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The most expensive train station in the world opens its doors in New York today

There will be no official ceremony to mark the opening of the station, next to the site of the Twin Towers.

1 A rendering of the World Trade Center Transportation Hub, Oculus. Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

THE MOST EXPENSIVE train station in the world will open today on the site of New York’s World Trade Center.

Twelve years in the making, there will be no official ceremony to mark the afternoon opening to rail commuters of the World Trade Center Transportation Hub next to the site of the Twin Towers.

The centre connects the PATH commuter rail to New Jersey with New York subway lines, provides indoor pedestrian access to the Trade Center towers and will also house an enormous shopping and restaurant plaza.

2 Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

The building, designed by Spanish-Swiss architect Santiago Calatrava and called Oculus, is a giant oval made up of steel ribs and glass laid out in elliptical shape, reaching for the sky like wings of a bird.

The space measures 350 feet (107 metres) long by 115 feet (35 metres) at its widest point, according to Calatrava’s website.

Today is only a partial opening and the shops are slated to open in August.

In the 12 years since the project was unveiled, it has been heavily criticised – for its appearance but also for spiralling so drastically off budget and closing seven years behind schedule.

World Trade Center Transportation Hub Construction in June 2014 Associated Press Associated Press

Initially budgeted at $2 billion, it has spiraled to $3.85 billion according to a spokesperson in Calatrava’s office, which would make it the most expensive station in the world.

In contrast, the temporary station which was built straight after the September 11, 2001 attacks cost just $323 million.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey admitted in a report published in 2008 that the original cost estimate was “too low to begin with” but stressed the advantages it would afford the city.

It said that when completed, the transit hub will serve 250,000 people and more than 200,000 commuters each day, making it the third-largest transportation centre in the city.

- © AFP 2016

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    Mute Warren McAllister
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    Jan 13th 2014, 2:41 PM

    2008 called, they want their Blackberry back

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    Mute Marc
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    Jan 13th 2014, 2:25 PM

    I never send a regular text. I use Whatsapp. The best app in my opinion for sending texts, pictures and videos. And all free.

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    Mute Fozz
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    Jan 13th 2014, 2:44 PM

    Yep, same here but with Viber.
    What luddites still send SMS :)

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    Mute Andrew Hickey
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    Jan 13th 2014, 2:49 PM

    The ones that get unlimited texts in their bundle.

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    Mute Tom Hara
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    Jan 13th 2014, 3:28 PM

    I always use the generous free SMS that I get in my monthly bundke. Only cheapskates use whatsapp etc

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    Mute Lily
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    Jan 13th 2014, 3:37 PM

    Pay as you go people u mean…

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    Mute Marc
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    Jan 13th 2014, 6:09 PM

    I have unlimited texts with my plan. Never use them. I prefer whatsapp. SMS is so 90s :)

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    Mute Bilbo Baggins
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    Jan 13th 2014, 8:00 PM

    Are people missing the irony in your comment John ‘you only use Free sms, cheapskates use whatsapp’…. wait that was meant to be sarcastic right? …..

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    Mute Neil O'Reilly
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    Jan 13th 2014, 3:14 PM

    A good 20 billion of them will just say “lol”.

    Lol.

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    Mute Mark Byrne
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    Jan 13th 2014, 3:17 PM

    K ;)

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    Mute Byyys
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    Jan 13th 2014, 2:38 PM

    “While instant messaging is expected to grow this year, SMS messages will continue to generate more revenue”..

    If more and more people are using smartphone Apps to send messages via whatsapp ,viber ,kik etc..
    how will SMS messages generate more revenue when you usually have to pay to send a text message?.

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    Mute Begrudgy
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    Jan 13th 2014, 2:39 PM

    Alot of messages there for the US government to scan through.

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    Mute graham galvin
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    Jan 13th 2014, 4:10 PM

    If you are concerned about NSA snooping & use android then download sure spot. It will encrypt your texts.

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    Mute Daddy De La Noche
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    Jan 13th 2014, 2:30 PM

    Since you used a picture of a blackberry I would have assumed you’d include their BBM app that went cross platform months ago, some authors on this app really do not know their stuff.

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    Mute Tom Colgan
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    Jan 13th 2014, 8:47 PM

    Technology has changed alot in the last 5 years, exciting times ahead!

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    Mute COOM
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    Jan 14th 2014, 12:29 AM

    TAX the TEXT. Could you imagine the revenue.

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