Redfern railway station, Sydney
Encyclopedia
Redfern railway station is a major railway
station in Redfern
which is to the south of the Sydney
city centre. It is a major connecting station for the CityRail network, as well as being the closest railway station to the University of Sydney
. It is the ninth busiest station on the network.
A station was opened in 1876 1.3 km on the Parramatta side of the "original Redfern" and called 'Eveleigh'
. In 1885 Eveleigh's platforms were reconstructed at the present Redfern site, and on 21 October 1906 this station was renamed Redfern.
Platforms 11 and 12, as well as the area containing the unfinished platforms (see below), were constructed in the late 1970s as part of the Eastern Suburbs Railway construction, which opened in 1979.
Until the early 1990s Redfern had an overhead footbridge at the Eveleigh end of the platforms, connecting all platforms 1-10 by stairs. This was demolished because the funds for its maintenance were not available.
A single track underground tunnel for trains going to Eveleigh Maintenance Centre, known as the Engine Dive, runs under the above ground platforms. Various chimneys on the platforms (especially on platform 1) are evidence of this. The tunnel surfaces near the Eveleigh end of platform 10 and on the non-station side of the Lawson St bridge.
The station is walking distance to the suburb of Waterloo known by its Govt Housing high rise buildings.
The present Redfern station was damaged by fire in the 2004 Redfern riots
. The ticketing area and station master's office were significantly damaged - and the windows in the front of the station were bricked up for almost a year afterwards to prevent further attacks. They have since been replaced with glass windows.
As part of the construction of the Eastern Suburbs Railway (now platforms 11 and 12), it was proposed to build up to four platforms for the underground route (similar to Central.) Two of these platforms were built and now are Platforms 11 and 12, however, the two platforms above were half constructed above Platforms 11 and 12. These are visible through a small gap in the wall opposite Platform 11, as well as by a boarded up entry portal under the Lawson Street Bridge (which was to be the down track), and a now filled-in dive tunnel under the Wells Street Sectioning Hut on the Central side of Lawson Street (which was to be the up track). The area in which the platforms were to be situated is visible from the station concourse at the entrance to Platform 10.
Despite an extension of the platform in the late 1990s, Platform 1 is considered a short platform, and passengers are asked to travel in the front six carriages of Intercity trains using the platform.
The station is served by eighteen to twenty-six trains per hour each way, with additional trains during weekday peak hours.
Services are listed on this box:
, which is accessed by walking along platform 10 (Exit C on the diagram). During peak hours, the entrance to platform 10 is blocked by fare gates to prevent fare evasion by those travelling to the Technology Park area; these are opened during off-peak times or on the rare occasion when a train needs to stop at the platform. The other two entrances have their fare gates operating at all times.
At present, Redfern does not have Easy Access for wheelchairs. All above-ground platforms are accessible by stairs, so this would hinder most wheelchair access to the station. Platforms 11 and 12 are accessible by either stairs or escalators from a separate concourse near the Gibbons Street exit.
In April 2006, Transport Minister John Watkins
announced plans for a $2 million inquiry into concept designs for upgrading the station, including Easy Access facilities. The station requires upgrading due to an influx of new residents and workers set to result from the Redfern-Waterloo urban renewal project.
This bus stop also services NightRide
buses and replacement buses during trackwork.
There are stops further afield in Lawson Square, Botany Road and Redfern Street servicing bus routes to the City, Railway Square, Matraville, Pagewood and Marrickville.
CityRail
CityRail is an operating brand of RailCorp, a corporation owned by the state government of New South Wales, Australia. It is responsible for providing commuter rail services, and some coach services, in and around Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong, the three largest cities of New South Wales. It is...
station in Redfern
Redfern, New South Wales
Redfern is an inner-city suburb of Sydney. Redfern is 3 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of the City of Sydney...
which is to the south of the Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
city centre. It is a major connecting station for the CityRail network, as well as being the closest railway station to the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
. It is the ninth busiest station on the network.
History
In the early history of the New South Wales Railways, "Redfern" was the name of the principal Sydney terminus. It was located to the south of Devonshire Street and opened on 26 September 1855 in an area known as "Cleveland Fields." This original "Redfern" station comprised one wooden platform in a corrugated iron shed. As traffic increased the original station was replaced in 1874 by a brick building containing two platforms. This second station, which grew to 14 platforms, was designed for through traffic if the lines were extended in the city direction. This second station was found to be too far from the city centre, so a new station (the present Sydney Central Station) was built to the north of Devonshire Street and opened on 4 August 1906. The 1874 station was soon demolished.A station was opened in 1876 1.3 km on the Parramatta side of the "original Redfern" and called 'Eveleigh'
Eveleigh, New South Wales
Eveleigh is an inner-city suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Eveleigh is located about 3 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of the City of Sydney.- History :...
. In 1885 Eveleigh's platforms were reconstructed at the present Redfern site, and on 21 October 1906 this station was renamed Redfern.
Platforms 11 and 12, as well as the area containing the unfinished platforms (see below), were constructed in the late 1970s as part of the Eastern Suburbs Railway construction, which opened in 1979.
Until the early 1990s Redfern had an overhead footbridge at the Eveleigh end of the platforms, connecting all platforms 1-10 by stairs. This was demolished because the funds for its maintenance were not available.
A single track underground tunnel for trains going to Eveleigh Maintenance Centre, known as the Engine Dive, runs under the above ground platforms. Various chimneys on the platforms (especially on platform 1) are evidence of this. The tunnel surfaces near the Eveleigh end of platform 10 and on the non-station side of the Lawson St bridge.
The station is walking distance to the suburb of Waterloo known by its Govt Housing high rise buildings.
The present Redfern station was damaged by fire in the 2004 Redfern riots
2004 Redfern riots
The Redfern Riots on the evening of Saturday 14 February 2004 was an event in the inner Sydney suburb of Redfern sparked by the death of Thomas 'TJ' Hickey, a 17 year old Indigenous Australian....
. The ticketing area and station master's office were significantly damaged - and the windows in the front of the station were bricked up for almost a year afterwards to prevent further attacks. They have since been replaced with glass windows.
Station configuration
Redfern has 12 platforms - 10 above ground (linked by stairs to the concourse at Lawson Street), and 2 underground (linked by stairs and escalators to the concourse at Gibbons Street). The two concourses are linked. Station offices and facilities such as toilets and the main indicator boards are located next to the Lawson Street entry.As part of the construction of the Eastern Suburbs Railway (now platforms 11 and 12), it was proposed to build up to four platforms for the underground route (similar to Central.) Two of these platforms were built and now are Platforms 11 and 12, however, the two platforms above were half constructed above Platforms 11 and 12. These are visible through a small gap in the wall opposite Platform 11, as well as by a boarded up entry portal under the Lawson Street Bridge (which was to be the down track), and a now filled-in dive tunnel under the Wells Street Sectioning Hut on the Central side of Lawson Street (which was to be the up track). The area in which the platforms were to be situated is visible from the station concourse at the entrance to Platform 10.
Platforms and services
The station serves all CityRail suburban lines except the airport branch of the Airport & East Hills Line, the Carlingford line and the Cumberland Line. In peak hours, to serve connecting passengers and students at the University of Sydney; intercity services to the Blue Mountains, Newcastle and the Central Coast and the South Coast also stop at the station to pick up or set down.Despite an extension of the platform in the late 1990s, Platform 1 is considered a short platform, and passengers are asked to travel in the front six carriages of Intercity trains using the platform.
The station is served by eighteen to twenty-six trains per hour each way, with additional trains during weekday peak hours.
Services are listed on this box:
Accessibility and exits
The station has three main exits - the main entrance and exit on Lawson Street next to the ticketing area (Exit A on the diagram below), a second entrance on Gibbons Street (especially for passengers using platforms 11 and 12) (Exit B on the diagram below), and a third exit to the Australian Technology ParkAustralian Technology Park
The Australian Technology Park is a business and technology centre in Eveleigh, an inner-city suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia...
, which is accessed by walking along platform 10 (Exit C on the diagram). During peak hours, the entrance to platform 10 is blocked by fare gates to prevent fare evasion by those travelling to the Technology Park area; these are opened during off-peak times or on the rare occasion when a train needs to stop at the platform. The other two entrances have their fare gates operating at all times.
At present, Redfern does not have Easy Access for wheelchairs. All above-ground platforms are accessible by stairs, so this would hinder most wheelchair access to the station. Platforms 11 and 12 are accessible by either stairs or escalators from a separate concourse near the Gibbons Street exit.
In April 2006, Transport Minister John Watkins
John Watkins (Australian politician)
John Arthur Watkins is a former Deputy Premier of New South Wales, serving between 2005 until his resignation from Parliament in 2008...
announced plans for a $2 million inquiry into concept designs for upgrading the station, including Easy Access facilities. The station requires upgrading due to an influx of new residents and workers set to result from the Redfern-Waterloo urban renewal project.
Station map
Legend:| Station Concourse |
| Platforms |
| Offices/Other Facilities |
| Ticket Barriers |
| Stairs/Escalators |
Bus services
Redfern does not have a connecting bus interchange; however, a stop close to the Gibbons Street entrance (near platforms 11 & 12) serves the following routes:- 305 - Railway Square (inbound); Qantas Centre, Mascot via Alexandria (outbound)
- 308 - Millers Point (Argyle Street) (inbound) via City; Marrickville Metro (Smidmore Street) (outbound) via Alexandria
- 309/310 - Circular Quay via City (inbound) (outbound does not pass by Redfern Station). There are also peak hour express service equivalents X09 & X10.
- L09 - Peak hour limited stops service to Port Botany Bus Depot (Bumborah Point Road)
This bus stop also services NightRide
NightRide
NightRide is a network of bus routes in operation between midnight and 5.00 am in Sydney, Australia. The eleven routes are run by private bus operators and allow for a nightly shutdown of the CityRail commuter rail network. Established by the New South Wales Ministry of Transport and monitored by...
buses and replacement buses during trackwork.
There are stops further afield in Lawson Square, Botany Road and Redfern Street servicing bus routes to the City, Railway Square, Matraville, Pagewood and Marrickville.
Neighbouring stations
External links
- Trainman's Train Page - Pictures of the unfinished platforms 13 & 14
- Neety's Train Page - pictures and information on the station; facts and figures
- NSW Railways - historical information on the station; facts and figures
- aus.rail newsgroup - various information
- CityRail website - travel and station accessibility information
- Sydney Buses website - bus stop information
- CityRail - route map