After years of anticipation and community advocacy, the newly upgraded Redfern Station in Sydney has officially opened, marking a significant milestone in the State’s Transport Access Program.
The station, one of Sydney’s oldest and busiest railway sites, has undergone a transformation to enhance accessibility and safety for passengers with disabilities, limited mobility, and those travelling with prams, luggage, or bicycles.
This comprehensive upgrade includes new lifts, additional entrances, accessible facilities, and improved streetscaping. The project also paid homage to the station’s unique cultural heritage through collaboration with heritage architects and Aboriginal community members.
Enhanced Accessibility and Improved Connectivity
The most notable feature of the upgraded Redfern Station is the new southern concourse, equipped with six state-of-the-art lifts and stair access to Platforms 1 to 10. These additions ensure that passengers with disabilities and those travelling with mobility devices and other equipment.
Furthermore, the upgrade includes two additional entrances, drop-off areas, accessible toilets, and enhanced streetscaping, making the station more user-friendly for everyone.
The strategic location of the pedestrian bridge provides easier access to important arts and employment precincts, such as Carriageworks and South Eveleigh. This enhancement strengthens the station’s role as a vital transportation hub, connecting passengers to key destinations in the city.
Responding to a community campaign, the new concourse introduces barrier-free access, allowing people to move freely between Little Eveleigh and Marian Streets. This improvement aligns with the goal of making Redfern Station more inclusive and welcoming to all passengers.
Cultural Heritage Preserved
Transport for NSW collaborated closely with heritage architects and members of the Aboriginal community to ensure that the upgrade respected and reflected the station and its surrounding area’s unique cultural heritage. This approach demonstrates a commitment to preserving the history and character of Redfern Station while modernizing its facilities.
The Redfern Station upgrade is part of the Transport Access Program, which received a significant boost of $300 million in the most recent budget. This funding injection will enable more communities across New South Wales to benefit from safe and accessible public transport options.
Government Officials Express Satisfaction
“Given its close proximity to education, health, employment and cultural precincts, we know how important Redfern Station is for people accessing local services and attractions, so it’s great to see these accessibility upgrades completed,” Chris Minns, Premier of NSW said.
“I am pleased to mark the completion of this project, which will benefit so many rail commuters and visitors travelling on our states rail network.”
“Redfern Train Station is the fifth busiest train station in the state, but for the 140 years it’s been serving passengers it hasn’t been accessible,” Jo Haylen, Minister for Transport, said.
“That changes today as this much-needed upgrade opens, breathing new life into this beautiful old station and ensuring it has better capacity and accessibility into the future.
“The upgrade of this station was years in the making, with people advocating for this project for decades. I want to thank the more than four thousand workers who contributed to this project, as well as the community for their patience during construction.
“Now with an additional $300m in the budget for further station accessibility upgrades, I look forward to seeing even more communities across NSW making the most of these vital station upgrades.”
The Redfern Station upgrade marks a significant achievement in improving public transport accessibility and preserving cultural heritage, setting a positive example for future infrastructure projects across the state.
Published 10-Oct-2023