Homebush railway station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Homebush
Eastbound view in December 2019
Location	The Crescent, Homebush
Coordinates	33°52′01″S 151°05′11″E / 33.86695556°S 151.0865083°E / -33.86695556; 151.0865083
Owned by	Transport Asset Holding Entity
Operated by	Sydney Trains
Line(s)	Main Suburban
Distance	12.74 km (7.92 mi) from Central
Platforms	7 (3 island, 1 side)
Tracks	7
Connections	Bus
Construction
Structure type	Ground
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Status	Staffed
Station code	HSH
Website	Transport for NSW
History
Opened	26 September 1855
Electrified	Yes
Traffic
Passengers (2018)	6,810 (daily) (Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink)
Services
Preceding station Sydney Trains Following station Flemington toward Parramatta or Leppington Inner West & Leppington Line Strathfield toward City Circle
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name	Homebush Railway Station group
Type	State heritage (complex / group)
Designated	2 April 1999
Reference no.	1170
Type	Railway Platform/ Station
Category	Transport - Rail
Builders	NSW Government Railways

Homebush railway station is a heritage-listed train station in Homebush, Australia. It's located on the Main Suburban line. The station was designed and built by the New South Wales Government Railways. It opened on 26 September 1855.

Homebush station is also on the Main South and Main Western railway lines. It is known as the Homebush Railway Station group. This property was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

The station is served by Sydney Trains' T2 Inner West & Leppington line services.

Station History and Development

The first train line to Parramatta opened in 1855. It started from Sydney Central and went through Newtown. This line was built to connect Sydney with major country areas like the Blue Mountains and Goulburn.

At first, there were only a few stops between Sydney and Parramatta. The line was not originally meant for suburban areas. Changes to the line were mostly for long-distance trains, not for local communities.

Expanding the Train Lines

Over time, more trains were needed for travel to the west and south. In 1891, the line was quadrupled, meaning two more tracks were added, making it four tracks in total. Later, in 1927, it was sextupled (made into six tracks) up to Homebush. The lines were also made electric.

When these big changes happened, older stations were often pulled down and new ones built. The stations built around 1927 were designed as full suburban passenger stations. This was because more people were moving to the suburbs along the line.

Early Days of Homebush Station

Homebush station opened on 26 September 1855. In 1862, a new station building was put up. In the 1870s, stockyards (places for animals) were built near the station. This was because the station served the nearby government meatworks. The stockyards closed in 1883.

In 1891, when the line was quadrupled, Homebush station was completely rebuilt. This is when the current station layout was created. It included a central island platform, which opened in late 1891. The station also had large platform buildings and a footbridge with a ticket office.

Signal Boxes and Other Buildings

A three-storey brick signal box was built in 1892. This building helped control train movements. It was used until 1928, when a newer "power" box took over. The 1892 signal box is the only one left from the five built at the station over time.

For many years, Homebush was the end stop for local trains on the Western line. A carriage shed (where train carriages were stored) was built in 1890. It was later used for training and education, but it was pulled down in 2001. A locomotive depot (for train engines) and water facilities were also built in 1891. These were removed around 1929.

Many smaller buildings were also built at Homebush, like a telephone exchange and storage sheds. All of these have been pulled down.

The station even had a Garden Nursery, built in 1923. This nursery grew plants for other train stations to make them look nicer. This nursery closed in 1974.

In 1924, two more lines were added on the north side of the station for goods trains. This changed a side platform into an island platform. The footbridge was also made longer to go over the new tracks.

Recent Changes (1990s to Today)

In 1992, the old steel footbridge was replaced with a new concrete one. On 9 October 1994, a big fire destroyed some of the old buildings on platforms 3 and 4. They were later rebuilt to look similar.

During the Sydney 2000 Olympics, Homebush station was closed. This was to avoid confusion with the nearby Olympic Park station.

An extra platform (Platform 7) was built to the south as part of the Rail Clearways Program. This helped trains turn around without blocking other lines.

In 2013, a new timetable made Homebush the end stop for many local T2 Inner West & South line trains. This meant that to travel west from Homebush, you often had to go one stop east to Strathfield first.

In 2015, plans were announced to make the station more accessible, including adding lifts. In 2017, some T2 Inner West & Leppington weekday trains were extended to Parramatta. This allowed a direct connection to Flemington station.

How Trains are Signalled

Since 1983, train traffic in the Homebush area has been controlled from the Strathfield signal box. Before that, a large mechanical signal box controlled traffic from 1893 to 1928. This old building still stands today. From 1928 to 1983, a different signal box was used, but it was damaged by fire and pulled down.

Platforms and Train Services

Homebush station has several platforms for different train services.

• Platform 1 doesn't actually exist as a physical platform for passengers.
• Platforms 2 and 3 do not have regular scheduled services.
• Platform 4 is for T2 services going towards Central and the City Circle.
• Platform 5 does not have regular scheduled services.
• Platform 6 is for T2 services that start or end at Homebush, going to and from Central and the City Circle.
• Platform 7 is for T2 services going towards Parramatta and Leppington.

Transport Connections

Homebush station is a hub for other types of transport too.

Bus Services

Transit Systems runs one bus route that stops at Homebush station:

• 408: From Rookwood Cemetery to Westfield Burwood, passing through Flemington and Strathfield.

NightRide Services

Homebush station is also served by two NightRide bus routes, which run late at night when trains are not operating:

• N60: From Fairfield station to City (Town Hall).
• N61: From Carlingford station to City (Town Hall).

Why Homebush Station is Heritage-Listed

Homebush Railway Station is very important to the history of New South Wales. It's considered a state significant site.

Historical Importance

The station is important because it shows three major stages of railway development in NSW.

• It was one of the first four stations on the very first train line in NSW, built in the 1850s.
• Its rebuilding in the 1860s was linked to serving the nearby government meatworks.
• The current station, built in 1891, shows how the railways expanded in the late 1800s. This was to handle more train services.
• The 1890s platform buildings are historically important because they were the first to use island platforms in NSW. The signal box, footbridge, and brick store rooms also show how travel and trade used to be.

Unique Design and Features

Homebush Railway Station has a rare collection of railway buildings from 1891 that form a special group.

• The platform buildings are examples of the "Standard Eddy" design, named after Commissioner Edward Eddy. They were among the first to have island platforms.
• The 1891 overhead ticket office is also rare. It's one of only three similar older structures in the state.
• The station buildings, including the signal box, show the style of railway architecture from the late 1800s.
• The 1890s signal box, even though it's not used anymore, still shows the design of elevated signal boxes from that time.

Homebush Railway Station was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.