Fairfield railway station, Sydney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fairfield
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Fairfield in late April 2019
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| Location | The Crescent, Fairfield Australia |
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| Coordinates | 33°52′21″S 150°57′25″E / 33.87243333°S 150.9570583°E | ||||||||||||||
| Elevation | 14 metres | ||||||||||||||
| Owned by | Transport Asset Holding Entity | ||||||||||||||
| Operated by | Sydney Trains | ||||||||||||||
| Line(s) | Main South | ||||||||||||||
| Distance | 29.00 kilometres from Central | ||||||||||||||
| Platforms | 2 side | ||||||||||||||
| Tracks | 2 | ||||||||||||||
| Connections | Bus | ||||||||||||||
| Construction | |||||||||||||||
| Structure type | Ground | ||||||||||||||
| Disabled access | Yes | ||||||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||||||
| Status | Staffed | ||||||||||||||
| Station code | FFL | ||||||||||||||
| Website | Transport for NSW | ||||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||||
| Opened | 26 September 1856 | ||||||||||||||
| Electrified | Yes | ||||||||||||||
| Traffic | |||||||||||||||
| Passengers (2018) | 15,630 (daily) (Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink) | ||||||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||||||
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| Official name | Fairfield Railway Station group | ||||||||||||||
| Type | State heritage (complex / group) | ||||||||||||||
| Designated | 2 April 1999 | ||||||||||||||
| Reference no. | 1143 | ||||||||||||||
| Type | Railway Platform/ Station | ||||||||||||||
| Category | Transport - Rail | ||||||||||||||
| Builders | NSW Government Railways | ||||||||||||||
Fairfield railway station is a special, heritage-listed train station in Fairfield, a suburb of Sydney. It's a busy stop for Sydney Trains on the T2 Inner West & Leppington and T5 Cumberland lines. The station was built by the NSW Government Railways between 1856 and 1891. It's also known as the Fairfield Railway Station group. The station was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 because of its important history.
Contents
Fairfield Station: A Journey Through Time
Fairfield station has a long and interesting history. It was one of the very first train stations built in New South Wales.
Early Days of the Railway
After the first train line from Sydney to Parramatta was finished, work quickly started on the Main South line. This line would go from Granville all the way to Goulburn. The first part of this line, from Granville to Liverpool, was built very fast. It opened on 26 September 1856.
Fairfield station opened on the same day. At that time, it was the only station between Granville and Liverpool. The line reached Campbelltown in 1858.
Growing and Changing
In 1891, the train line was made bigger with two tracks instead of one. This was a rural railway at first, meaning it served farms and small towns. It wasn't meant for people commuting to work in the city until much later.
In 1924, the Main South line changed its path. It took a more direct route through Regents Park. The old line, which went through Fairfield, was then called the Old Main South Line.
Oldest Buildings at the Station
The platform on the east side (called the Down platform) is the original one from 1856. The station master's house, built in 1856, is at the north end of this platform. It's the oldest railway building still standing in NSW, and possibly all of Australia! It was built just a year after the very first railway opened to Parramatta.
Another building from 1860 shows how railway building ideas changed. It focused more on passengers. The third building is from the 1890s, when the line was made bigger. It also shows how railway design kept changing. The footbridge, built in 1918, connects all these buildings.
Train Services at Fairfield
Fairfield station has two platforms. Here's where the trains go:
- Platform 1:
- T2 services go towards Central and the City Circle.
- T5 services go towards Quakers Hill, Schofields, and Richmond.
- Platform 2:
- T2 services go towards Leppington.
- T5 services go towards Leppington and Liverpool.
How Trains are Controlled
North of the station, there are special points (tracks that can be moved). These can be used to turn around southbound trains on Platform 2. This happens if there's track work or a problem on the line.
The signals around Fairfield are automatic. They use track circuits to know where trains are. This helps them set the signals correctly. Signal boxes at Sydenham and Granville can see what's happening here. But they can't control the signals or points. If trains need to turn around, a local signal box on Platform 1 can control the points and signals.
What Fairfield Station Looks Like
The station has several important buildings and structures.
Main Buildings
- Former Office/Station Master's Residence (1856): This brick building is on Platform 2. It started as a square building with a pointed roof. It has old chimneys and a veranda. It was extended in the 1930s. This building was used as a home until the 1970s.
- Platform Building on Platform 1 (around 1891): This is a rectangular brick building. It used to have a booking office, waiting rooms, and toilets. It has a steep roof with fancy timber decorations. It has been changed over time, but many original parts are still there.
- Platform Building on Platform 2 (around 1860): This brick building has a hipped roof (sloping on all sides). It also has original chimneys and windows. It was extended later, and a new entrance building was added around 1990.
Other Structures
- Footbridge (1918): The original steel footbridge is still there. It was covered around 1990 as part of an upgrade. In 2003, lifts were added on both platforms to make it easier for everyone to use the station.
- Platforms: Platform 1 has a concrete edge and an asphalt surface. Platform 2 has a brick edge and an asphalt surface. Both platforms were updated in 2003.
- Canopies: Many new canopies (roofs) were built around 1990 and 1999. They cover parts of the platforms, stairs, and the footbridge. They are made of corrugated steel.
- Vine Street Footbridge (1965): This is a simpler steel and concrete bridge with a steel railing.
- Jib Crane: There's an old 2-tonne crane near the station. It's no longer used but is kept as a decoration in a garden. It used to be part of a goods yard.
Changes Over Time
Fairfield station has been changed and updated many times:
- 1878: A new booking office, ladies waiting room, and parcels office opened.
- 1879: The platform was made longer.
- 1891: The train line got a second track, and another platform building was added.
- 1918: The pedestrian footbridge was built.
- 1919: Platforms were made longer again.
- 1929: The railway line was electrified (trains started using electricity).
- Around 1944: The parcels office on Platform 1 was extended.
- 1965: The Vine Street footbridge was built.
- 1990: Canopies were built, and major changes were made to the platform buildings.
- 2003: Access upgrades were done, including adding lifts on both platforms.
Getting Around: Transport Links
Fairfield station is a hub for many bus services. All buses leave from the Fairfield Interchange.
Bus Services
- Transit Systems Sydney:
- 800: To Blacktown station
- 802: Between Parramatta station and Liverpool station
- 804: Between Parramatta station and Liverpool station
- 808: To Liverpool station
- 812: To Blacktown station
- 813: To Bonnyrigg
- 814: To Blacktown station
- 817: To Cabramatta station
- Transdev NSW:
- 904: To Liverpool station
- 905: To Bankstown station
- 906: To Parramatta station
- S4 Shopper Service: To Chester Hill
NightRide Services
Fairfield station also has two special NightRide bus routes for late-night travel:
- N50: From Liverpool station to City (Town Hall)
- N60: To City (Town Hall)
Why Fairfield Station is Special: Heritage Listing
Fairfield Railway Station is very important to the history of New South Wales. It's listed on the State Heritage Register.
Historical Importance
Fairfield station is significant because it's one of the first train stations built in NSW in the 1850s. When it opened in 1856, it was one of only two stations on the Main South Line between Granville and Liverpool.
The old station master's house from the 1850s is the oldest railway building still standing in NSW, and maybe even in Australia! Along with the 1860s and 1890s platform buildings, it shows how railways developed over time. The changes at the station also show how it grew from a rural stop to a busy suburban station. This reflects the growth of the local area.
Design and Appearance
The station buildings have special features from their time. The 1850s building has a gabled roof and a veranda. The 1860s building has a hipped roof and chimneys. The 1890s building has different roof shapes and an awning supported by old cast iron posts.
The 1918 footbridge, even though it's been updated, still has its original steel structure. It's a common type of bridge found at many suburban stations. Together, the station buildings and the footbridge make Fairfield station a well-known landmark in the area.
Community Connection
Fairfield station helps the local community feel connected to its history. It's a reminder of how the area has grown and changed over many years.
Rarity
The combined residence/office building at Fairfield is quite rare. There are only three like it in the Sydney area. The other two are at Riverstone and Emu Plains.
Good Example of Railway Buildings
The platform buildings at Fairfield station, even with their changes, still show the main features of their original designs. This makes them good examples of different types of railway buildings from their time. The footbridge also represents a standard design for such structures.
