with the common trends in European architecture at that time and in accordance with the aesthetics of the French architects. Most of these buildings are typical examples of neoclassicism mingled with local style additions, typical of early industrial architecture. The development and modernization of Drama is directly related to the construction of the railway route