Operated by Sydney Tramway Museum Closed 11 June 1991 Rebuilt 1978 | Tracks 1 Electrified Yes Platforms in use 1 | |
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Location Farnell Avenue, Audley, New South Wales Opened 9 March 1886 (1886-03-09) (Commuter rail)
1 May 1993 (1993-05-01) (Light rail) Address Royal National Park, NSW 2233, Australia Similar Glenreagh Mountain Railway, Lachlan Valley Railway, Canberra railway station, Sydney Tramway Museum, Zig Zag Railway | ||
Royal National Park railway station is located in Audley, New South Wales, that serviced travellers to the Royal National Park. It is the terminus of the Royal National Park railway line, now operated by the Sydney Tramway Museum, although the station platform itself is not usable by the heritage trams operating the service. It opened in 1886 as a commuter rail station, forming part of the Sydney railway network. Along with the Royal National Park railway line, it closed in 1991 due to low patronage. The line and station were acquired by the Sydney Tramway Museum and reopened in May 1993.
History
The station opened on 9 March 1886. It was renamed National Park on 1 May 1889, back to Loftus in January 1890 and back again to National Park on 1 December 1896 and finally Royal National Park on 16 July 1955. At its peak, the line was served by 25 trains day on weekends. On 4 July 1967, three of the five lines at the station were removed. By 1988, the line was served by only three trains a day. In 1978, the original station was demolished to make way for a visitor's centre and a new single platform built.
Following the discovery of signalling faults, services ceased on 11 June 1991. With major expenditure required and average patronage having dwindled to three passengers per train, the line was formally closed. The line was taken over by the Sydney Tramway Museum with Royal National Park station reopening as the line's terminus in May 1993.