Wynyard station (Sydney)

Wynyard station is an underground railway station located in the north-west precinct of the central business district in Sydney. The station opened on 28 February 1932 to coincide with the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

History

The station opened on 28 February 1932. Wynyard was originally constructed with six platforms (the existing four platforms are still numbered from 3 to 6), with platforms 1-4 located on the upper level and platforms 5 and 6 on the lower level. The original intention was that Platforms 1 and 2, located adjacent to platforms 3 and 4, would eventually serve the eastern pair of railway tracks across the Sydney Harbour Bridge. In the interim, they were used as a terminus for North Shore tram services on Sydney's former tram network, a service that operated over those tracks from the bridge's opening in 1932 until 1958. A feature of these lines was Australia's only underground tram terminus.

After tram services were withdrawn, platforms 1 and 2 were walled off from 3 and 4, and the space converted into an underground car park, which continues to function as such to this day. The eastern tram tracks on the bridge were replaced by two extra road lanes as part of the construction of the Cahill Expressway. The disused tunnel and ramp that formerly connected the station to the eastern tram tracks can still be seen, mirroring those still in use to the west of the bridge. On 22 January 1956, the lines from platforms 5 and 6 were extended to Circular Quay as part of the City Circle. The station is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register.

Station configuration

The station is spread over three levels. There are two platform levels, each with two platforms. The upper level serves the North Shore line, whilst the lower level serves the City Circle. The passenger concourse is on an intermediate level between the upper and lower platforms. Wynyard is connected via underground passageways to several surrounding buildings and shopping arcades and is located immediately below Wynyard Park. Direct access via tunnels is possible to George, Hunter and Pitt streets. Escalators connect the station concourse with York Street (emerging underneath Transport House) and Carrington Street (under Wynyard Park).

Refurbishment

A major upgrade commenced in 2015. The project included an extra stairway to platforms 3 and 4 and the addition of more ticket barriers. The four wooden escalators underneath Transport House, which had been operational since the opening of the station, were replaced with modern escalators. Parts of the former escalators were repurposed into a ceiling-mounted artwork titled 'Interloop', which was installed at the York Street entrance to the station concourse. The refurbishment was completed in 2018.

Wynyard Walk

The Wynyard Walk is a 180m pedestrian tunnel between Wynyard station and Barangaroo that opened in September 2016, with a Clarence Street entrance that opened in December 2016. Based on a design by architecture firm Woods Bagot, the project combined a new entrance, a pedestrian tunnel, a pedestrian bridge, and a new pedestrian plaza. Wynyard Walk provides direct access via tunnels to Clarence, Kent, and Sussex streets. Wynyard Walk includes a video screen showcasing digital art.

Transport links

The area around Wynyard station is served by many bus routes. Wynyard tram stop is under construction and located on George Street. Barangaroo ferry wharf can be accessed via Wynyard Walk.

References

Attribution

This article incorporates text from the following revision of the English Wikipedia article "Wynyard railway station, Sydney": https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wynyard_railway_station,_Sydney&oldid=888417045.