North Adelaide railway station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids North Adelaide
Location	War Memorial Drive North Adelaide
Line(s)	Gawler Line
Distance	2.5 km from Adelaide
Platforms	2
Bus routes	None
Construction
Parking	Yes
Bicycle facilities	No
History
Opened	1857
Services
Preceding station   Adelaide Metro   Following station Adelaide Terminus Gawler Central line Ovingham toward Gawler Central

The North Adelaide railway station is a train stop on the Gawler line. You can find it in the northern Adelaide suburb of North Adelaide. It's only about 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) away from the main Adelaide station.

Station History

North Adelaide station first opened way back in 1857! It had a main building with a waiting room, a ladies' waiting room, and a ticket office. It even had a four-room house attached and a garden. The garden still has old trees like cotoneaster, phoenix palms, and orange trees.

This station building is very old. It's the third oldest surviving railway station in South Australia. It's special because it has a house attached, unlike the older Bowden and Alberton stations. The buildings are so important that they are listed as historic places. It's also the fourth oldest railway station in all of Australia!

Changes Over Time

There's also a smaller building to the north of the main station. In 1878, some changes were made to the windows, doors, and the covered area over the platform. A signal box was built in 1880, but it's not there anymore.

In the past, many trains would stop at North Adelaide. By 1969, almost all trains, except for express ones, stopped here every day. In the late 1980s, the platform for trains going to Adelaide was made shorter.

The station was closed for a short time in the 1990s because it was in bad shape. The shelter on the platform for Gawler-bound trains was even burned down. A new shelter was built in its place.

Past Uses and Special Events

There used to be areas near the station where wood was sold. Today, the train line to Darwin runs through that spot.

In the past, special trains for the yearly Skyshow fireworks would end their journey at this station. Also, when the Schutzenfest festival happens each January at nearby Bonython Park, most trains stop here.

In January 2013, North Adelaide station became a temporary end point for the Gawler Central line. This happened when the main Adelaide station was closed for a month. The station no longer has staff working there. The building is now looked after by the City of Adelaide. For a while, a community group called Bicycle SA used the station building.

Train Services

North Adelaide station has a limited number of trains stopping here. Trains usually stop only on weekdays, between 6:00 AM and 9:45 AM, and again from 1:30 PM to 7:00 PM.

Gallery

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  Station building with signal box in background, about 1880

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  The station in 2005

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  Front view, 2015

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  Front view (including cafe), December 2016