Stanwell Park railway station

Summary

Stanwell Park railway station is located on the South Coast railway line in New South Wales, Australia. It serves the seaside village of Stanwell Park opening on 23 December 1901, relocating to its current location on 10 October 1920.[3][4]

Stanwell Park
Railway Crescent entrance in January 2008
General information
LocationRailway Crescent, Stanwell Park
Australia
Coordinates34°13′35″S 150°58′52″E / 34.226494°S 150.981063°E / -34.226494; 150.981063
Elevation88 metres (289 ft)
Owned byTransport Asset Holding Entity
Operated byNSW TrainLink
Line(s)South Coast
Distance55.95 kilometres from Central
Platforms2 side
Tracks2
ConnectionsBus
Construction
Structure typeGround
AccessibleNo
Other information
Status
  • Weekdays:

Staffed: 5.35am-9.35am

  • Weekends and public holidays:
Unstaffed
Station codeSWP
WebsiteTransport for NSW
History
Opened23 December 1901
Rebuilt10 October 1920
ElectrifiedYes
Passengers
2023[2]
  • 32,800 (year)
  • 90 (daily)[1] (Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink)
Services
Preceding station NSW TrainLink Following station
Coalcliff
towards Kiama or Port Kembla
South Coast Line Otford

Buildings and railway history edit

The original rail line followed what is now Lawrence Hargrave Drive, curving around the southern headland and through Stanwell Park. The station opened on 14 March 1890 at its original site opposite Station Street under the footbridge. To the north the line followed Chellow Dene Avenue to the Otford Tunnel through Bald Hill.[4]

A platform was provided on the eastern side on 24 April 1890, and was moved to the western side to make room for a crossing loop which opened on 23 December 1901. Station buildings were added on 4 June 1903 and a signal box on 17 May 1909. A second platform was provided on 13 July 1909, and the footbridge over the station installed on 9 October 1911.[4]

To the north a steep grade of 1 in 40 faced northbound trains almost all the way to Otford. This combined with the 1,550-metre (5,090 ft) long Otford Tunnel meant that many trains were divided at Stanwell Park and hauled through to Otford or Waterfall in stages. Refuge sidings were provided for northbound trains at Stanwell Park from 17 December 1912 so that the rear portion of divided trains no longer had to be left on the main line.[4]

In 1920, the original single line was replaced with a double track deviation. The deviation avoided the Otford Tunnel and steep grades by tracing around the Stanwell Park amphitheatre at a higher level, and the present station was constructed.[4] The new line featured an eight span, 145-metre (476 ft) long, 42-metre (138 ft) high[5] curved viaduct over Stanwell Creek south of the station which required over three million bricks in its construction.[4]

Platforms and services edit

Stanwell Park has two side platforms and is serviced by NSW TrainLink South Coast line services travelling between Waterfall and Port Kembla. Some peak hour and late night services operate to Sydney Central, Bondi Junction and Kiama.[6]

Platform Line Stopping pattern Notes
1 services to Waterfall
peak hour, late night & weekend services to Sydney Central & Bondi Junction
[6]
2 services to Thirroul & Port Kembla
peak hour, late night & weekend services to Kiama
[6]

Transport links edit

Premier Charters operates two bus routes via Stanwell Park station, under contract to Transport for NSW:

References edit

  1. ^ This figure is the number of entries and exits of a year combined averaged to a day.
  2. ^ "Train Station Monthly Usage". Open Data. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
  3. ^ Stanwell Park Station NSWrail.net
  4. ^ a b c d e f Oakes, John (2009) [2003]. Sydney's Forgotten Illawarra Railways (2nd ed.). Sydney: Australian Railway Historical Society, NSW Division. pp. 54, 56, 67, 79–80. ISBN 978-0-9805106-6-9.
  5. ^ Stanwell Park Railway Viaduct. Interim Report – Stage 1 – Inspection and Condition Assessment RailCorp June 2003
  6. ^ a b c "South Coast line timetable". Transport for NSW.
  7. ^ "Premier Charters route 2". Transport for NSW.
  8. ^ "Premier Charters route 15". Transport for NSW.

External links edit

  •   Media related to Stanwell Park railway station at Wikimedia Commons
  • Stanwell Park station details Transport for New South Wales