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    Ten Worst Stations To Wait For A Train

    Trains are appealing because there's nothing like the power of a big diesel locomotive or the ability to drink heavily while traveling. There's also nothing like these ten stations where even the most ardent train lover wouldn't wait.

    Michigan Central Station
    Where: Detroit, Michigan
    Serves: Formerly Amtrak, Michigan Central Railroad
    Why we wouldn't want to wait there: In addition to no longer having service, the Michigan Central Station has fallen into disrepair like almost everything else in Detroit. It's so scary they use it for Michael Bay films (Transformers, The Island, Four Brothers).
    Photo Credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

    Hazelhatch and Celbridge Station
    Where: Hazelhatch, Ireland
    Serves: Dublin Area Rapid Transit
    Why we wouldn't want to wait there:
    Part of the Dublin Area Rapid Transit, the Hazelhatch and Celbridge railway station was built in 1846 and hasn't been frequently renovated since. Also, it's not actually close to Celbridge (you have to wait for a bus). Photo Credit: Infomatique

    Chicago Blue Line Division Station
    Where: Chicago, Illinois
    Serves: "El" Blue Line
    Why we wouldn't want to wait there: The Division station will get upgraded, eventually, but in the meantime it's dark, damp, dangerous, and when it rains it fills with a disgusting sludge. It's a good thing the Blue Line is always on time...
    Flickr @ Katherine

    Tanggula Mountain Station
    Where: Tanggula, Tibet, China
    Serves: Quinzang Railway
    Why we wouldn't want to wait there: The Quinzang Railway, which connects Tibet with the rest of China, is an engineering marvel. Though the Tanggula station is new and offers attractive views, at 5,000 meters above sea-level it's also the tallest train station in the world. And it's cold. Some of the train cars have compressed oxygen systems to keep the passengers alive.
    Photo Credit: Tibet Tour

    Baghdad Train Depot
    Where: Baghdad, Iraq
    Serves: Baghdad Commuter Rail
    Why we wouldn't want to wait there: Under Saddam Hussein's long rule there was no need for a train because there wasn't much traffic. Unfortunately, all those military checkpoints are slowing things done. Thus the new train service. It's rarely a crowded station, which is nice, but there's always the risk of blowing up.
    Photo Credit: Chris Hondros/Getty Images

    Penn Station, NYC
    Where: New York, New York
    Serves: Long Island Rail Road, Amtrak, NJ Transit
    Why we wouldn't want to wait there: Nearly as busy as Grand Central Station, though not quite as grand, Penn Station isn't a good place to go if you're claustrophobic. There have been many plans to renovate the building but, until then, it'll still be a crowded, stinky hall.
    Photo Credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images

    Tanjong Pagar Station
    Where: Tanjong Pagar District, Singapore
    Serves: Keretapi Tanah Melayu
    Why we wouldn't want to wait there: The building itself, though not grand, isn't so bad. And it's in Singapore, so you've always got a good police presence. But that's the problem. People are frequently arrested for immigration violations when carrying proper papers. This is because there's a longstanding immigration issue between Malaysia and Singapore and two sets of procedures depending on which way you're heading. It's complex, time-consuming and could be bad news if you do it incorrectly.
    Photo Credit: Chooyutshing @ Flickr

    Birmingham New Street Railway
    Where: Birmingham, England
    Serves: West Coast Main Line
    Why we wouldn't want to wait there: Frequently voted one of the worst stations because of its dark, cavernous design and awful 1960s architecture. There are no automatic ticket barriers so you have to wait for station staff to inspect the tickets. It's in the process of redevelopment but it's not there yet.
    Photo Credit: MattBuck007 @ Flickr

    Shibuya Station
    Where:Shibayu, Tokyo
    Serves: JR East, Keio, Tokyu, Tokyo Metro
    Why we wouldn't want to wait there: There's a river running underneath this station in Tokyo's busy Shibuya district, but it's nothing like the river of people coming out of it every day. The reason we wouldn't want to wait inside is what's outside. Have you seen Lost In Translation? A lot of it was shot outside the station. You won't want to hang out inside, you'd want to go outside and chat with the harajuki girls.
    Photo Credit: Jol @ Flickr

    Kandahar Station
    Where: Kandahar, Afghanistan
    Serves: Nothing
    Why we wouldn't want to wait there: There's no train station in Kandahar yet. Just rocks. And sorrow.
    Photo Credit: Jason Reed-Pool/Getty Images


    Send an email to Matt Hardigree, the author of this post, at matt@jalopnik.com.