A huge, biomorphic bridge has been built over the railway tracks: behold Belgium's long-awaited spectacular station.

The long-awaited Mons railway station has been handed over in the Belgian city of Mons. Built according to the concept of renowned Spanish-Swiss star architect Santiago Calatrava, the structure, worth approximately 125 billion forints at current exchange rates, serves not only as a railway station but also as a monumental bridge. It spans approximately 160 metres above the platforms and connects the historic city centre of Mons with the southern parts of the city.

– summarise on the Arhitectonic Facebook page and the architect's website.

It was completed with some delay.

As impressive as the development looks, its construction was just as problematic. The project was first presented 19 years ago, in 2006, but a series of cost overruns and delays hampered its implementation. Construction finally began in 2013, but the original 2015 completion date has been pushed back by a full decade to 2025.

The station, which also serves as a bridge, contributes to the development of the two parts of the city it connects. Its central element is the elevated gallery located on the bridge. The biomorphic glass and steel forms of the station are topped by a sloping roof with a pointed peak.

Those arriving at the station can reach the platforms from the central square via stairs, escalators or lifts, where seven tracks for passenger trains, 350-metre-long platforms, as well as 29 bus stops and taxi ranks ensure smooth transport connections.