A plume of thick white and blue steam billows upward, filling the glass roof of the station and partially obscuring the iron framework above. Two locomotives dominate the foreground: one stands to the left, shrouded in vapor, while the other, arriving from the right, is sharply outlined in dark tones with a bright red buffer beam at its front. Railway tracks curve and converge toward the center, guiding the viewer’s gaze into the heart of the scene, where several small figures—some blurred by the mist—move about the platform.

Rows of cast-iron columns march into the distance on either side, their forms softened by the haze, while hanging lamps dangle from the right-hand arches. Beyond the station, the pale silhouette of a Parisian building emerges through the clouds of steam, rendered in loose, quick strokes that suggest rather than define its shape. The palette is dominated by cool blues, greys, and whites, punctuated by the dark engine and touches of red, creating a sense of movement and atmosphere.

Thick, visible brushstrokes sweep across the canvas, especially in the steam and sky, giving the painting a lively, textured surface. Lines are often broken or suggested, with forms dissolving into the vapor, emphasizing the fleeting nature of the scene. The composition is carefully balanced, with the large train on the right countered by the open space and figures on the left.

Clusters of people are visible along the far left edge, gathered in front of the platform and partially obscured by steam. The upper corners of the painting reveal the angular lines of the iron roof structure, rendered in dark blue and grey tones. Light falls most brightly in the central background, illuminating the mist and the distant building with a pale, almost white glow.

Touches of brown and ochre mark the ground and tracks in the lower third of the painting, contrasting with the dominant cool hues. Short, choppy brushstrokes define the outlines of the trains and figures, while the steam is painted with swirling, circular motions that create a sense of turbulence.