Central light rail station, Sydney

The largest railway station in Sydney, Central railway station, is served by two adjoining light rail stations which provide an interchange with the Sydney Trains suburban and intercity, Sydney Metro rapid transit and NSW TrainLink regional heavy rail networks, as well as with various bus routes. These light rail stations are both connected to the main railway station but are physically separated from each other and possess distinct names.

Central Grand Concourse

Central Grand Concourse
View towards boarding area in March 2015
General information
Location	Grand Concourse, Central, Haymarket Australia
Coordinates	33°52′56″S151°12′23″E / 33.88222°S 151.20639°E / -33.88222; 151.20639
Owned by	Transport for NSW
Operated by	Transdev Sydney
Line(s)	Inner West Light Rail
Platforms	2 (1 side)
Tracks	1
Connections	Central Bus
Construction
Structure type	Ground
Accessible	Yes
Other information
Website	Transport for NSW
History
Opened	5 August 1906(118 years ago) (1906-08-05) (as tram) 11 August 1997(27 years ago) (1997-08-11) (as light rail)
Closed	29 September 1957(67 years ago) (1957-09-29) (as tram)
Electrified	Yes
Previous names	Central (1997-2019)
Services
Preceding station Light Rail Following station Capitol Square towards Dulwich Hill Dulwich Hill Line Terminus

Central Grand Concourse is located on the Inner West Light Rail line, and is the terminus of the Sydney Light Rail L1 Dulwich Hill Line service. It is located on the first floor, parallel to, but above, Eddy Avenue. The stop connects to the Grand Concourse, Central station's main waiting area and the departure hall for medium and long-distance train services. ^[1]

The stop is located at the midpoint of a single track unidirectional turning loop around Belmore Park, with two platforms in an end-to-end layout. Trams stop at the first platform to allow passengers to alight, then continue forward to the second platform to allow boarding. ^[1] The use of the loop avoids having to terminate the vehicles and thus removes the need for the driver to change ends. This loop was not new; it had been used until 1957 as a route on the former Sydney tramway system, but in the opposite direction.

History

The original tram station at Central Grand Concourse opened on 5 August 1906. The balloon loop terminus was run anti-clockwise for the tram service along Pitt and Castlereagh Streets towards Circular Quay. ^[2] Before the opening of the first stage of the City Circle in 1926, all heavy rail services terminated at Central and therefore the terminus was heavily patronised by commuters travelling into the city.

Due to the declining patronage of the tram network throughout the 1950s, the service between Central and Circular Quay ceased on 29 September 1957 with the last tram returning to Central decorated in black streamers and bouquets of red carnations and poppies. ^[3] After closure of the former tramway system, the covered area was used as a staff carpark and bus interchange.

The current Central Grand Concourse station opened on 11 August 1997 as Central in conjunction with the opening of the Inner West Light Rail along the corridor of the former Rozelle–Darling Harbour Goods Line. ^[4] It was renamed Central Grand Concourse with the opening of Central Chalmers Street in December 2019.

Services

Line	Stopping pattern	Notes
L1	services to Dulwich Hill	[1]

Gallery

• 
  The approach to Central Grand Concourse in 1900
• 
  An Adtranz Variotram at the station in Metro Light Rail livery in 2005
• 
  View of the light rail station in August 2010

Central Chalmers Street

Central Chalmers Street
View towards the side platform in September 2023
General information
Location	Chalmers Street, Haymarket Australia
Coordinates	33°53′5.31″S151°12′25.94″E / 33.8848083°S 151.2072056°E / -33.8848083; 151.2072056
Owned by	Transport for NSW
Operated by	Transdev Sydney
Line(s)	CBD and South East Light Rail
Platforms	3 (2 island, 1 side)
Tracks	3
Connections	Central Bus
Construction
Structure type	Ground
Accessible	Yes
Other information
Website	Transport for NSW
History
Opened	14 December 2019(5 years ago) (2019-12-14)
Electrified	Yes
Previous names	Central (during construction)
Services
Preceding station Light Rail Following station Haymarket towards Circular Quay Randwick Line Surry Hills towards Randwick Kingsford Line Surry Hills towards Juniors Kingsford

Central Chalmers Street is a light rail station located on the CBD and South East Light Rail line, and is served by L2 Randwick Line and L3 Kingsford Line services. It is located on Chalmers Street, serving the eastern side of the Central railway station precinct. ^[5]

History

Central Chalmers Street station was opened on 14 December 2019 with the L2 Randwick Line, the first stage of the CBD and South East Light Rail project. The stop was originally known simply as Central during development, but was renamed to distinguish it from Central Grand Concourse. ^[6]

The stop was originally proposed to consist of three double length 90-metre (295 ft) platforms, with one of the platforms to only be used during special events - the roadway being open to general traffic at other times. ^[7] This third platform was removed in the project's Submissions Report, with a crossover to the north of the stop provided instead. The Report also proposed diverting most general traffic via Randle Street and converting the section of Chalmers Street opposite the station into a pedestrian/traffic shared zone. ^[8] As a result of the December 2014 decision to increase the length of the trams, plans to run double length trams during special events at Moore Park were abandoned. Consequently, the Modifications Report reduced the platform length from 90 metres (295 ft) to 45 metres (148 ft). ^{[9] [10]} The third platform was reinstated in an urban design plan released in 2017. This report also proposed closing Chalmers Street to through traffic. ^[11]

Services

Line	Stopping pattern	Notes
L2	services to Circular Quay & Randwick	[1]
L3	services to Circular Quay & Juniors Kingsford	[1]

Gallery

• 
  The station under construction in December 2018
• 
  An Alstom Citadis 305 at the station at night in May 2020

References

1. Central Light Rail Stop Transport for NSW
2. THE NEW CENTRAL STATION The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW: 1842-1954). Trove, National Library of Australia. 06 August 1906. p.6, accessed 23 January 2025
3. Stevens, A. & Butler-Bowdon, Dr C.Shooting Through: Sydney by Tram, Museums of History NSW, accessed 23 January 2025
4. Bozier, Rolfe. "Rozelle - Darling Harbour Goods Line". NSWrail. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
5. Central Chalmers Street Light Rail Stop Transport for NSW
6. "Name recommendations pack – City and South East Light Rail (CSELR)" (PDF). Sydney Light Rail. Transport for NSW. 8 August 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 March 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
7. Parsons Brinkerhoff. "Chapter 5 – Part B" (PDF). CBD and South East Light Rail – Environmental Impact Statement. Transport for NSW.
8. "CBD and South East Light Rail – Submissions Report, incorporating Preferred Infrastructure Report - Vol.1: Chapter 6 Preferred Infrastructure Report" (PDF). Transport for NSW. March 2014. pp. 6–16 to 6–18, 6-28 to 6-31, 6-38 to 6-44. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
9. "CBD and South East Light Rail improvements to deliver a better service for customers". Transport for NSW. 2 December 2014. Archived from the original on 14 December 2014.
10. "CBD and South East Light Rail – Modifications Report" (PDF). Transport for NSW. pp. 10–11, 17–21, 25, 46–49, 52. Retrieved 3 December 2014.
11. "Urban Design and Landscape Plan Surry Hills" (PDF). Transport for NSW. pp. 29–31. Retrieved 8 May 2017.