There are today six railway stations in Paris. Some previous ones have been transformed (Gare d’Orsay to a museum), some have disappeared (Gare de la Bastille for the new opera house). I have already made posts about Gare Saint Lazare. Today I will talk about Gare de l’Est, but first some general general points.
Gare de L’Est is only number five, out of the six, in order of number of passengers. It will however probably improve its position as it’s the station for the new high speed lines to the east of France. The “‘LGV Est” is since last year an extension to the high speed train (“TGV”) network in France and Europe. Commercial speed on this line in the direction of Strasbourg (but you can also reach several cities in Germany and Switzerland) is 320 km/hour (200 miles). Strasbourg and Luxemburg can be reached I some two hours. From Gare du Nord you can now reach London in slightly more than two hours and Brussels in about one hour and twenty minutes. From Gare de Lyon you can reach Lyon in two hours and Marseilles in less than three hours. From Gare Montparnasse, Bordeaux (the line is not yet complete) should in a couple of years also be reached in two hours.
Gare de l’Est first opened in 1849 (illustration from 1870), but it has been transformed and extended several times between 1885 and 1931 (when it doubled in size). In 1883 the first Orient Express left here for Constantinople. It was also the departure point for all young men who left for the eastern front during WW I and WW II. As mostly with these 19th century stations, the glass roofs and domes are impressive. 
Here are some of the high speed trains, leaving and at quay. (Richard was onboard one of the trains leaving.) 
In order to accommodate to an expected increased traffic, large parts of the station have recently been renovated (partly still ongoing) and you can now find a modern commercial centre on two levels. There is a large painting exposed which illustrates the happy and optimistic departure of some young men for WW I. 
Gare de L’Est is only number five, out of the six, in order of number of passengers. It will however probably improve its position as it’s the station for the new high speed lines to the east of France. The “‘LGV Est” is since last year an extension to the high speed train (“TGV”) network in France and Europe. Commercial speed on this line in the direction of Strasbourg (but you can also reach several cities in Germany and Switzerland) is 320 km/hour (200 miles). Strasbourg and Luxemburg can be reached I some two hours. From Gare du Nord you can now reach London in slightly more than two hours and Brussels in about one hour and twenty minutes. From Gare de Lyon you can reach Lyon in two hours and Marseilles in less than three hours. From Gare Montparnasse, Bordeaux (the line is not yet complete) should in a couple of years also be reached in two hours.
Gare de l’Est first opened in 1849 (illustration from 1870), but it has been transformed and extended several times between 1885 and 1931 (when it doubled in size). In 1883 the first Orient Express left here for Constantinople. It was also the departure point for all young men who left for the eastern front during WW I and WW II. As mostly with these 19th century stations, the glass roofs and domes are impressive. Here are some of the high speed trains, leaving and at quay. (Richard was onboard one of the trains leaving.) In order to accommodate to an expected increased traffic, large parts of the station have recently been renovated (partly still ongoing) and you can now find a modern commercial centre on two levels. There is a large painting exposed which illustrates the happy and optimistic departure of some young men for WW I. Some of these pictures can be found on my photo-blog.
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