Hungary’s first railroad line was built in 1846 between Pest – which had 300,000 residents at that time – and the nearby town of Vác. The terminal of this railway was more or less in the place of today’s Nyugati Railway Station, and was called Pesti Indóház. Due to a high increase in traffic, there soon came a need for expansion, which the management of the city only allowed if the new railway station would align with the Grand Boulevard. The owner, the Austrian State Railways, decided to demolish the Pesti Indóház and construct the Nyugati Railway Station in its place (the original building was not pulled down until the new station was constructed in order to let traffic pass smoothly).

Certain contemporary ideas even envisioned Keleti Railway Station to be built on the Grand Boulevard as well, which would have been beneficial for various reasons – and also incredibly expensive, as the railway lines would have been elongated on a viaduct all the way to the boulevard. Finally, the ministry signed the cheaper solution, and the new “rival” station was built at the end of Rákóczi Road.

The design plans of the new station, with a cost of 8 million forints, were made by Austrian architect August de Serres, who was later employed by the company of the world-famous designer of the Eiffel Tower, Gustave Eiffel. As a result of the construction works initiated in 1874, the station was erected with a light structure, and appeared as an imposing edifice with a pioneering spirit amid the contemporary architectural trends in the city. Due to its innovative iron structure, many people visited Budapest specifically to admire the new station.

Nyugati Station was built with a 146-meter-long hall deliberately made so that all train carriages could be reached from beneath a covered platform. The 6,153-square-meter, 25-meter-high hall with its glass façade was adjusted to the curves of the boulevard. The side structures were enhanced with windows, and were decorated by – according to the trends of those times – two tall domed corner towers on each side, and a French-style dome in the middle. They installed a central ticket center, waiting rooms, baggage storage, a station master’s office, police and guest rooms, and other offices, as well as a separate waiting room for Emperor Franz Joseph himself.

The official opening of the then-so-called Budapesti pályaudvar (Budapest Railway Station) was on October 28, 1877, and the opening ceremony was attended by various influential people of the era, such as ministers, politicians, members of Parliament, the royal judge, and even the national commander in chief, who paid a visit with a huge military escort. The notables were welcomed and guided by de Serres himself, and the first train embarked on its first journey to Vienna from here two days later.

The station played an important role in the modernization of the Magyar railways: Siemens & Halske’s modern switching system was introduced here for the first time in 1881, and later, the first electric Kandló locomotives embarked on their trial journeys from here. In 1891, when the station became the property of the Hungarian State Railways, it was renamed Nyugati Railway Station. This name had actually nothing to do with the station’s location within the city, or with the points of the compass, but with the company who financed the construction. At those times, the railway station’s hall served as a sort of a mini city; mansions were built around it, the main tram line had a stop here, and it housed a luxury restaurant, a hairdressing salon, and several other commercial units.

Its first spectacular expansion began in 1901, and lasted for three years; on the side near Podmaniczky Street they established a manufactory, a coal-delivery railway station, and a relief engine station; the Northern Freight Train Station was opened in 1908, and ten years later, the station at Irinyi puszta was installed. After the Treaty of Trianon, the country was in a dire economic state, which resulted in ideas for the elimination of Nyugati Railway Station, and the installation of a new station at Rákosrendező. Eventually, this never happened, but some restructuring still fit in the budget: the trains heading to Cegléd and Szob were separated at the Budapest Zoo.

The building unfortunately suffered serious damage during the heavy fighting of World War II. The system could only be reinstalled in the summer of 1945, and the renovation of the buildings took several years. At the end of the war, there were plans for ceasing the station’s work, but finally due to the lack of financial funding, traffic was ‘only’ temporarily withdrawn from Nyugati.

In the ’50s, the most modern transfer station of the time operated here. Occasionally, the important freight trains took the place of – in the past – less significant passenger trains. The station’s strangest and at the same time most fortunate accident dates back to October 2, 1962. During a 40 km/h reversing, ten carriages became detached, and broke through the glass wall of the waiting room; the last carriage landed on the boulevard. As the unfolding disaster was announced through the loudspeaker quickly enough, only one person – an elderly lady – was injured severely.

In 1975, due to considerable corrosive damage, the building was declared to be life-threatening. Instead of a total demolishment, the authorities instead opted for a full reconstruction that was finished in December of 1979, so “Budapest’s Gate” could form a structural unit with the rebuilt Marx Square (today’s Nyugati Square). The square shone as a real transport hub; among many others, tram 47/49 ran all the way here, and the terminal of one of the trolleybuses was also here.

Budapest’s next modernization, the construction of metro 3 in 1981, affected the area again. An underpass system was built beneath the station and the square, while an overpass was built between Bajcsy-Zsilinszky Road and Váci Road. For this reason, in 1978 the notorious hotel by Nyugati Railway Station that the residents nicknamed Westend was demolished by explosion.

The next memorable milestone in the station’s history was in 1999, when a few tracks were closed down due to the construction of WestEnd City Center. The newly installed parking lot and the roof terrace of the shopping center covered the former roof tracks, and the façade underwent a facelift as well. In 2005, due to the possible establishment of a government district, the idea of the station’s demolition once again re-emerged, and a possible new location was again Rákosmező, where people could have traveled on the elongated line of the Millennium Underground. Due to its historic significance, the station’s hall would have been preserved with a different function.

In 2006, smaller tracks and buildings were demolished, but no serious alterations have occurred ever since. Some people think that the renovation of a technically obsolete hall and the expansion of the system equipped with 17 platforms would be necessary. Renovation plans for this not-so-pristine station have already been made, but so far, only the nearby Nyugati Square has been beautified.

source: welovebudapest.com

Can you answer the following questions based on the text?

1. Who designed Nyugati Railway Station?

2. Which two places were connected by the first Hungarian railway line?

3. How long has Nyugati Railway Station been on the Grand Boulevard?

4. How many residents did Pest have in 1846 when the first railway line was built?

5. What happened on October 2, 1962?

Key

1. The design plans were made by Austrian architect August de Serres.

2. Pest and Vác.

3. It has been there since 1874.

4. It had 300,000 residents at that time.

5. During a 40 km/h reversing, ten carriages became detached, and broke through the glass wall of the waiting room and the last carriage landed on the boulevard. Fortunately only an elderly lady was severely injured. 

1. Just breathe.

Your body already has a built-in stress fighter: Your mind and your lungs. So find time just to breathe. The deeper the better.  

2. Go for a walk outside at least once a week.

Exercise ― even if it’s just walking ― can affect your mental and physical health in profound ways. But you may be missing out on a few added perks by keeping your workout indoors. Research shows taking a walk in nature can alleviate depressive symptoms and significantly increase your mood. There’s something to be said for a little sunshine with your stroll.

3. Try new experiences.

Forget retail therapy ― try adventure therapy. Studies show that spending money on experiences o ver material items will bring greater joy. Make 2017 the year you see your favorite band live or try zip lining. You’ll be happier for it.

4. Keep a gratitude journal.

Or any journal, for that matter. Research suggests writing down negative thoughts can help clear your mind and jotting the things you appreciate can help improve your mental well-being. And, bonus, it’ll allow you to go back and reflect on your year come next December. You may be amazed by the progress.

5. Talk to your friends.

There’s nothing better than sitting down with a friend and have a long talk. Social media platforms and chatting can never be a substitute for that.

6. Take a media break.

If you’re feeling down from all the horrible news of 2016, you’re not alone. Research shows that constant exposure to negative news can have a detrimental impact on mental health. If the cycle is weighing down on you, try unplugging or cutting back your media consumption for a period of time.

7. Make a mental health playlist.

When you’re feeling anxious, just press play. Research indicates that a specific tune may reduce your anxiety by up to 65 percent, Inc. reported. Anxiety specialists clinically identified “the most relaxing song in the world,” “Weightless” by Marconi Union, based on measures like brain activity and heart rates of participants in the study. Here are some additional options to add to your de-stress list.

8. Go to bed an hour earlier.

Sleep is a magical elixir when it comes to mental health. Research shows that losing Zs can make it difficult to regulate emotions and make you more irritable. Not to mention too little rest can lead to physical health setbacks.

9. Try cutting down on alcohol.

Sure, a good glass of red wine at the end of a long day is one thing. But too many gin and tonics after a rough work week ― and the subsequent hangover ― may not be doing anyone any favors when it comes to psychological health. Some research suggests that heavy drinking can lead to an increase in anxiety.

10. Cut out toxic people.

It’s one thing if your good pal is going through a rough time and you’re there to help them through it. It’s another thing to be around someone who is constantly stressed over every single situation. It could be hurting your well-being: Research shows stress is contagious. The good news? So is happiness. Choose your squad wisely.

11. Tell people when you’re feeling anxious.

There’s power in sharing your emotions, as Sarah Jessica Parker discovered. And experts agree: Talking about your anxiety is key to managing and abating it.

“I used to not ever tell anybody because I thought that too many people were reliant on me to not be anxious, like they were all looking at me to make them feel better,” Parker told The Coveteur earlier this year. “Like anything, until the minute you talk about something it feels as if you are a balloon that’s been blown up and you have too much air in you. You just need somebody to let a little out.”

12. Donate time or money to a meaningful organization.

“In addition to improving the lives of others, there is compelling evidence that volunteering can really improve the mental health of the volunteer by increasing a sense of purpose and strengthening social connections,” Srijan Sen, a professor at the University of Michigan Depression Center, told The Huffington Post.

13. Or just perform a random act of kindness.

Paying it forward can go a long way. Purchase a stranger’s coffee, take somebody out to lunch or just hold the door open for someone who clearly needs a little help. Research even shows that it can boost your mood and compel you perform more acts of kindness.

“Putting love out in the world is an amazing way to help someone else ― and you ― feel happy,” Liz Eddy, director of communications at the Crisis Text Line, told HuffPost.

14. Allow yourself to feel sad.

Yep, you read that correctly. Human beings experience a spectrum of emotions and each one deserves attention. Research shows that crying can be cathartic and allows you to process whatever is upsetting you better. Grab those tissues and let it flow.

15. Plan a vacation.

The act of anticipation is just as much of a reward as the vacation itself. Research suggests that planning a trip can increase your happiness. It doesn’t matter if it’s a weekend adventure or an excuse to use up your vacation days, start looking into hitting the road.

16. Recite self affirmations.

Inner dialogues can be incredibly brutal. But promising research shows that self affirmations ― or the act of focusing on your strengths and what you value ― can help combat some of the negativity your brain tends to churn out.

For example, are you a creative type? Think about how you discovered that and the ways you’ve expressed your creativity in the past. Experts say this technique has a way of buffering you against stress and gets you thinking about items that feed into a positive sense of self.

17. Give yourself a break.

So often human beings put pressure on themselves to “do it all,” which can lead to burnout and guilt. You’re your own worst critic. Cut yourself some slack next year and start accepting yourself wholly (research shows it’s the key to a happier life, but a habit many rarely practice). Sooner or later you’ll be on your way to being more exuberant and tranquil.

Cheers to 2017!

source: Huffington Post

Should or shouldn’t? Fill in the gaps in the sentences.

1. You …… find time to breathe.

2. You …… work out only indooors. Outdoors exercise has its perks.

3. You …… stick to retail therapy, try adventure therapy instead.

4. You …… jot down in a journal what you appreciate in your life.

5. You …… take a media break if the always negative news saddens you.

6. You …… more to be able to regulate your emotions more effectively.

7. You …… cut down on alcohol.

8. You …… let other people continuously dampen your mood with their depression.

9. You …… be ashamed of feeling sad and showing it.

10. You …… find some charity and start volunteering.

Key

1. should

2. shouldn’t

3. shouldn’t

4. should

5. should

6. should

7. should

8. shouldn’t

9. shouldn’t

10. should

……………….. (1) family members to exercise together with you, you’ll have better ……………….. (2) at success.

You can also enrol in a wellness program ……………….. (3) and you can spend the ……………….. (4) productively.

Or buy a ……………….. (5) bicycle and save some ……………….. (6) by riding it to places.

You could also take the ……………….. (7) instead of the elevator.

Use a fitness video on ………………..  (8).

In a gym you can ……………….. (9) on a treadmill and ask the advice of ……………….. (10).

Set goals for ……………….. (11) that are not too difficult and give yourself small ……………….. (12) for achieving them.

If you fall out of your routine just ……………….. (13) where you left off.

It can also be interesting to take a ……………….. (14) dancing class or some other fun activity because ……………….. (15) is the spice of life.

Key: 

1. encourage
2. chances
3. at work
4. lunch hour
5. good quality
6. cash/money
7. stairs
8. rainy days
9. run
10. physical trainers
11. weight loss
12. gifts
13. pick up
14. belly
15. variety