The station building dates to the early decades of the 20th century, expanded under Soviet rule when Kirovakan (the city's name from 1935 to 1991) was a major industrial node on the Tbilisi–Yerevan line. The pale stone facade and wide forecourt have not aged glamorously, but the place still has a certain melancholy charm — particularly at dawn when the overnight train from Yerevan rolls in.
The real reason to come here is to catch the slow electric train north through the Debed Canyon towards Alaverdi and on to Tbilisi. The route climbs through tunnels and over viaducts, with the canyon walls dropping away on one side, and is one of the great cheap train rides in the region. Schedules are limited; check at the station the day before.