Strathfield railway station

Strathfield railway station is a heritage-listed railway station located on the Main Suburban line in the Sydney suburb of Strathfield in the Municipality of Strathfield local government area of New South Wales, Australia. The station is served by Sydney Trains T1 North Shore & Western Line, T9 Northern Line and T2 Inner West & Leppington Line suburban services as well as NSW TrainLink Intercity and regional services. The station is located on the Main Northern and Main Western railway lines, forming a major junction for regional and suburban rail services. The station and associated infrastructure was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.[2]

Strathfield
Westbound view from Platform 7
LocationAlbert Road, Strathfield, New South Wales
Australia
Coordinates33°52′18″S 151°05′40″E
Owned byTransport Asset Holding Entity
Operated bySydney Trains
Line(s)Main Suburban
Distance11.81 km (7.34 mi) from Central
Platforms8 (4 island)
Tracks8
ConnectionsBus
Construction
Structure typeGround
Disabled accessYes
Other information
StatusStaffed
Station codeSTR
WebsiteTransport for NSW
History
Opened9 July 1876
ElectrifiedYes
Passengers
201849,910 (daily)[1] (Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink)
Rank11
Services
Preceding station Sydney Trains Following station
Lidcombe
toward Emu Plains or Richmond
 North Shore & Western Line Redfern
toward Berowra
Homebush
toward Parramatta or Leppington
 Inner West & Leppington Line Burwood
toward City Circle
Olympic Park
Terminus
 Olympic Park Line
(special events only)
 Redfern
toward Central
North Strathfield
toward Hornsby
 Northern Line Burwood
toward Gordon
Preceding station NSW TrainLink Following station
Epping
toward Newcastle Interchange
 Central Coast & Newcastle Line Redfern
toward Central
Parramatta
toward Lithgow
 Blue Mountains Line
Lithgow
Hornsby
toward Grafton, Casino or Brisbane
 NSW TrainLink North Coast Line Sydney
Terminus
Hornsby
toward Moree or Armidale
 NSW TrainLink North Western Line
Parramatta
toward Broken Hill or Dubbo
 NSW TrainLink Western Line
Official name
  • Strathfield Railway Station group
  • Strathfield Triangle
  • Strathfield Flyover
  • Strathfield Underbridges
TypeState heritage (complex / group)
Designated2 April 1999
Reference no.1252
TypeRailway Platform / Station
CategoryTransport - Rail

History
Former Strathfield station
Aerial view of the station

Strathfield suburb

This suburb, extending from Concord Plains to the Cooks River, was part of the area known (early in the colony) as Liberty Plains, so called because the first free settlers received grants there. James Wilshire received 230 hectares (570 acres) in 1808 and called it Wilshire Farm - the grant lay between the present streets The Boulevarde, Chalmers Street and Liverpool Road.[2]

To the west of this were Church Lands, declared in 1823 to support clergy in the colony, which extended into present day Flemington. In 1841 this was sold and the part south of Barker Road was acquired by Joseph Newton. The grant was sold to Samuel Terry in 1824 and he renamed it Redmyre Estate. The name Redmire (changed c. 1865 to Redmyre) honoured a village in North Yorkshire, England, which was near the birthplace of the Terry family.[2]

In 1885 the area was incorporated as Strathfield. This new name came from the name of a mansion (Strathfieldsaye) built in the district by John Hardie, a wealthy early settler, who chose the name to honour the English estate (Stratfield Saye) given in 1817 by a grateful nation to the Duke of Wellington.[3][2]

Railway station

The first section of public railway line built in NSW was from Redfern station to Parramatta station on 26 September 1855. This line passed through the area now known as Strathfield. No station was provided at Strathfield, the closest stations were Burwood station and Homebush station.[2]

The first station at Strathfield was named "Redmyre" and opened as a "halt" on 9 September 1876.[2][4]:6 It was renamed Strathfield on 8 March 1885.[5][6] The first use of the present name "Strathfield" was adopted on 8 March 1886 and was named after the mansion Strathfield House, owned by James Hardy. Strathfield station came into prominence with the construction of the Main Northern line, which had its junction off the Western line at Strathfield. The first section to Hornsby station opened on 17 September 1886. Four platforms were provided, two for the Western line and two for the Northern line. A new mechanical signal box was built on the down-side behind the down western platform, this was the first signal box at Strathfield.[2][4]:6 A station was built on a new site in 1900, and yet again in 1922.[3][2] The line was quadruplicated between 1891 and 1892, causing track alterations and requiring the construction of a pedestrian subway at the western end of the station to connect all platforms.[2]

The 1900 platforms, overhead station building and road bridge were demolished and the present four-island platforms were built, giving a total of eight platforms. Access to these was now via a centrally located pedestrian subway and ramps. A short Parcels Platform was also built on the down side of the Down Local Line at the Sydney end. The land required for the extra platforms was reclaimed from The Boulevard and Clarendon Street (Albert Road).[2]

As part of the electrification of the Sydney network, the station was rebuilt, opening on 7 March 1927. This included an overpass to take the Main Northern line over the Main Suburban line.[7] In addition, a platform and building was erected at the southern end of platform eight which provided a mortuary receiving facility.[8] This was subsequently converted to a store for the railway refreshment room on the station.[6][9]

As part of reconstruction of the station area and for the future electrification of the western and northern rail lines a new Power Signal Box was built at Strathfield. This (the third signal box) was located on the Down side parallel to the Down Local at the country end of the station. It was built on a resumed, triangular block of land bounded by the Main Western Line to its north and Clarendon Street (Albert Road) to its south. The power signal box was the third signal box erected at Strathfield, the previous two signal boxes becoming "mechanical signal boxes". Strathfield power signal box controlled all train movements from the Sydney side of Wentworth Road overbridge (east), through Strathfield platforms and the tracks to the north and west of the flyover at the country end.[2][4]:8

When the line from Strathfield to Hornsby was completed in the 1920s, Strathfield became the junction of all trains going north and west - an important rail junction.[3][2]

In 1982, as part of the upgrading and modernising of the suburban signalling system the Strathfield power signal box was close to being replaced by the new Strathfield Signal Box complex located at Homebush incorporating a Relay Based Route Locking Signalling System. The new complex also replaced signal boxes at Ashfield, North Strathfield, Concord West, Homebush, Flemington Car Sidings, Flemington Goods Junction and Lidcombe.[2]

Strathfield continues to be a busy and important junction station with the signalling complex at Homebush being the second largest signal box in the Sydney Metropolitan area.[2][4]:8

Rail traffic in the Strathfield area has been controlled from Strathfield signal box, which is actually situated at Homebush, since 1983. Signalling at Strathfield is controlled by an entrance-exit (NX) route control panel with an early automatic route setting (ARS) system, which was manufactured by Westinghouse in the United Kingdom. This system is connected to double light colour light signals and electro-pneumatic switch machines on the ground. The 1926-vintage power box, which had a Westinghouse miniature lever frame, still stands to the west end of platform 8.

Strathfield substation

In 1927, the section of the suburban line to Strathfield was electrified, and at this time the Strathfield Substation was built. The Substation came into use on 27 August 1928, and was one of the 15 electrical substations built in the Sydney area between 1926 and 1932.[2]

The Strathfield Substation was replaced by a new installation to the north of the original building. After this, the substation was converted to a fabrication workshop for signalling equipment, and has been used since 1990 by the Signal Branch to house its workshop. When this occurred, a modern extension was added to its south wing, removing the area on that side where the outdoor transformers were formerly located. At this time, the building was modified internally also, with offices added at the mezzanine level, a new crane installed on the original crane tracks and floor areas altered.[2]

Platforms and services
Platform Line Stopping pattern Notes
1 services to Central [10]
services to Central[11]
services to Central[12]
services to Central, North Sydney & Hornsby via Gordonoccasionally used[13]
services to Central, North Sydney & Gordonoccasionally used[14]
2 services to Central [15]
special event services to Central[16]
services to Central[17]
services to Hornsby & Berowra via Gordonoccasionally used[13]
services to Central, North Sydney & Gordonoccasionally used[14]
3 services to Springwood, Katoomba, Mount Victoria & Lithgow [15]
services to Newcastle[10]
special event services to Olympic Park[16]
services to Dubbo & Broken Hill[17]
services to Armidale/Moree[12]
services to Grafton, Casino & Brisbane[11]
services to Richmond & Emu Plainsoccasionally used[18]
services to Hornsby via Eppingoccasionally used[14]
4 services to Hornsby & Berowra via Gordon [13]
services to Central & the City Circleoccasionally used[19]
5 services to Gordon [14]
6 services to Richmond & Emu Plains [18]
services to Leppington & Parramattaoccasionally used[19]
services to Hornsby via Epping[14]
services to Dubbo & Broken Hilloccasionally used[17]
services to Armidale/Moreeoccasionally used[12]
services to Grafton, Casino & Brisbaneoccasionally used[11]
7 services to Central & the City Circle [19]
8 services to Homebush, Parramatta, Liverpool & Leppington [19]

Punchbowl Bus Company operates one route via Strathfield station:

Transdev NSW operates three routes via Strathfield station:

State Transit operates one route from Strathfield station:

Transit Systems operate seven routes via Strathfield station:

Strathfield station is served by four NightRide routes:

Heritage listing

The listed station complex and associated infrastructure comprises a type 18, cast iron and timber building with 1-8 platforms, erected in 1927; cast iron and timber platform awnings for platforms 1-8, also erected in 1927; a brick and fibro gambrel roof power box that served as a former signal box, also erected in 1927; a brick parcels room and platform on the down local line; and a substation in triangle. Other major structures include a brick pedestrian subway at the Sydney end of the station, erected in 1927; ramps to all platforms with brick walls, also erected in 1927; and a pedestrian subway at the west end, under all tracks, also erected in 1927. Landscaped works include a brick wall opposite platform 1 on the up main loop.[2]

Strathfield is a superb example of a large station that presents a coherent and uniform set of structures. It is the only example of the large awning structure station without on-platform buildings. It is located at a major junction with eight platforms and an elaborate subway system to service them. The quality of the platform structures is high and represents technological achievement that was compatible with design in Britain at the time. The structure uses decorative elements in the columns with plinths and capitals, elegant curved brackets, patterned fascias and being on a curve, presents an elegant and refined structure.[2]

The former signal box is one of a few surviving large power boxes that adds to the station group and is significant in its own right.[2]

The parcels office is a good example of a freestanding standard structure, very few of which survive.[2]

Strathfield railway station was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 having satisfied the following criteria.[2]

The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.

This item is assessed as historically rare. This item is assessed as archaeologically rare. This item is assessed as socially rare.[2]

The heritage listing of the Strathfield Railway Station group of structures includes the Strathfield Triangle, Strathfield Flyover and Strathfield Underbridges railway structures nearby.[2]

See also

References
  1. Institute for Sustainable Futures; Hounsell, Matthew (12 March 2019). "NSW Train Stations Barrier Dashboard 2004-2018". University of Technology Sydney. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  2. "Strathfield Railway Station group". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H01252. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  3. Pollen, 1988, 247.
  4. Moonie, 2001.
  5. "Strathfield Station". NSWrail.net. n.d. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016.
  6. "Strathfield Station Railway Group". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 17 July 2018.
  7. Stations & Tracks; Volume 1: Main Suburban. State Rail Authority of New South Wales. 1988.
  8. Preston, Ron. 125 Years of the Sydney to Parramatta Railway. New South Wales Rail Transport Museum. ISBN 0-909862-13-3.
  9. "Sydney Electric Trains from 1926 to 1960". Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin (762): 129–132. April 2001.
  10. "Central Coast & Newcastle line timetable". Transport for NSW.
  11. "North Coast timetable". NSW Trainlink. 7 September 2019.
  12. "North West timetable". NSW Trainlink. 7 September 2019.
  13. "T1: North Shore line timetable". Transport for NSW.
  14. "T9: Northern line timetable". Transport for NSW.
  15. "Blue Mountains line timetable". Transport for NSW.
  16. "T7: Olympic Park line timetable". Transport for NSW.
  17. "Western timetable". NSW Trainlink. 7 September 2019.
  18. "T1: Western line timetable". Transport for NSW.
  19. "T2: Inner West & Leppington line timetable". Transport for NSW.
  20. "Punchbowl Bus Co route 450". Transport for NSW.
  21. "Transdev NSW route 913". Transport for NSW.
  22. "Transdev NSW route 914". Transport for NSW.
  23. "Transdev NSW route M90". Transport for NSW.
  24. "State Transit route 525". Transport for NSW.
  25. "Transit Systems route 407". Transport for NSW.
  26. "Transit Systems route 408". Transport for NSW.
  27. "Transit Systems route 415". Transport for NSW.
  28. "Transit Systems route 458". Transport for NSW.
  29. "Transit Systems route 480". Transport for NSW.
  30. "Transit Systems route 483". Transport for NSW.
  31. "Transit Systems route 526". Transport for NSW.
  32. "N50 Nightride". Transport for NSW.
  33. "N60 Nightride". Transport for NSW.
  34. "N61 Nightride". Transport for NSW.
  35. "N80 Nightride". Transport for NSW.

Bibliography
  • B Cubed Sustainability (2005). Former Strathfield Substation: heritage impact statement.
  • Moonie, Jeff (2001). Heritage Survey of Strathfield Power Signal Box.
  • Pollen, Francis (ed.) (1988). Strathfield, in 'The Book of Sydney Suburbs'.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)

Attribution

This Wikipedia article contains material from Strathfield Railway Station group, entry number 01252 in the New South Wales State Heritage Register published by the State of New South Wales and Office of Environment and Heritage 2018 under CC-BY 4.0 licence, accessed on 2 June 2018.

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