Croydon railway station, Sydney facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Croydon
Eastbound view in May 2007
Location	Meta Street, Croydon
Coordinates	33°53′00″S 151°06′56″E / 33.88339°S 151.11562°E / -33.88339; 151.11562
Owned by	Transport Asset Holding Entity
Operated by	Sydney Trains
Line(s)	Main Suburban
Distance	9.42 kilometres from Central
Platforms	5 (1 side, 2 island)
Tracks	6
Construction
Structure type	Ground
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Status	Staffed
Station code	CYD
Website	Transport for NSW
History
Opened	7 January 1875
Electrified	Yes
Traffic
Passengers (2018)	5,350 (daily) (Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink)
Services
Preceding station Sydney Trains Following station Burwood toward Parramatta or Leppington Inner West & Leppington Line Ashfield toward City Circle

Croydon railway station is a historic train station in Croydon, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. It's located on the Main Suburban line and is used by Sydney Trains' T2 Inner West & Leppington line services. The station was designed by the NSW Government Railways and built between 1892 and 1927. It's considered an important historical site and was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999.

History of Croydon Station

The main train line connecting Sydney to Parramatta first opened in 1855. This line was mostly for long-distance travel, not for serving small towns along the way. Over time, as more people moved to the suburbs, the train lines needed to grow.

The line was expanded several times:

• In 1891, it was quadrupled, meaning two more tracks were added, making a total of four.
• In 1927, it was sextupled (to Homebush), meaning two more tracks were added again, making a total of six.
• The lines were also electrified, allowing electric trains to run.

When these big changes happened, older stations were often replaced with new, larger ones. These new stations were designed for the growing number of suburban passengers.

Croydon Station first opened on 7 January 1875, and was called Five Dock. It was renamed Croydon in August 1876. Over the years, new buildings, waiting sheds, and a footbridge were added.

A big change happened in 1892 when the line was quadrupled. This led to the station having an island platform (a platform with tracks on both sides) and two side platforms. A new footbridge was built, and a pedestrian subway was added.

More changes came in 1926-27 when the line became sextupled and electrified. Some old platforms were removed, and new buildings were constructed. An overhead booking office was built in 1928. The station has been updated several times since, including new canopies in the 1990s and a new footbridge with lifts starting in 2015.

Platforms & Services

Transport Links

Croydon station is served by three NightRide bus routes, which run late at night:

• N50: Liverpool to City (Town Hall)
• N60: Fairfield Station to City (Town Hall)
• N61: Carlingford Station to City (Town Hall)

What the Station Looks Like

Croydon Railway Station has one main entrance from The Strand or Meta Road. It has two island platforms and one side platform, each with its own building. There's also an overhead booking office and a footbridge.

The station has kept much of its original look, especially the platform buildings. However, some parts, like the booking office, have been moved or changed over time.

Platform Building: Platform 1/2 (from 1941)

This building is on an island platform. It's a simple, rectangular building made of brick, with a flat roof and awnings. It has original windows with steel frames. Inside, you can still see the original ceiling, steel support columns, and wooden bench seats. It's in good condition and looks much like it did when it was built.

Platform Building: Platform 3/4 (from 1926)

This is another island platform building, built in 1926. It's a rectangular brick building with a gable roof and awnings. Many of its original doors and windows are still there, though some have been changed or boarded up.

Inside, the building used to have a general waiting room, a ladies' room, and toilets. These rooms have been changed over time and are now used for storage or staff. The old toilets are no longer in use but still have many of their original features. The building is in good condition overall.

Platform Building: Platform 5 (from 1891)

This building was originally on Platforms 3 and 4 but was moved to Platform 5 in 1926. It's a rectangular wooden building with a sloped roof. It has a canopy supported by cast iron posts. The entrance to the waiting room is now locked.

Inside, you can still see original features like the wooden walls, windows, and possibly the old wooden benches. It's in good condition, though some paint is peeling.

Overhead Booking Office (from 1923)

This office is located on the footbridge. It's made of concrete panels that look like wooden weatherboards, and it has a hipped roof. The inside and outside of this office have been changed a lot over the years, so it doesn't have many original features left. It's in very good condition.

Platforms

Platform 5 is a side platform. Platforms 1 and 2 form one island platform, and Platforms 3 and 4 form another. All platforms have asphalt surfaces. Some older, unused platforms are in poor condition and are overgrown with plants. The active platforms (3, 4, and 5) are in good condition.

Canopies (from 1995)

The canopies (shelters) over Platforms 1 and 2 are modern, made of steel and corrugated steel. The canopies on Platforms 3, 4, and 5 are also in good condition.

Footbridge (from 1892)

The footbridge is made of reinforced concrete arches and steel beams. It's special because it was one of the first railway footbridges in Sydney to use concrete for its supports. The footbridge has been changed over time; a section that used to go to Hennessey Street was removed in 1994. The footbridge is generally in good condition, though some parts show signs of wear.

Overbridge (from 1892)

The Strand/Meta Road Overbridge crosses over the western end of the station. It's made of iron and steel beams with a concrete deck and brick walls. It's in good condition and still has most of its original parts.

Landscape/Natural Features

There's a palm tree on Platform 1 and 2 that might have been planted in the 1920s. It's in fair condition.

Moveable Items

The bench seats in the waiting room on Platform 3/4 are original, though they have been changed a bit to be used for storage.

Archaeological Potential

The station site has a moderate chance of having interesting historical items buried underground. The old, unused platform along Hennessey Street and the removed part of the footbridge could offer clues about how the station used to look and be used.

Heritage Importance

Croydon Railway Station is important to the history of New South Wales. It shows how the railways expanded in the late 1800s and early 1900s to support the growth of suburbs.

The station has several special features:

• The 1890s platform building is a rare example of the "Standard Eddy" design. This design was one of the first to use island platforms in NSW. Croydon is one of only a few stations that still have this type of building.
• The 1920s and 1940s buildings show how railway architecture styles changed over time.
• The 1890s footbridge is significant because it was one of the first in Sydney to use reinforced concrete for its supports. This was a new and important building technique at the time.
• The palm tree from the 1920s gives an idea of how stations were landscaped back then.

Croydon railway station was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 because it meets several important criteria:

• It shows the pattern of history: The station's different parts from 1892 and 1927 clearly show how the railways grew to serve the expanding suburbs.
• It shows creative or technical achievement: The "Standard Eddy" building and the footbridge's use of concrete were important design and engineering achievements.
• It connects to the community: The station helps people feel connected to their local history and past.
• It has archaeological potential: Old, unused parts of the station could still hold valuable information about its past.
• It has rare features: The "Standard Eddy" platform building and the concrete footbridge are uncommon and important examples of their kind.
• It represents a class of places: The station's buildings and overbridge are good examples of typical railway structures from different periods.

Gallery

• 

  The Strand entrance

• 

  Hennessy Street entrance

• 

  Footbridge

• 

  View of the former bridge and entrance building from Hennessy Street

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  Platforms