Leopoldina Station

Frederico Aversa Masson
Oct 31, 2024
4 min read

Updated: Nov 4, 2024

The Leopoldina Station (Estação Ferroviária Leopoldina in Portuguese) was a railway station located in the Santo Cristo neighborhood, Downtown Rio de Janeiro. Although popularly referred to as Leopoldina Station, its official name is Barão de Mauá Railway Station (Estação Ferroviária Barão de Mauá in Portuguese), honoring Irineu Evangelista de Souza — the Baron of Mauá — who pioneered railway construction in Brazil during the 19th century. Inaugurated on November 6, 1923, it served as a railway station until February 2001, when it was deactivated.

Before the station's construction, a railway line already connected Rio de Janeiro to Petrópolis and the coffee-producing regions of the state. Different sections of this line — the Leopoldina Line — were built over various periods: the first segment was constructed by the Baron of Mauá in 1854, connecting the Mauá Port to the Raiz da Serra Station (both located in the city of Magé), making it the oldest railway line in Brazil. The line was subsequently extended to Piabetá Station (also in Magé) and then to Petropólis and Areal Station (both in the Serrana Region of the Rio de Janeiro state) from 1883 to 1886. Finally, the line was extended to the São Francisco Xavier Station in Rio's North Zone from 1886 to 1888. However, due to a mismatch between the Leopoldina Line's train tracks and those of the Central and Rio D'Ouro Stations (located in the Central and Port Regions of Rio, respectively), passengers were required to transfer trains to access these areas. This necessity was seen as a major drawback, prompting discussions about extending the line and creating a new station in the Central Region of Rio to eliminate the need for transfers, which began in 1909.

To resolve this issue, requests were made to the Federal Government for authorization to extend the Leopoldina Line and establish a new station in the Central Region — authorization that was granted. Initially, in 1910, the Leopoldina Line was extended to the Formosa Beach in the Port Region, where a temporary station operated until 1926 while construction was underway for the station in the Santo Cristo neighborhood. This station — the Barão de Mauá Station — was built from 1922 to 1926 and dedicated on November 6, 1926. Once completed, the Leopoldina Line was extended to the station, leading to its popular designation as Leopoldina Station.

The Barão de Mauá Railway Station was designed by the Scottish architect Robert Prentice, who drew inspiration from English palaces and the London's Victoria Station. With an Ecletic style, the station design differs from Prentice's original plans, as his instructions were not followed thorougly, resulting in an asymmetrical building lacking a left side (in his original project, the station was to have symmetrical sides). Nevertheless, the station became a staple of Edwardian architecture in Brazil, garnering praise from many citizens and architecture enthusiasts alike.

During the 1930s, discussions arose about whether Leopoldina Station should also accommodate the auxiliary lines of the Central and Rio D'Ouro Stations, both owned by the Federal Government. However, as the Federal Government only proposed but never funded the construction of the tracks, it was determined, in 1934, that only the Leopoldina Line would operate from the Leopoldina Station.

Not only did the Leopoldina Station boast an imposing façade, but it also featured a sumptuous interior. The station's vast central concourse, with its columns and arched roof, created a mesmerizing space that housed not only train terminals but also cafes, barber shops, cigar shops, and a bank branch. During its peak operation period, Leopoldina Station integrated various regions of the state of Rio de Janeiro and connected it to other states in Southeastern Brazil, with trains departing for Petrópolis, Guapimirim, Friburgo, Vila Inhomirim, and Campos (all in the state of Rio de Janeiro), Vitória (state of Espírito Santo), and southeastern Minas Gerais. From 1994 to 1998, it also connected Rio de Janeiro to São Paulo with the Trem de Prata trains.

After World War II, Brazil favored highways over railways, with several government policies stimulating automobile use. Over time, cars and highways became the dominant mode of transportation in the country, leading to a decilne in railways' prominence and appeal. Consequently, Leopoldina Station, after reaching its peak during the 1940s and 1950s, saw its operation diminish year by year, as fewer passengers sought its trains. In fact, the trains to Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, which had operated daily since the station's inauguration in 1926, ceased operations by the 1980s, with the station getting more dedicated to transportation within the city and state of Rio. The final blow came in 2001, a serious accident occurred: a train coming from the São Cristovão Station lost its brake and derailed, crashing into a column in one of the station's terminals. Following this incident, Leopoldina Station was deactivated, with most of its train lines relocated to the Central Station.

Since 2001, Leopoldina Station has largely remained abandoned, with sporadic use during brief periods. Its façade bears the marks of neglect and abandonment, showing severe deterioration with broken doors, windows, and rusted, cracked structures. Despite this, the National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage, in 2008, designated the station as a historic landmark.

Numerous restoration and revitalization projects have been proposed since Leopoldina's deactivation in 2001. However, it was only in May 2024, under Mayor Eduardo Paes, that a comprehensive revitalization plan began to be implemented: the station's custody was transferred from the Federal Government to the Municipality, which plans to renovate the station and revitalize its surroundings. According to the Municipality's project, the station and its vicinity will feature a housing project (with 700 units), green spaces, a convention center, public health and education facilities, and the Fábrica do Samba (14 warehouses for the Série Ouro samba schools).