Kuala Lumpur Railway Station is an almost fairytale Moorish-style building to the southeast of the National Mosque. Located along Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin (previously known as Victory Avenue), it used to be KL’s main railway hub until 2001 when Kuala Lumpur Sentral took over much of its role.
Adopting a mixture of Eastern and Western styles, it was designed by A.B. Hubbock in 1910. Opposite stands the Malaya Railway Administration Building, also designed by Hubbock in 1917. Beneath the Islamic exterior, the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station resembles a typical glass and iron Victorian-era English railway building.
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KL Railway Station Location
The Kuala Lumpur Railway Station was Kuala Lumpur’s third railway station – the first was located along Jalan Cheng Lok while the second was set at the present site. The second station was demolished to make way for the present-day site.
It used to house the offices of the Federated Malay States Railways, but now its primary function is that of the administrative head office of the Keretapi Tanah Melayu. Built using convict labour, there is a hotel (the Heritage Station Hotel) on the first floor and inside is a restaurant plus several souvenir stalls.
The building is a favourite sightseeing attraction in the city due to its gorgeous façade – the open-plan Renaissance-like building’s spacious verandas with arched colonnades make for beautiful photo opportunities.
Fun fact: when the Kuala Lumpur Railway station was first erected, construction was delayed as its rooftop design did not meet British railway specifications. It had to be able to support snow a metre deep – pretty funny when you factor in KL’s year-round hot and humid weather.
Kuala Lumpur Railway Station
- Address: Bangunan Stesen Keretapi, Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, 50000 Kuala Lumpur
