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 | ||||||||||||||||||||
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.
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 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. |
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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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George Street is a street in the central business district of Sydney.
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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.
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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 goods railways. The passenger system includes an extensive suburban railway network, operated by Sydney Trains, a metro system and a light rail network. A dedicated goods network also exists.
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.
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 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.
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