Line(s) Newcastle Disabled access Yes Rebuilt 1858 Tracks 4 | Structure type Ground Opened 9 March 1858 Platforms in use 4 (2 side, 1 island) | |
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Location Corner Scott & Watt Streets, Newcastle
Australia Owned by Transport for New South Wales Distance 168.10 km (104.45 mi) from Central Address Newcastle NSW 2300, Australia Owner Transport for New South Wales Similar Civic railway station, Scone railway station, Wickham railway station, Wirragulla railway station, Telarah | ||
Newcastle railway station was formerly the main railway station in Newcastle, New South Wales. It was the terminus station for services to the city until it closed in December 2014.
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History
Newcastle station was originally located at the site of the Honeysuckle Point Terminus. Early on in the making of the Honeysuckle Point Terminus, Newcastle residents called for an extension to the centre of town and in 1857 the parliamentary select committee recommended, that a single line for goods and passenger traffic be laid from Honeysuckle Point to the wharf at Watt Street. In November 1857 a contract for £6,347, was awarded to William Wright for the 67 chains (1.3 km; 0.84 mi) extension. The station was located on a spur line which serviced Circular Wharf and was opened on Saturday 20 March 1858. The current station opened on 9 March 1858, replacing the temporary terminus on what later became Civic station.
A large goods yard fanned east from the station, constructed in 1858. On 20 September 1987, the diesel multiple unit depot was relocated to Broadmeadow and later redeveloped as a bus station and park land.
On the 14 December 2014, hundreds travelled to the city by train to make up the over 3,500 people who gathered at Pacific Park (cnr Hunter & Pacific Streets) to protest against the proposed truncation of the rail line.
On 24 December 2014, the Save Our Rail group were granted an injunction by the Supreme Court of New South Wales preventing RailCorp from removing any part of line infrastructure after the closure of the line. RailCorp have lodged an appeal. This did not affect the suspension of services, but if the appeal is unsuccessful, will require an Act of Parliament to formally close the line before work to remove infrastructure can continue.
The last train departed Newcastle station for Gosford at 23:27 on 25 December 2014.
Platform & services
Newcastle Station consisted of four platforms, two of which were allocated for Central Coast & Newcastle Line services and two for Hunter Line services, although in practice all services could use any platform.
All four lines were electrified in 1984. A loop was maintained between platforms 1 and 2 until removed in 2012.
The station was also a major bus and coach interchange.