Circular Quay | |||||||||||||||||||||
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General information | |||||||||||||||||||||
Location | Alfred Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||
Coordinates | 33°51′41″S151°12′40″E / 33.8614°S 151.211°E | ||||||||||||||||||||
Owned by | Transport Asset Holding Entity | ||||||||||||||||||||
Operated by | Sydney Trains | ||||||||||||||||||||
Line(s) | City Circle | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance | 2.6 km (1.6 mi) from Central | ||||||||||||||||||||
Platforms | 2 side | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tracks | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Connections | |||||||||||||||||||||
Construction | |||||||||||||||||||||
Structure type | Elevated | ||||||||||||||||||||
Accessible | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||
Architect | John Bradfield (designer) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Architectural style | Inter-War Functionalist [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||
Other information | |||||||||||||||||||||
Status | Staffed | ||||||||||||||||||||
Station code | CQY | ||||||||||||||||||||
Fare zone | Opal | ||||||||||||||||||||
History | |||||||||||||||||||||
Opened | 20 January 1956 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Electrified | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||
Passengers | |||||||||||||||||||||
2023 [2] |
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Services | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Circular Quay railway station is a heritage-listed [1] elevated commuter rail station that is located on the City Circle route, serving the Circular Quay precinct of the Sydney central business district in New South Wales, Australia. It is served by Sydney Trains T2 Inner West & Leppington, T3 Bankstown and T8 Airport & South line services.
It is adjacent to the Circular Quay ferry wharf complex, which serves as an interchange to Sydney Ferries.
Circular Quay is an area of historical significance for Sydney, as it was for a long time the central harbour of a settlement which relied on shipping for its connection to the outside world. By the 20th century, ferry commuter wharves began to eclipse commercial shipping wharves as the dominant feature of the Quay area. The area became a transport hub as it served as the terminus of both ferry and tram services. [1]
Planning for a railway station here to complement this transport hub began in 1909, and work was authorised in 1915. Tunnels to link the surrounding stations to the future Circular Quay station were built from Central between 1917 and 1926 to St James (eastern section) and 1932 to Wynyard (western section). Work on the section of the railway through Circular Quay began in 1936, was interrupted by World War II, and recommenced in 1945. Work was again interrupted between 1951 and 1953 with the viaduct finally completed in 1954. [1] The supporting beams were fabricated at Chullora Railway Workshops in the 1930s. They were used during the construction of the Hawkesbury River Railway Bridge in the 1940s, before being returned to Chullora.
Designs for the station building itself commenced in 1927, revised in 1937, and the station was finally completed and opened on 20 January 1956 by State Premier Joseph Cahill, with the first regular train services beginning on 22 January. [4] The completion of Circular Quay station marked the completion of the City Circle railway as originally envisaged by John Bradfield making it the newest station on the line.
The construction and placement of the station was always controversial due to its prominent location at the head of Circular Quay, an important natural and cultural landmark and visitors' attraction. When the Cahill Expressway opened above the station in 1958, the controversy over the entire structure only intensified. There have been various proposals to relocate the station underground in conjunction with the demolition of the Cahill Expressway, however these have not come to fruition.
Along with Central station, Circular Quay received one of the first easy access upgrades which included lift access prior to September 1998.
In 2006, RailCorp performed maintenance and cleaning of the station's 50-year-old facade. [5] A refurbishment in 2007 introduced sun-shading awnings on the platforms, removed advertising hoarding between the tracks, and improved facilities on the concourse level.
Circular Quay station features a ground-level central concourse, and elevated platforms on a second level. Both platforms feature sections of open galleries, offering views to Circular Quay, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House on one side, and Customs House and the Alfred Street plaza on the other. Viaducts lead from the elevated platforms to tunnels through surrounding elevated terrain that lead to neighbouring stations.
The station has two main, double-storey facades, facing Circular Quay to the north, and Customs House to the south respectively. The northern facade is faced with polished granite tiles, while the southern one features polished granite and sandstone. The station name is featured in steel lettering on both sides. The upper storey of the facades correspond to the central sections of the platforms, and feature steel-framed windows. The exterior of the remainder of the platform feature open, glass-railed galleries, supported on the lower level by a continuation of the central facade. [1] The top of the northern, harbour-facing facade is incorporated into the viewing platform and rest area located above the station alongside the Cahill Expressway roadway. This platform can be reached from the pedestrian walkway on the Cahill Expressway.
The station platforms are reached from the ground level concourse via stairs, escalators and lifts. The central concourse is surrounded on either side by retail and food shops and public toilets located under the elevated platforms. The concourse is decorated with brass details in an aquatic animal motif, seen in sculpted grills above stairways and doorways. Glass bricks are used extensively in various parts.
The station is in an inter-war functionalist style, as seen in the strong horizontal lines presented by the windows and galleries, with art deco details. [1]
Platform | Line | Stopping pattern | Notes |
1 | services to Homebush, Parramatta, Leppington | ||
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2 | services to Revesby & Macarthur 2 weekday evening services to Campbelltown | ||
services to Lidcombe & Liverpool via Bankstown |
South of the railway station is the Alfred Street bus terminus. A number of Transdev John Holland routes originate from there while two Big Bus Tours routes depart from George Street just north of Alfred Street. [6] [7] [8]
Adjacent to the station lies Circular Quay wharf that is served by Captain Cook Cruises, Manly Fast Ferry and Sydney Ferries services.
External image | |
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Map of Circular Quay Interchange (PDF) by Transport for NSW. |
The City Circle is a mostly-underground railway line located in the Sydney central business district and Haymarket, in New South Wales, Australia, that forms the core of Sydney's passenger rail network. The lines are owned by the Transport Asset Holding Entity, a State government agency, and operated under Transport for NSW's Sydney Trains brand. Despite its name, the City Circle is of a horseshoe shape, with trains operating in a U-shaped pattern. The constituent stations of the Circle are (clockwise): Central, Town Hall, Wynyard, Circular Quay, St James, Museum and back to Central.
Circular Quay is a harbour, former working port and now international passenger shipping terminal, public piazza and tourism precinct, heritage area, and transport node located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on the northern edge of the Sydney central business district on Sydney Cove, between Bennelong Point and The Rocks. It is part of the local government area of the City of Sydney.
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Wynyard railway station is a heritage-listed underground commuter rail station located in the north-west precinct of the Sydney central business district, in New South Wales, Australia. The station opened on 28 February 1932 to coincide with the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
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Cahill Expressway is an urban freeway in Sydney and was the first freeway constructed in Australia, first opening to traffic in 1958. It links the southern foot of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, over an elevated roadway and through a series of sunken cuttings and tunnels between the Royal Botanic Garden and The Domain, to Woolloomooloo in Sydney's inner-eastern suburbs.
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Circular Quay ferry wharf is a complex of wharves at Circular Quay, on Sydney Cove, that serves as the hub for the Sydney Harbour ferry network.
Sydney, the largest city in Australia, has an extensive network of passenger and freight railways. The passenger system includes an extensive suburban railway network, operated by Sydney Trains, a metro network and a light rail network. A dedicated freight network also exists. Future expansion of the light rail network includes the Parramatta Light Rail. Existing light rail services are the Inner West Light Rail and the CBD & South East Light Rail.
Double Bay ferry services connect wharves in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs with Circular Quay by commuter ferry. The services are provided by Sydney Ferries, an agency of the Government of New South Wales. The route is coloured dark green on the current Sydney Ferries network map. SuperCats are the primary vessel on the route with some Double Bay services operated by First Fleet ferries.
Parramatta River ferry services connect suburbs along the Parramatta River in Sydney with Circular Quay by commuter ferry. The services are numbered F3 and form part of the Sydney Ferries network.
The CBD and South East Light Rail is a pair of light rail lines running between Sydney's central business district (CBD) and the south-eastern suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It consists of the L2 Randwick Line which runs between Circular Quay and Randwick, as well as the L3 Kingsford Line which runs between Circular Quay and Kingsford. Construction commenced in October 2015, with the L2 Randwick Line commencing services on the 14 December 2019 and the L3 Kingsford Line on the 3 April 2020. It is part of Sydney's light rail network.
The Sydney Cove railings are heritage-listed railings located at the Circular Quay concourse, Circular Quay east and west, in the inner city Sydney suburbs of Dawes Point, The Rocks and the CBD, in the City of Sydney local government area of New South Wales, Australia. These were built from 1900. The railings were added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 10 May 2002.
Alfred Street is a street in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, in the local government area of the City of Sydney. It runs west–east from George Street to Phillip Street.