Kiama railway station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kiama
Northbound View in October 2018
Location	Railway Parade, Kiama New South Wales Australia
Coordinates	34°40′20″S 150°51′17″E / 34.6723°S 150.8548°E / -34.6723; 150.8548
Owned by	Transport Asset Holding Entity
Operated by	NSW TrainLink
Line(s)	South Coast
Distance	119.160 km from Central
Platforms	2 (island), 194 and 196 metres
Train operators	NSW TrainLink
Bus operators	Premier Illawarra Kiama Coaches
Construction
Structure type	At-grade
Parking	40 spaces
Bicycle facilities	Yes
Disabled access	Easy Access
Other information
Website	Transport for NSW
History
Opened	2 June 1893
Electrified	17 November 2001
Traffic
Passengers (2013)	500 (daily) (Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink)
Rank	187
Services
Preceding station NSW TrainLink Following station Gerringong toward Bomaderry South Coast Line Terminus Terminus Bombo toward Bondi Junction

Kiama is a historic train station in the town of Kiama, New South Wales, Australia. It's part of the South Coast railway line. The station is used by NSW TrainLink trains. You can catch diesel trains heading south to Bomaderry. Electric trains go north to Wollongong and Sydney. Sometimes, buses replace trains for early morning or late night trips to the south. Kiama Station was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 because of its important history.

Station History

How the Railway Arrived

Long ago, Kiama was a seaside town that mostly used ships to connect with Wollongong and Sydney. The railway first reached the Kiama area in November 1887. A new station opened at North Kiama (now called Bombo), just outside the town.

This was only a temporary stop. The New South Wales Government Railways had already planned to extend the railway further south. Kiama was the first station on this new section. It was built between 1886 and 1893 and officially opened in June 1893.

Early Station Design

Kiama Station was built with a special island platform in the middle of town. This platform had a passenger building and a signal box. The station also had a goods yard and a place for locomotives (train engines) south of the station.

The original station building was made of brick. It was the first of its kind and its design was later used for many other stations over the next 30 years. There was also a timber footbridge with stairs leading down to the platform.

Changes Over Time

The Kiama Railway Station yard used to be very big. It stretched from Terralong Street in the north to Barney Street in the south. Old plans from 1925 show many buildings and areas. These included a cream loading platform, cattle yards, a goods shed, and an engine shed with a turntable. The Station Master's house was also there.

Many of these original structures are now gone. The old footbridge, the Station Master's house, the goods shed, and the engine shed have all been removed.

Electrification and Upgrades

Electric trains started running on the line from Dapto to Kiama in November 2001. However, the line south of Kiama is still not electrified. This means that trains from Bomaderry stop at Kiama. Passengers then need to change to an electric train to continue north.

In 2005, Kiama Station was made easier for everyone to use. A new concrete footbridge with a lift and stairs was added to the platform. In 2014, electronic ticketing, like the Opal smart card, became available at the station. There are also plans to make the platforms longer to fit bigger trains.

Platforms and Services

Kiama Station has one island platform with two sides. Trains can arrive and depart from either side. It is served by NSW TrainLink South Coast line trains. You can catch electric trains to Sydney or diesel trains to Bomaderry.

Transport Links

Kiama Station is a hub for local buses.

Premier Illawarra Bus Routes

Premier Illawarra runs one bus route through Kiama station:

• 71: From Stockland Shellharbour to Kiama Hospital.

Kiama Coaches Bus Routes

Kiama Coaches operates two routes through Kiama Station:

• 125: To Seven Mile Beach via Gerringong and Gerroa.
• 126: To Minnamurra Falls via Jamberoo.

Station Features

The station area includes the platform building, the island platform (built in 1893), a turntable (from 1897), and a modern footbridge (from 2005).

Platform Building

The main platform building, built in 1893, is a single-story brick building. It has a gabled roof made of corrugated steel. The windows have special top sections with colored glass. The doors and windows have fancy stone decorations. There are also awnings on both sides of the building with decorative steel brackets.

Inside, the waiting area has modern floor tiles and ticket windows.

Turntable

A turntable from 1897 is located near the southern end of Eddy Street. A turntable is a large circular platform that can rotate. It was used to turn train engines around so they could go in the opposite direction. This one is made of brick with a metal turntable machine in the center.

Footbridge

The footbridge, built in 2005, is a modern structure made of concrete, steel, and glass. It has a lift and stairs that connect to the platform, making it easy for everyone to access.

Why Kiama Station is Important

Kiama Railway Station is very important to the history of New South Wales.

It was the first railway station to open on this part of the Illawarra line in 1893. It has been a key transport hub for the town of Kiama ever since. The turntable and old ash pits are reminders of the station's past. They show how the railway helped the local farming and dairy industries.

The station building itself is also special. Its design became a model for many other island platform buildings built by the NSW Railways. It has beautiful details on its walls and awnings. The turntable is also rare, as it's one of only three still existing on the Illawarra line.

Kiama railway station was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.

Images for kids

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  Northbound View in October 2018