Owned by RailCorp Line(s) Illawarra
Bankstown Opened 15 October 1884 Platforms in use 6 (2 island, 2 side) | Operated by Sydney Trains Connections Bus Owner RailCorp Tracks 6 | |
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Location Gleeson Avenue, Sydenham Distance 5.31 kilometres from Central Address Sydenham NSW 2044, Australia Similar Marrickville railway station, Tempe railway station, St Peters railway station, Wolli Creek railway station, Bondi Junction railway st | ||
Sydenham railway station is located on the Illawarra line, serving the Sydney suburb of Sydenham. It is served by Sydney Trains T2 South, T3 Bankstown and T4 Illawarra services.
Contents
History
Sydenham station opened on 15 October 1884 as Marrickville when the Illawarra line opened to Hurstville. It was renamed Sydenham on 19 January 1895.
In 1896, Sydenham became a junction station with the opening of the Bankstown line with the current platforms 3 and 4 opened. Two additional platform faces (now platforms 2 and 5) came with quadruplication in 1907. The substantial platform building on the current platform 2/3 island previously faced the street.
In 1928, the tracks were rearranged with the current Platform 2 closed and platform 6 opened in its place. In 1960-62, to relieve congestion at the station and in preparation for the planned Eastern Suburbs line, Platform 2 was re-opened and another platform, now Platform 1, built. This resulted in Bankstown line trains being re-routed from current platforms 3 and 4 to the new platforms. It had been intended that the tracks on platforms 1 and 2 would extend along the alignment to Erskineville as an adjunct to the Eastern Suburbs railway.
This plan was never completed, although partial platforms were erected at St Peters and Erskineville in preparation. Because of this, Bankstown line trains continue to run on the same tracks as East Hills services, and the Bankstown line's junction with the Illawarra line has been merely moved from the south of Sydenham station to the north. The construction of Platform 1 included a brick parcel office on the northern end of the platform. One of the few free-standing parcel offices on the Sydney network, it was in service until the 1980s. Now closed, the building itself remains standing.
Sydenham station now has side platforms at both the eastern and western extremities of the station (platforms 1 and 6 respectively) and two island platforms for the four inner tracks. Platforms 1 and 2 serve the Bankstown Line and Platforms 5 and 6 serve the Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Line. Prior to the oprning of the Airport line in May 2000, all East Hills line services operated via platforms 3 and 4. Most East Hills trains now run via the Airport line, although some peak hour services continue to travel via Sydenham using these platforms.
A new concourse including four lifts and new stairs to access the platforms opened in February 2013. The upgrade also included new ticketing facilities, a new family accessible toilet and staff facilities.
Immediately south of the station, the Metropolitan Goods Line to Port Botany crosses via a pratt truss bridge that opened in 1925, while beyond lies the XPT Service Centre.
Transport links
Sydney Buses operate three routes via Sydenham station: