North Sydney railway station, Sydney

From Freepedia

The North Sydney railway station is a CityRail station that was created as part of the construction project for the Sydney Harbour Bridge and opened to traffic on 19 March 1932 at the same time that the bridge was opened. It lies on the North Shore line, 5.1 km from Central railway station, Sydney.

The station has four platforms which correspond with the four railway tracks that were designed to cross the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Rail services through North Sydney have been electrified since their inception.

From 1932 to 1958 two of the rail tracks designed for the bridge were used by trams, the latter being diverted onto Blue St just before they would have entered North Sydney Station. After 1958 the tram tracks were removed from the Sydney Harbour Bridge and replaced by roadway. The result is that the four platforms at North Sydney serve a double track railway to the north and south of the station. Thus it is a suitable station for terminating traffic.

The station was built in a cutting in rock in North Sydney, and has progressively been covered by high-rise commercial buildings above it. Trains travelling north from the station (in the direction of Waverton) travel through tunnels cut into the rock. There are some unused parts of tunnels which make provision for trains to travel north to a different destination. Since 1932 there has been no construction work on these vestigial tunnels.

Local business interests and the local council say that North Sydney station is now inadequate for the passenger traffic that flows through it, and that it will be rebuilt at the expense of local business.

Train stabling and future plans

Up to six trains are stabled in the sidings at Lavender Bay during the day. Up to six trains are stabled in the middle road tunnels at North Sydney itself.

As of 2005, as the station concourse and stairs get crowded in peak hours, planning is underway to upgrade these facilities. Also planned are the provision of Easy Access facilities such as lifts.

Preceding station (inbound direction)	CityRail lines			Following station (outbound direction)
Milsons Point		North Shore Line		Waverton
terminus		Northern Line		Milsons Point