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Which preposition is correct in the following sentence?

Now I am at/on/in the railway station.

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  • British station announcers themselves ask if someone is "on the station", so that alternative is not quite as far-fetched as it may at first appear.
    – Andrew Leach ♦
    Commented Oct 27, 2014 at 7:46

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In addition to what @tunny wrote wrt on the platform and at the station:

In the station means that you are in the building that is at the station. If there is no such building, but only a platform, then using in is not an option.

At the station means anywhere in the close general vicinity of the railway platform(s). You could be in your car in the station parking lot, or you could even be a block away from the station, walking toward it.

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    On the other hand, a train can be in the station even if it's not in the building that is at the station.
    – Peter Shor
    Commented Oct 26, 2014 at 21:11
  • Hm. Maybe. I would not say that the train is in the station, unless it is in the building. I would say that it is at the station. However, I might say either the train is coming to the station or the train is coming into the station, even if there is no building. I guess it's not so simple, after all... ;-)
    – Drew
    Commented Oct 26, 2014 at 21:15
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    @Drew When the train is "in the station", it is within the property that the station owns (or at least it is stopped partially within the station boundaries for the purpose of picking/discharging someone/something).
    – user60295
    Commented Oct 26, 2014 at 22:15
  • @hosch250: Maybe. I doubt that anyone knows or cares what the property (ownership) boundary is. But the general idea makes sense to me as an explanation: you are within the "close general vicinity", as I mentioned. Dunno whether one should try to get more precise than that. But maybe there is a good, simple explanation that will make it all clear. ;-)
    – Drew
    Commented Oct 27, 2014 at 1:04
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In British English, your are on the platform at the railway station

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  • thank you, could you tell me one more prompt? on square or at square?
    – Iakov
    Commented Oct 26, 2014 at 18:06
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    "I was on/in Wenceslas Square yesterday". I feel no great difference between 'on' or 'in'. I would be 'at' Wenceslas Square only if that were the name of an underground station or bus/tram stop,
    – tunny
    Commented Oct 26, 2014 at 18:13
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    @Iakov Prepositions in general are hard to get right, and correct usage tends to vary wildly between languages. Please treat each request as a separate question. Also, such questions may be better received on the English Language Learners site.
    – 200_success
    Commented Oct 26, 2014 at 18:24
  • thank you, 200_success, but it seems here is better
    – Iakov
    Commented Oct 26, 2014 at 20:04

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