Central Railway Station in Sydney, Australia is the main terminus for both interstate and interurban rail services in the area.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T9EVDG6tdM&feature=player_embedded It is the largest station in the city and services most of the CityRail lines. The Central light rail station, which is the eastern terminus of the Metro Light Rail line, is also housed within the complex.http://www.sydneyarchitecture.com/cbd/cbd7-003.htm
One of the main attractions of the Central Railway Station is its clock tower, which rises 75 feet into the air above the station. It is located at the northwest corner of the station and has four clock faces. The tower was previously open to tourists and many would climb the 302 steps to the clock. Tours of the clock tower have now been closed for the foreseeable future.http://www.aviewoncities.com/sydney/centralstation.htm
Travel expert Asha K describes Sydney's main railway hub in a brief overview. She mentions that those interested in history might also want to visit the Railway Heritage Center. More Mahalo travel videos can be seen on the Mahalo.com YouTube channel.
Central Railway Station, Sydney History
Central Station has had three separate incarnations. The first two were known by the name "Redfern" and were built in 1855 and 1874, respectively. The first was a simple wooden platform inside a shed of corrugated iron and the second consisted of two platforms inside a brick building. Today Central Station could be described as two separate stations which are adjacent to one another.
The western side was formerly called "Sydney Terminal" and has 15 platforms. This terminal was built in 1906. The eastern side was formerly called "Central Electric" and consists of 12 platforms, eight above ground and four below ground. The upper platforms opened in 1926 and the lower four were completed in 1979.http://www.sydneyarchitecture.com/cbd/cbd7-003.htm The clock tower was built between 1915 and 1920 and the clock began operating in 1921.http://www.aviewoncities.com/sydney/centralstation.htm
Central Railway Station, Sydney Visitor Information
The station services 13 different lines for City Rail, and also services the Metro Light Rail line. The light rail stop is near the main waiting area in an outside concourse.http://www.cityrail.info/stations/station_details.htm;jsessionid=08C1022F5921D6225FE199A89CEC1B84.node01 http://www.sydneyarchitecture.com/cbd/cbd7-003.htm
Central Station is wheelchair accessible and has staff on hand from the first train to the last run. It has stairs, an escalator and a lift for visitors' convenience. There are both a ticket vending machine and a pay telephone available. Parking is only available for two hours at a time in order to drop off or meet passengers of the rail service. There are no bike racks or lockers; the cloak room and lockers have been closed indefinitely as an increased security measure for the safety of those entering the station.http://www.cityrail.info/stations/station_details.htm;jsessionid=08C1022F5921D6225FE199A89CEC1B84.node01
Some entrances may not be accessible. Accessible entrances to Central Station include the northern end of the station, Eddy Avenue, the Light rail station entrance, and the Country terminal entrance on the western side.http://www.cityrail.info/stations/station_details.htm;jsessionid=08C1022F5921D6225FE199A89CEC1B84.node01
