Circular Quay | |||||||||||||||||||||
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![]() Circular Quay railway station, looking south from Sydney Harbour, September 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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 railway station that is located on the City Circle line, serving the Circular Quay precinct of the Sydney central business district in New South Wales, Australia. It is served by Sydney Trains' T2 Leppington & Inner West Line, T3 Liverpool & Inner West Line and T8 Airport & South Line services.
It is adjacent to the Circular Quay ferry wharf complex, which serves as an interchange to Sydney Ferries. It is also adjacent to Circular Quay light rail station which is the terminus of the L2 Randwick Line and L3 Kingsford Line of Sydney's light rail network.
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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services to Liverpool via Lidcombe and Regents Park | |||
2 | services to Sydenham services to Revesby & Macarthur via Airport stations 2 weekday evening services to Campbelltown |
South-east 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 to the north lies Circular Quay wharf that is served by Captain Cook Cruises, Manly Fast Ferry and Sydney Ferries services.
West of the bus terminus and also at Alfred Street is the Circular Quay light rail stop, which is the northern terminus for the L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford lines. [9]
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.
Central is a heritage-listed railway station located in the centre of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The station is Australia's largest and busiest railway station, and is a major transport interchange for NSW TrainLink inter-city rail services, Sydney Trains commuter rail services, Sydney Metro services, Sydney light rail services, bus services, and private coach transport services. The station is also known as Sydney Terminal. The property was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999. It recorded 85.4 million passenger movements in 2018 and serves over 250,000 people daily.
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.
Museum railway station is a heritage-listed underground commuter rail station that is located on the City Circle route at the southern end of Hyde Park in the Sydney central business district of New South Wales, Australia. The station is served by Sydney Trains' T2 Leppington & Inner West Line, T3 Liverpool & Inner West Line and T8 Airport & South Line. The station is named after the nearby Australian Museum. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
North Sydney railway station is a suburban railway station located on the North Shore line, serving the Sydney suburb of North Sydney. It is served by Sydney Trains' T1 North Shore Line and T9 Northern Line services.
Milsons Point railway station is a heritage-listed suburban railway station located on the North Shore line, serving the Sydney suburb of Milsons Point. It is served by Sydney Trains T1 North Shore line services. The station is elevated and is accessible via both stairs and a lift. It was designed and built by the Sydney Harbour Bridge Branch of the NSW Department of Public Works. The property was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.
Chatswood railway station is a rapid transit and suburban railway station located in the Sydney suburb of Chatswood. It is served by Sydney Trains services; the T1 North Shore & Western Line and the T9 Northern Line, and Sydney Metro North West & Bankstown Line services.
Bondi Junction railway station is a heritage-listed railway station located on the Eastern Suburbs line, serving the Sydney suburb of Bondi Junction in the Australian state of New South Wales. It is served by Sydney Trains' T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line services and NSW TrainLink's South Coast Line services.
George Street is a street in the central business district of Sydney.
The Sydney tramway network served the inner suburbs of Sydney, Australia, from 1879 until 1961. In its heyday, it was the largest in Australia, the second largest in the Commonwealth of Nations, and one of the largest in the world. The network was heavily worked, with about 1,600 cars in service at any one time at its peak during the 1930s . Patronage peaked in 1945 at 405 million passenger journeys. Its maximum street trackage totalled 291 km in 1923.
Cahill Expressway is an urban freeway in Sydney and was the first freeway constructed in Australia, with the first section, from the Bradfield Highway to Conservatorium Place being opened to traffic in March 1958. It links the southern end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, via an elevated roadway, a tunnel and cuttings between the Royal Botanic Garden and The Domain, to Woolloomooloo in Sydney's inner-eastern suburbs.
Transport in Sydney is provided by an extensive network of public transport operating modes including metro, train, bus, ferry and light rail, as well as an expansive network of roadways, cycleways and airports. According to the 2006 census, in terms of travel to work or study Sydney has the highest rate of public transport usage among the Australian capital cities of 26.3% with more than 80% of weekday trips to/from Central Sydney being made by public transport. According to the New South Wales State Plan, the state has Australia's largest public transport system. The public transport network is regulated by Transport for NSW.
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 goods railways. The first railway line in Sydney opened in 1855, becoming part of the Main Suburban railway line and laying the foundation for future expansion.
Manly Wharf is a heritage-listed passenger terminal wharf and recreational area located at West Esplanade and serving Manly, a Sydney suburb in the Northern Beaches Council local government area of New South Wales, Australia. Since the 1850s, it has served as the Manly embarkation and disembarkation point for the Manly to Sydney ferry service.
The Inner West Light Rail is a 12.8-kilometre (8.0 mi) light rail line in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, running from Central railway station through the Inner West to Dulwich Hill and serving 23 stops. It was the original line of the Sydney light rail network. Services on the line are branded as the L1 Dulwich Hill Line since 2014.
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. Services running between Circular Quay and Randwick are branded as the L2 Randwick Line, with services running between Circular Quay and Kingsford branded as the L3 Kingsford Line. 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.
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.
Circular Quay light rail station is located at Circular Quay in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It opened on 14 December 2019 as part of the first portion of the CBD and South East Light Rail, of which it is the northern terminus.