I see too many people changing their whole trips around to avoid an early morning or evening train ride because they’re afraid to get to the station when it’s dark, assuming it’s in a “bad” part of town.
Although it’s always good to be aware of your surroundings, especially in a new city, I haven’t worried about my safety in or around any of the European train stations I’ve been to.
In fact, when I travel alone or with two of my kids, I usually stay near stations because it’s more convenient — the area tends to be well-connected to the rest of the city.
On a trip to Vienna last summer, one of the best hotels I stayed in, the Andaz Am Belvedere, was a block from the train station and a short walk to one of the city’s most upscale areas, Stephansplatz.