St Peters railway station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Peters
Station in December 2006
Location	Princes Highway, St Peters
Coordinates	33°54′27″S 151°10′49″E / 33.90745833°S 151.180275°E / -33.90745833; 151.180275
Owned by	Transport Asset Holding Entity
Operated by	Sydney Trains
Line(s)	Illawarra
Distance	3.81 kilometres from Central
Platforms	4 (2 island)
Tracks	4
Connections	Bus
Construction
Structure type	Ground
Disabled access	No
Other information
Status	Staffed
Station code	SAP
Website	Transport for NSW
History
Opened	15 October 1884
Electrified	Yes
Traffic
Passengers (2013)	3,380 (daily) (Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink)
Rank	69
Services
Preceding station Sydney Trains Following station Sydenham toward Lidcombe or Liverpool Bankstown Line Erskineville toward City Circle Sydenham toward Macarthur Airport & South Line (peak hour services) Redfern toward City Circle

St Peters railway station is a historic train station in the Sydney suburb of St Peters, Australia. It is located on the Illawarra line and is served by Sydney Trains T3 Bankstown line services. This station is special because it is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register, which means it's an important historical site.

Station History

St Peters station first opened its doors on 15 October 1884. It was built as part of the new Illawarra line that went to Hurstville. St Peters was one of the bigger stations built at that time. This showed how important the area was for factories and homes.

The station originally had two brick platform buildings. One was a large building on Platform 1/2 (which is no longer there). The other was a smaller building on the current Platform 3/4. A small footbridge connected the platforms.

In 1887, a major brick factory called Bedford Brickworks moved to St Peters. It was located right across from the station. This factory was very important for Sydney's building industry. It operated until the 1970s.

Around 1900, the train line was made wider to have four tracks. Brick walls were built along the station sides. The original Platform 1/2 building was taken down around 1925. A new, more modern platform building replaced it.

For many years, St Peters station mainly served the Bankstown Line. However, since 2017, some Airport Line trains also stop here during busy times.

There is also an unfinished platform to the west of the station. It was started in the 1970s to add more tracks. But the project was stopped to save money. There were plans to finish it later, but these were also cancelled in 2008. In 1990, the building on the western platform was removed and replaced with a simple shelter.

The Future of St Peters Station

Big changes are coming to the train lines in Sydney. As part of the Sydney Metro project, the Bankstown line will become a fast, modern metro line in 2024. This new line will go underground and bypass St Peters station.

After this change, it is planned that Illawarra line trains will start stopping at St Peters station again.

Platforms and Train Services

St Peters station has four platforms, but only two are regularly used. It has two island platforms. An island platform means there are tracks on both sides of the platform.

Getting to St Peters Station

St Peters station is easy to reach by bus. Several bus routes stop near the station, connecting it to other parts of Sydney.

State Transit operates one bus route:

• 370: From Coogee to Leichhardt Marketplace

Transit Systems operates two bus routes:

• 308: From Gresham Street to Marrickville Metro Shopping Centre
• 422: From Railway Square to Kogarah

For late-night travel, St Peters station is also served by two NightRide bus routes:

• N10: From Sutherland station to City (Town Hall)
• N11: From Cronulla station to City (Town Hall)

Station Features

The platforms of St Peters railway station in 2020

St Peters Railway Station is located on the Princes Highway. It sits in a cutting, which means the tracks are lower than the surrounding land, with tall brick walls on the sides. You can get to the station using a footbridge from Lord Street or a path from the Princes Highway.

The station has two main island platforms. Platform 3/4 is on the southern side, and Platform 1/2 is on the northern side. There's also an old, unused island platform further north.

The station complex includes:

• The Platform 3/4 building, built in 1884.
• The three island platforms, also from 1884.
• Brick retaining walls, added in 1900.
• A footbridge, built in 1914.
• The King Street (Princes Highway) overbridge, from around 1900.
• An overhead booking office and shop, built in 1914 and changed over the years.
• A canopy over Platform 1/2, added around 1990.

Platform 3/4 Building

This building is made of painted brick and dates back to 1884. It has a roof made of corrugated steel and two brick chimneys. There are awnings (shelters) along both sides of the building. The windows and doors have decorative features. Inside, some rooms still have their original high ceilings and fireplaces. While some parts show age, the building is mostly in good shape.

Footbridge

The footbridge was built in 1914. It has a strong steel structure made by a famous company called Dorman Long & Co. The bridge has stairs, railings, and decorative posts. It connects the street to the platforms, making it easy for people to cross.

Overhead Booking Office

This office is located on the footbridge. It was built in 1914 but has been changed a lot over the years. It now includes a ticket office and a small shop, both with corrugated steel roofs.

Why St Peters Station is Special

The incomplete island platform at St Peters railway station

St Peters railway station is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.

It's special for a few reasons:

• History: It's one of the oldest stations on the Illawarra Line. It shows how the St Peters and Newtown areas have grown since 1884. The station has kept its 1884 platform building, brick platforms, 1900 brick walls, and 1914 steel footbridge.
• Design and Engineering: The steel footbridge was designed by Dorman Long & Co., a well-known engineering company. The station's buildings and structures show the style of railway architecture from the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Platform 3/4 building is a good example of an 1880s station design.
• Rarity: The Platform 3/4 building is very well preserved, including its inside. This makes it quite rare on the Illawarra Line. It's one of only a few stations with this type of original building.

The station's brick retaining walls are also important. They show how railway builders worked to fit train lines into tight spaces without taking up too much land.