Dundas railway station, Sydney facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dundas
Closed commuter rail station
North-east bound view in November 2012
Location	Station Street, Dundas Australia
Coordinates	33°48′14″S 151°01′59″E / 33.803858°S 151.033085°E / -33.803858; 151.033085
Owned by	Transport Asset Holding Entity
Operated by	Sydney Trains
Line(s)	Carlingford
Distance	24.84 kilometres from Central
Platforms	1
Tracks	1
Connections	Bus
Construction
Structure type	Ground
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Status	Unstaffed
Website	Transport for NSW
History
Opened	20 April 1896
Closed	5 January 2020
Electrified	9 August 1959
Previous names	Kissing Point Road
Traffic
Passengers (2018)	390 (daily) (Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink)
Former services
Preceding station Sydney Trains Following station Telopea toward Carlingford Carlingford Line (1885–2020) Rydalmere toward Clyde

Dundas railway station was a train station in Sydney, Australia. It was open for many years, from 1896 until 2020. The station was on the Carlingford line and served the suburb of Dundas. When it closed, it was part of the Sydney Trains T6 Carlingford line services.

It was first called Kissing Point Road railway station. Later, its name was changed to Dundas. This station is special because it was the last train station in New South Wales that was built and owned by a private company.

History of Dundas Station

Building a Private Railway

Dundas station first opened in 1896. It was part of a private railway line built by two people, Bennett and Simpson. They wanted to help people who bought land in the northern areas. They also wanted to make it easier for farmers to transport their fruit from places like Baulkham Hills and Castle Hill.

The railway was meant to go all the way to Dural. But only the first part, which went to Carlingford, was built. This part opened in April 1896. Building the railway was very expensive, especially a bridge over the Parramatta River.

Government Takes Over

Because of the high costs and not enough money coming in from passengers or freight, the company ran into financial trouble. By the end of 1896, the railway was taken over by a bank.

In 1901, the New South Wales Government Railways took over the station and the line to Carlingford. This is when the station's name was changed from Kissing Point Road to Dundas.

Unique Features and Changes

Dundas station was quite unique. It was the only station building in New South Wales that was originally built by a private company. Also, it was one of the few places where you had to walk across the train tracks to get to the platform.

In 2006, a big fire badly damaged the station building. But it was rebuilt in 2007 to look just like the original.

Closure of the Station

The Carlingford railway line, including Dundas station, closed on 5 January 2020. This was because the train line is being changed into a light rail system. This new system is part of the Parramatta Light Rail project. The old station building is protected because of its history and will be part of the new light rail design.

Train Services at Dundas

When Dundas station closed, it had one platform. Trains on the T6 Carlingford line would stop there.

Getting Around: Transport Links

Besides trains, Dundas station was also connected to other ways of getting around. These are called "transport links."

Bus Services

State Transit ran one bus route that went past Dundas station:

• 545: This bus went from Parramatta station to Macquarie Park station, passing through Eastwood.

NightRide Services

Dundas station also had a special late-night bus service called NightRide:

• N61: This bus went from Carlingford station to City (Town Hall) in the city centre.

What the Station Looked Like

The station area included a rebuilt timber building, a metal waiting area, and a concrete path for crossing the tracks. The platform itself was made of brick and was from 1896.

Station Building (Rebuilt 2007)

The main station building was rebuilt in 2007 after the fire. It's a timber building with a sloped roof. It has several doors and windows, many of which are covered with security screens. Some of the window frames might even be from the original building.

Passenger Waiting Area (2007)

Next to the timber building was a modern waiting area for passengers. It had a metal roof and glass and steel walls. This was a place for people to wait for their trains.

Platform (1896)

The platform was made of brick. To get to it, you had to walk across the train track. The platform had modern lights, signs, and fences. There was also a car park nearby for people driving to the station.

Pedestrian Crossing (2007)

The path for people to cross the single train track was made of concrete. It was located just off the end of the platform.

Changes Over Time

The station had a few changes over the years:

• After 1950: A footbridge and a side track for goods trains were removed.
• 1959: Toilets were built.
• 1992: A canopy (a roof-like cover) was added to the building.
• 2006: A severe fire destroyed parts of the building.
• 2007: The station building was mostly rebuilt and fixed.
• 2010: The platform surface was redone.

Why Dundas Station is Special (Heritage Listing)

Dundas railway station is considered important for its history and design. This means it's "heritage-listed," which helps protect it.

Historical Importance

Dundas station is historically important because it was the only station building that was originally built by a private company. It shows how the private Bennett and Simpson Railway tried to provide transport to the northern suburbs. Even though the original building was destroyed by fire and rebuilt, the new building is a very good copy. It helps us understand what these early private railway buildings looked like.

Unique Design

The timber station building is special because it's a rare example of a "Type 8" station building. This type has a small roof over the platform and close eaves (the part of the roof that hangs over the walls). Even though it's a reconstruction, it still shows this unique design.

Research Potential

Because the building was rebuilt to look like the original, it can help people study what private railway buildings in Sydney were like in the past.

Rarity

Dundas station building, even as a reconstruction, is the only known example of its specific "Type 8" design. This makes it quite rare and important to preserve.