Two historic photos stitched together to give an impression of Valletta’s railway station in its location behind the city’s main gate. The Royal opera House is out of shot to the left, but this panorama still gives a feel for the importance of this junction to the life of the city in the early 20th century.

The three arches of the station façade closest to the photographer were added to the original 1883 building. Two were added in about 1896 when the original steps to the platforms were replaced with a tunnelled ramp, and when a second ramp was added, a final extension of one bay was added. The dark arched entrance to one of the tunnels can be seen inside.

This post was first published on the Malta Railway Facebook page in September 2024