OLD RAILWAY STATION

Old Railway Station
In the public garden

No trains on the island now but back in 1883 a need was there for transport from the villages to Valletta.  Starting with a single line from Valletta to Rabat it was later extended to Mdina.  This station is probably the best example to be seen today and it was the second stop from Valletta.  The station was restored in 1970 and the grounds were transformed into public gardens.

The main attraction of the garden is the 3rd class carriage of the defunct Malta railway standing in a pair of authentic rails. This carriage which once formed part of the locomotive was abandoned in a private garden in B'Bugia. It was reconditioned and refurbished to its original state in the workshops of the department of Agriculture. The olive green carriage comprises two compartments with each compartment seating eight people. The framed window panes slide down behind the back rest of the seat to allow fresh air. Each window has a wooden Venetian blind to allow fresh air but at the same time keeps out the rain or the hot sun. This kind of louvered windows is very common in old Maltese and southern European houses. The carriage is complete with net racks for carrying passengers' belongings and a copy of the 1923 railway price tariff.