Leningradsky Railway Station in Moscow: Architecture and location on Komsomolskaya Square

• The station stands on Komsomolskaya Square, northeast of central Moscow.
• Yaroslavsky and Kazansky stations are right next door; together, the three form the Square of Three Stations.
• The station building was completed in 1849 to a design by architect Konstantin Thon.
• Originally called Petersburg Station, it still serves trains to Saint Petersburg today.

In 1842, Tsar Nicholas I ordered the construction of a railway between Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Architect Konstantin Thon designed the station buildings in both cities as part of a shared project. The Moscow building was completed in 1849 on what was then Kalanchyovskoye Field; on August 3, 1851, the first work train from Saint Petersburg arrived there. Regular service on the line began on November 1, 1851.

The Moscow station was initially called Petersburg Station. After the railway line was renamed the Nicholas Railway in 1855, the station became known as Nicholas Station. In 1923, the line was renamed the October Railway, and in 1924 the Moscow station was renamed Leningradsky Station. It kept the name even after the northern city reverted to the name Saint Petersburg in 1991. Moscow is the starting point of the connection; Saint Petersburg lies at the other end.

Leningradsky, Yaroslavsky and Kazansky stations are three separate buildings on the same square. Each station has its own entrances, platforms and metro access. Before transferring, check the full station name on both tickets and allow time to walk between the buildings and levels. The location of Yaroslavsky Station and Kazansky Station can help you tell the neighboring entrances apart.

The square is large and busy. If you have luggage or children, or need to change platforms, allow for elevators, underpasses and your own walking pace when planning transfer time. A travel checklist with a time buffer and information on transfers and local transport can help you organize each leg of your journey. An offline map remains accessible as you travel between the station, metro and accommodation. If you are changing trains, include the rail connection itself in your travel plan.

If you are staying overnight, you can choose accommodation based on your destination and its location and plan the route to the station.

Thon designed the stations in Moscow and Saint Petersburg with symmetrical facades, two floors and a central clock tower. The station building on Komsomolskaya Square marks the historic starting point of Moscow’s rail connection to the north. You can compare the station buildings from the outside; a train journey and an architectural walk are different kinds of visits, and each deserves enough time.

If you visit the square without taking a train, you can see the facades of all three stations on a walking tour. If you are making a connection, prioritize your luggage, ticket and access to the station over a longer photo stop. Station announcements and train displays relate to current operations and may change at short notice.

Direct air traffic between Russia and the EU, as well as other European countries, had been suspended; connections via international hubs could be suspended or reduced at short notice. These conditions may affect your arrival and onward connection to the railway line.

Why is the Moscow station called Leningradsky Station?

The name dates from 1924, after the city of Saint Petersburg was renamed Leningrad that year. The station kept its name even after the city reverted to Saint Petersburg in 1991.

Can I find my way around using a foreign SIM card after entering the country?

According to German travel advice checked on October 25, 2026, foreign SIM cards are usually blocked from mobile internet and SMS for 24 hours after entry; restrictions may continue afterward. An offline map, station names and connection details are therefore available without mobile service.