View source for Central station (Sydney)

<!--{{Infobox station
| name = Central
| type = 
| style = Sydney Trains
| image = 
| caption = 
| address = 
| country = 
| coordinates = 
| distance = 
| line = 
| connections = Bus & light rail
| structure = Ground & underground
| platform = 25:
{{plainlist|
:*15 terminating
:*10 through
:*2 unused}}
| elevation = {{convert|67|ft|m|order=flip}} <!-*- NSWR Public Timetable -*->
| depth = 
| levels = 
| tracks = 
| parking = 
| bicycle = 
| opened = 
| electrified = Yes
| disabled = Yes
| owned = [[RailCorp]]
| operator = [[Sydney Trains]], [[NSW TrainLink]]
| status = 
| passengers = 11.35 million<br />93,400 (daily)<ref>{{cite web |author=Bureau of Transport Statistics |url=https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/media/documents/2017/Train%20Statistics%202014.pdf |title=Train Statistics 2014 |publisher=Transport NSW |accessdate=15 July 2018}}</ref>
| pass_year = 2013
| pass_rank = 1
| pass_system = Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink
| pass_percent = 
| web = [https://transportnsw.info/stop?q=10101100#/ Transport for NSW]
}}-->
'''Central station''' is a railway and future metro station located at the southern end of the [[wikipedia:Sydney central business district|central business district]] in [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]], Australia. The station is the largest and busiest railway station in New South Wales. It services almost all of the lines on the [[Sydney Trains]] network, and is the major terminus for [[NSW TrainLink]] services. From 2024, [[Sydney Metro]] services will also pass through the station. It recorded 11.35&nbsp;million passenger movements in 2013.

Central station occupies a large city block separating Haymarket, Surry Hills, and the central business district, bounded by [[wikipedia:Railway Square|Railway Square]] and [[wikipedia:Pitt Street|Pitt Street]] in the west, [[wikipedia:Eddy Avenue|Eddy Avenue]] in the north, [[wikipedia:Elizabeth Street, Sydney|Elizabeth Street]] in the east and the [[wikipedia:Devonshire Street Tunnel|Devonshire Street Tunnel]] in the south.

==History==
There have been three terminal stations in Sydney. The original Sydney station was opened on 26 September 1855 in an area known as Cleveland Fields. This station (one wooden platform in a corrugated iron shed), called Sydney Terminal, had Devonshire Street as its northern boundary.<ref name="central history">{{cite web |url=http://sydneytrains.info/about/history/central_station_in-depth |title=Central Station - in-depth history  |publisher=Sydney Trains |access-date=3 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130810221634/http://sydneytrains.info/about/history/central_station_in-depth |archive-date=10 August 2013 }}</ref> It was frequently but unofficially called Redfern station,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://gallery.records.nsw.gov.au/index.php/galleries/through-the-lens-central-railway-station/|title=Central Railway Station, Sydney - Gallery - State Records NSW|work=State Records NSW - Digital Gallery|access-date=2017-04-13}}</ref> while at that time the present [[Redfern station (Sydney)|Redfern station]] was officially called Eveleigh.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/map/76629|title=Atlas of the Suburbs of Sydney - Redfern 1886-1888|website=dictionaryofsydney.org|access-date=2017-04-13}}</ref> It should be noted that the first and second Sydney Terminals were never actually located in Redfern, being to the north of Cleveland Street which is Redfern's northern boundary.

<!--
[[File:Devonshire Street Cemetery, Sydney (2742078059).jpg|thumb|left|Central station was built on land previously occupied by the Devonshire Street Cemetery.]]
[[File:Laying the foundation stone, Central Station 1903 (5207836628).jpg|thumb|left|Laying the station's foundation stone in 1903]]-->
When this station became inadequate for the traffic it carried, a new station was built in 1874 on the same site and also called Sydney Terminal. This was a brick building with two platforms. It grew to 14 platforms before it was replaced by the present-day station to the north of Devonshire Street. The new station was built on a site previously occupied by the [[wikipedia:Devonshire Street Cemetery|Devonshire Street Cemetery]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weekendnotes.com/central-railway-station-sydney/|title=Sydney's Central Station - Now and Then Photos - Sydney|publisher=Weekend Notes}}</ref> a convent, a female refuge, a police barracks, a parsonage, and a Benevolent Society. The remains exhumed from the cemetery were re-interred at several other Sydney cemeteries including Rookwood and Waverley cemeteries. Bodies were moved to Botany by steam tram motors and flat cars.<ref name="central history"/>

The present station was officially opened on 4 August 1906 and opening for passengers on 5 August 1906.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article28160131? |title=The New Central Station |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=6 August 1906 |page=6 |access-date= |publisher=Trove, National Library of Australia }}</ref> The new station included the previous [[wikipedia:Mortuary railway station|Mortuary railway station]] used to transport funeral parties to [[wikipedia:Rookwood Cemetery|Rookwood Cemetery]].<ref name="nswshr2"/> The last train departed platform 5 of the 1874 station at midnight. During the remainder of that night, the passenger concourse was demolished and the line extended through the old station into the new station. The ''Western Mail'' arrived at 05:50 on 5 August 1906 at the new station.<ref>{{cite book|last=Preston|first=Ronald George|year=1980|title=125 Years of the Sydney to Parramatta Railway|publisher=New South Wales Rail Transport Museum|isbn=0-909862-13-3|page=60}}</ref> A section of Devonshire Street, which separated the two stations, became a pedestrian underpass to allow people to cross the rail corridor and is known as the Devonshire Street Tunnel.<ref name="central history"/>

<!--[[File:Central Station milk bar, 1946 (4009463159).jpg|thumb|left||A milk bar inside Central station, circa 1947]]-->
An <!--{{convert|-->85.6<!--|-->m<!--|ft|adj=mid|-->-tall<!--}}--><ref name="central history"/> clock tower in the [[wikipedia:Australian non-residential architectural styles#Free Classical|Free Classical style]] was added at the north-western corner of the station, opening on 3 March 1921. Central station was designed by the Government Architect, [[wikipedia:Walter Liberty Vernon|Walter Liberty Vernon]]. As it was being built, it was reported that "Everything in connection with the new station appears to have been designed on a grand scale, from the great elevated approaches down to the system of handling luggage underground."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article14790534 |title=New Railway Station. An imposing Building |newspaper=[[Sydney Morning Herald|The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW: 1842 - 1954)]] |location=NSW |date=2 August 1906 |accessdate=27 March 2014 |page=7 |publisher=Trove, [[National Library of Australia]] }}</ref> It is listed on the [[wikipedia:New South Wales State Heritage Register|New South Wales State Heritage Register]]<ref name="nswshr1">{{cite NSW SHR|2425097|Central Railway Station|date=13 December 2006|accessdate=3 January 2017}}</ref><ref name="nswshr2">{{cite NSW SHR|4801296|Central Railway Station and Sydney Terminal Group|date=30 July 2009|accessdate=3 January 2017}}</ref> and the now defunct [[wikipedia:Register of the National Estate|Register of the National Estate]].<ref name=heritage>{{Cite book |author1=Australian Heritage Commission |title=The Heritage of Australia: the illustrated register of the National Estate |publication-date=1981 |publisher=The Macmillan Company of Australia in association with the Australian Heritage Commission |isbn=978-0-333-33750-9 |volume=2 |page=108}}</ref>

A riot, dubbed the [[wikipedia:Liverpool riot of 1916|Battle of Central Station]], took place in 1916. Soldiers rebelling against camp conditions had raided hotels in [[wikipedia:Liverpool, New South Wales|Liverpool]] and travelled to the city by commandeered trains. Upon arrival at Central station, the rioters set about destroying the station facilities, and fire was exchanged between rampaging rioters and military police. One rioter was shot dead and several were injured. The only remaining evidence of the gun battle is a small bullet-hole in the marble by the entrance to platform 1.<ref>{{cite news |author=Baker, Jordan |title=The secret life of us&nbsp;— tunnel vision exposed |newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald |date=2 August 2006}}</ref> This incident had a direct influence on the introduction of [[wikipedia:Six o'clock swill|6 o'clock closing]] of hotels in 1916, which lasted in New South Wales until 1955.<ref name="central history"/>

==Station configuration==
The station opened on 5 August 1906 with 11 platforms, but was soon expanded to 15, and by 1913 had 19.<ref name=BulletinMar01>{{cite journal |title=Sydney's Electric Trains from 1926 to 1960 |journal=Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin |number=761 |date=March 2001 |pages=87, 94, 95 101 }}</ref> This section is dominated by a large vaulted roof over the concourse and elaborate masonry, primarily Sydney sandstone.

As part of the construction of the electrified city railway in the 1920s, a new Central station was built. The existing station was cut back to 15 platforms with new platforms 16 to 23 built on the station's eastern side and a six-track bridge paralleling Elizabeth Street to Goulburn Street built to the north. 

Railway employees then referred to the main building and platforms 10 to 15 as Sydney Terminal Station and platforms 16 to 23, and the lower level concourse serving them, as Central Electric Station and the two stations were managed and staffed as separate entities.

South of these new platforms, a series of [[wikipedia:flying junction|flying junction]]s were built. This involved the four southbound tracks passing beneath the northbound tracks with a series of [[wikipedia:Level junction|diamond crossings]] allowing trains to cross lines without impeding trains travelling in the opposite direction.<ref name=BulletinMar01/>

As part of the project, platforms 10 to 15 were electrified, with platforms 1 to 9 following in 1956.<ref name=BulletinMar01/><ref>{{cite book|last1=Oakes|first1=John|title=Sydney's Central|date=2002|publisher=Australian Railway Historical Society|location=Redfern|isbn=0 909650 56 X|page=53}}</ref>

To the west of Platform 1 there was a siding leading to two dock platforms for use of mail trains, now cut back to serve a [[wikipedia:motorail|motorail]] loading ramp for the ''[[wikipedia:Indian Pacific|Indian Pacific]]''. The space were where the mail sidings is now a youth hostel. The hostel rooms are modelled on old train carriages.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www3.yha.com.au/hostels/nsw/sydney-surrounds/railway-square/ |title=Sydney Railway Square YHA |publisher=YHA Australia |date= |access-date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130410201858/http://www3.yha.com.au/hostels/nsw/sydney-surrounds/railway-square/# |archive-date=10 April 2013 |dead-url=yes |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

Carriage sheds to the south of Platform 15 were demolished in the 1986 as were the sheds to the west of Platform 1 in 1999.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Suburban Report |journal=Railway Digest |date=November 1986 |page=344}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Newsline |journal=Railway Digest |date=April 1999 |page=12 }}</ref>

In February 1926, Platform 18 and 19 of the steam station were wired for electric trains with a demonstration run from Sydney to Hurstville. This wiring was transferred to Platforms 21 and 23 and Platforms 14 and 15 were wired for Bankstown electric train services commencing October 1926 and later worked into [[St James station (Sydney)|St James]]. As the Homebush electrification was completed, Platforms 17 and 18 were wired. Electric trains to Hornsby via the main line commenced on 21 January 1929. Trains to Hornsby used Platforms 16 and 18. Steam services to Parramatta and Liverpool were converted to electric in November 1929. Western electric trains began operating through to [[Wynyard station (Sydney)|Wynyard]] from 28 February 1932.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=ARHS Bulletin|title=Unknown|year=1942|volume=56|pages=3}}</ref>

The eastern ("suburban") part of the station, consists of 10 through platforms, all aligned north-south, two of which are underground. These are used by suburban [[Sydney Trains]] services and by a limited number of NSW TrainLink intercity services during peak hours. The eight above-ground platforms were opened in 1926 as part of a large electrification and modernisation program aimed at improving Sydney's suburban railway services. Prince Alfred sidings, south of Platform 23, were used to stable electric trains until closed in August 1995 and later demolished to make way for the [[Airport railway line, Sydney|Airport line]].<ref>{{cite journal |title=CityRail's New Timetable |journal=Railway Digest |date=August 1995 |page=13 }}</ref>

The two underground platforms were built as part of the [[Eastern Suburbs railway line]]. Construction commenced in 1948 but the line was not finished until 1979. While the plans called for four platforms, two (for the Southern Suburbs line) were intended to be used in the future and were used for archival storage by the railways.

A contract for a major upgrade of the station was awarded in March 2018. The work includes construction of two new underground platforms as part of  the [[Sydney Metro City & Southwest]] project and a new underground concourse called Central Walk. The new platforms will be built beneath platforms 13-14.<ref>{{cite web|title=$955 Million Central Walk, Sydney Metro Contract Awarded - securing more NSW jobs|url=https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/news-and-events/media-releases/955-million-central-walk-sydney-metro-contract-awarded-securing-more|publisher=Transport for NSW|accessdate=7 March 2018|date=7 March 2018}}</ref> In November and December 2018, platforms 12/13 and 14/15 were demolished. A temporary platform 12 opened in early 2019.<ref>[https://www.sydneymetro.info/station/central-station Central Station] Sydney Metro.</ref>

==Platforms and services==
<!--[[File:Central railway station Sydney Grand Concourse 201708.jpg|thumb|Eastward view of the Grand Concourse in 2017]]
[[File:Platform 20 and 21 at Central Station in Sydney.jpg|thumb|Platforms 20 and 21 in 2013]]-->
Central is served by most Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink Intercity lines. All long-distance NSW TrainLink Regional services and the ''[[wikipedia:Indian Pacific|Indian Pacific]]'' terminate at Central. These generally use Platforms 1 to 3.

The platforms are numbered from 1 to 25, with 1 being the westernmost platform and 25 being one of the easternmost. The services which generally use each platform are listed below:
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+Terminating platforms
!Platform<br>type
!Platform<br>number
!Line
!Details
!Next station<br>(Down direction)
|-
|rowspan="3"|1: side<br>2 & 3: island
|rowspan="3"|'''1 to 3'''
|rowspan="2"|NSW TrainLink Regional
|services north to Grafton, Casino, Brisbane (Queensland), Armidale & Moree<br>
services west to Dubbo & Broken Hill
|[[Strathfield station (Sydney)|Strathfield]]
|-
|services south to Canberra (Australian Capital Territory), Griffith & Melbourne (Victoria)
|[[Campbelltown station (Sydney)|Campbelltown]]
|-
|Indian Pacific
|Services to Perth (Western Australia)
|[[Mount Victoria station (New South Wales)|Mount Victoria]]
|-
|rowspan="6"|4-11: islands<br>12: side
|rowspan="6"|'''4 to 12'''
|{{NSWPTL|BMT}}
|services to Springwood, Katoomba, Mount Victoria, Lithgow & Bathurst
|rowspan="3"|[[Redfern station (Sydney)|Redfern]]
|-
|{{NSWPTL|CCN}}
|services to Gosford, Wyong & Newcastle via Strathfield
|-
|{{NSWPTL|SCO}}
|services to Kiama
|-
|{{NSWPTL|SHL}}
|limited services to Moss Vale & Goulburn
|[[Glenfield station (Sydney)|Glenfield]]
|-
|{{NSWPTL|T7}}
|special event services to Olympic Park
|rowspan="2"|[[Redfern station (Sydney)|Redfern]]
|-
|{{NSWPTL|T9}}
|weekday peak hour services to Epping & Hornsby via Strathfield
|-
|''{{color|grey|N/A}}''
|'''13 to 15'''
|''{{color|grey|N/A}}''
|platforms closed for construction of Sydney Metro underground platforms
|''{{color|grey|N/A}}''
|}

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+Surface through platforms
!Platform<br>type
!Platform<br>number
!Line
!Details
!Next station<br>(north)
!Next station<br>(south/west)
|-
|rowspan="4"|Island
|rowspan="2"|'''16'''
|{{NSWPTL|T1}}
|services to North Sydney, Lindfield, Gordon, Hornsby & Berowra
|rowspan="4"|[[Town Hall station (Sydney)|Town Hall]]
|rowspan="4"|''{{color|grey|N/A}}''
|-
|{{NSWPTL|CCN}}
|evening peak services to Gosford, Wyong & Newcastle via Gordon
|-
|rowspan="2"|'''17'''
|{{NSWPTL|T2}}
|rowspan="2"|services to the City Circle via Town Hall
|-
|{{NSWPTL|T3}}
|-
|rowspan="3"|Island
|rowspan="2"|'''18'''
|{{NSWPTL|T1}}
|services to Penrith, Emu Plains & Richmond via Central and Strathfield
|rowspan="3"|''{{color|grey|N/A}}''
|rowspan="3"|[[Redfern station (Sydney)|Redfern]]
|-
|{{NSWPTL|T9}}
|services to Hornsby via Strathfield
|-
|'''19'''
|{{NSWPTL|T2}}
|services to Parramatta & Leppington
|-
|rowspan="2"|Island
|'''20'''
|{{NSWPTL|T3}}
|rowspan="2"|services to the City Circle via Museum
|rowspan="2"|[[Museum station (Sydney)|Museum]]
|rowspan="2"|''{{color|grey|N/A}}''
|-
|'''21'''
|{{NSWPTL|T8}}
|-
|rowspan="3"|Island
|rowspan="2"|'''22'''
|{{NSWPTL|T3}}
|services to Lidcombe & Liverpool via Bankstown
|rowspan="3"|''{{color|grey|N/A}}''
|rowspan="2"|[[Redfern station (Sydney)|Redfern]]
|-
|{{NSWPTL|T8}}
|evening peak services to Macarthur via Sydenham & Revesby
|-
|'''23'''
|{{NSWPTL|T8}}
|services to Revesby, & Macarthur via Sydney Airport
|[[Green Square station (Sydney)|Green Square]]
|}

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+Underground through platforms
!Platform<br>type
!Platform<br>number
!Line
!Details
!Next station<br>(north)
!Next station<br>(south/west)
|-
|rowspan="4"|Island
|rowspan="2"|'''24'''
|{{NSWPTL|T4}}
|services to Bondi Junction
|rowspan="2"|[[Town Hall station (Sydney)|Town Hall]]
|rowspan="2"|''{{color|grey|N/A}}''
|-
|{{NSWPTL|SCO}}
|services to Martin Place & Bondi Junction
|-
|rowspan="2"|'''25'''
|{{NSWPTL|T4}}
|services to Cronulla & Waterfall via Hurstville
|rowspan="2"|''{{color|grey|N/A}}''
|rowspan="2"|[[Redfern station (Sydney)|Redfern]]
|-
|{{NSWPTL|SCO}}
|services to Wollongong, Port Kembla, Dapto & Kiama
|-
|Island
|colspan="2"|''{{color|grey|N/A}}''
|platforms never used
|colspan="2"|''{{color|grey|none}}''
|-
|rowspan="2"|Island
|rowspan="2"|''{{color|grey|N/A}}''
|rowspan="2"|Extension to the North West Line
|rowspan="2"|metro platforms under construction
|[[Pitt St station (Sydney)|Pitt St]]
|''{{color|grey|N/A}}''
|-
|''{{color|grey|N/A}}''
|[[Waterloo station (Sydney)|Waterloo]]
|}

==Indicator board==
<!--[[File:Central Station indicator board.jpg|thumb|1906 Central station Indicator Board on display at the Powerhouse Museum]]-->
When opened, Central station had an indicator board with 22 vertical panels. It was replaced in June 1982 by computer screens. The original indicator board was conserved by the Powerhouse Museum.<ref>[http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=212227#ixzz1h8l4PWbs Central Station indicator board] Powerhouse Museum</ref> In June 2015, a new indicator board was installed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/opal-takes-centre-stage-central |title=Opal takes centre stage at Central |work=Transport for NSW |date=29 June 2015}}</ref>

==Transport links==
===Light rail===
<!--[[File:Central light rail station.JPG|thumb|The [[Inner West Light Rail]] at Central]]-->
Central is the eastern terminus of the [[Inner West Light Rail]] that operates to Dulwich Hill via Darling Harbour, Pyrmont and the inner western suburbs. The light rail stop is in an outside concourse area, near the main waiting area and departure hall. This area was originally designed for trams, and as such was used by the trams of [[Trams in Sydney|Sydney's former network]] until 1958, when the service was withdrawn. It was known as Railway Colonnade. Light rail services operate in a clockwise direction, whereas the older trams operated in an anti-clockwise direction.

Construction of the [[CBD and South East Light Rail]] line from Circular Quay to Kingsford and Randwick via Central commenced in 2015.<ref>[http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/b2b/projects/CBD-South-East_Light_Rail_Project_Update_April_2013.pdf CBD & South East Light Rail Project] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521163130/http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/b2b/projects/CBD-South-East_Light_Rail_Project_Update_April_2013.pdf |date=21 May 2014 }} Transport for NSW April 2013</ref> Stops will be located at Rawson Place and on Chalmers Street.

===Bus and coach services===
Many bus services depart from the adjacent Eddy Avenue or from the nearby Elizabeth Street or Railway Square. Long distance coaches depart from the western forecourt and Pitt Street.

==Devonshire Street Tunnel==
After Central was built in 1906, the [[Devonshire Street Tunnel]], to the north of the old station, became an underpass. The underpass allows pedestrians to access the eastern "suburban" section from Railway Square and Chalmers Street.<ref>[http://www.sydneyarchitecture.com/SUB/SUB-08.htm Tunnelling Through the Past] Sydney Architecture</ref> The tunnel connects to [[The Goods Line]]&ndash;a park and pedestrian pathway to [[Ultimo, New South Wales|Ultimo]] and [[Darling Harbour]].
<!--
==Diagrams and maps==
[[File:CityRail Central track diagram.png|1000px|center|thumb|Diagram of track layout at the suburban section of the station, there are seven grade separations in the [[Flying junction]]s, plus one unused one]]
{{maplink|from=Central station, Sydney.map|text=Map of the station|zoom=17}}<br>
{{maplink|from=Central station precinct, Sydney.map|text=Map of the Central station precinct|zoom=16}}

==See also==
*[[Light rail in Sydney]]
*[[Rail transport in New South Wales]]
-->
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{attribution:en.wp|name=Central railway station, Sydney|link=https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Central_railway_station,_Sydney&oldid=870791461}}

==Further reading==
*{{Cite book|last1=McKillop|first1=Robert|last2=Ellsmore|first2=Donald|last3=Oakes|first3=John|title=A Century of Central|publisher=[[Australian Railway Historical Society]]|year=2008| isbn=978-0-9757870-6-9}}

[[Category:Railway stations in Sydney]]
[[Category:Railway stations opened in 1855]]
[[Category:Railway stations opened in 1906]]