Baltiysky railway station was designed by Alexander Krakau, who was the favourite architect of Baron von Stieglitz. It largely retained its original appearance.
The station was built during the reign of Nicholas I. His arbitrary rule was paradoxically accompanied by liberal architectural styles. Neo-Renaissance, Russian-Byzantine architecture, pseudo-gothic style, and the perennial classics were all popular. Krakau decided not to play smart and used Paris-Est train station as a prototype that had been built a few years in advance. Alexander Krakau creatively revised its plan.
At the other end of the road, in Peterhof, a symbolical response of sorts to this miracle of Renaissance was built by Nicholas Benois, yet another talented imperial architect. He designed a Gothic-style Peterhof train station.
Over the entrance to Baltiysky railway station, you can see a clock manufactured by Pavel Bure's company that has always been hanging here. The only difference is that nowadays, it is powered by electricity.
Entrances to the station used to be on its sides. The organization of the building highlighted its czarist nature. The wing to the left from the entrance, the closest to the subway station, was meant for the Emperor's family. The royal family would arrive here to board a train.
Cars used to go into the train shed. The train shed is still in place, but the two rail lines it used to cover were removed when expanding the station. Regardless, upon entering the railway station, one still feels the grandeur created by the train shed.
