Circular Quay railway station

Circular Quay is a railway station on the City Circle line of the Sydney Trains network. The station is on a viaduct underneath the Cahill Expressway. The precint is a major transport interchange, with ferries departing from the 5 wharves to the north, and buses/light rail from Alfred St to the south. The station serves the northern part of Sydney's central business district, including the Opera House and Overseas Passenger Terminal.

History
Circular Quay is an area of historical significance for Sydney, as it was for a long time the central harbour of a settlement which relied on shipping for its connection to the outside world. By the 20th century, ferry commuter wharves began to eclipse commercial shipping wharves as the dominant feature of the Quay area. The area became a transport hub as it served as the terminus of both ferry services and tram services (it remains an important terminus for ferry services and bus services, the latter having replaced the tram network in Sydney).

Planning for a railway station here to complement this transport hub and form a loop line around the City began in 1909, and work was authorised in 1915. Tunnels to link the surrounding stations to the future Circular Quay station were built between 1917 and 1926 (eastern section) and 1932 (western section). Circular Quay was originally to be an underground station, like all the other City stations, however this turned out to be problematic due to water entering the tunnels. Instead a viaduct was built for the station. Work on the section of the railway through Circular Quay began in 1936, was interrupted by the Second World War, and recommenced in 1945. Work was again interrupted between 1951 and 1953, but the viaduct was finally completed in 1954.

Designs for the station building itself commenced in 1927, revised in 1937, and the station was finally completed and opened on 20 January 1956, with the first regular train services beginning on 22 January. The completion of Circular Quay station marked the completion of the City Circle railway as originally envisaged by Bradfield making it the newest station on the line.

The construction and placement of the station was always controversial due to its prominent location at the head of Circular Quay, an important natural and cultural landmark and visitors' attraction. When the Cahill Expressway was opened above the station in 1958, the controversy over the entire structure only intensified. There have been various proposals to relocate the station underground in conjunction with the demolition of the Cahill Expressway, however these have not come to fruition.

In 2006 RailCorp performed maintenance and cleaning of the station's 50-year-old facade. A refurbishment in 2007 introduced sun-shading awnings on the platforms, removed advertising hoarding between the tracks, and improved facilities on the concourse level.

In April 2021, gap fillers were installed on both platforms as part of a trial. As a result, trains in the wide width class (currently only heritage train F1) are no longer permitted to run through the station.

Design
Circular Quay station features a ground-level central concourse, and elevated platforms on a second level. Both platforms feature sections of open galleries, offering views to Circular Quay, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House on one side, and Customs House and the Alfred Street plaza on the other.

The station has two main, double-storey facades, facing Circular Quay to the north, and Customs House to the south respectively. The northern facade is faced with polished granite tiles, while the southern one features polished granite and sandstone. The station name is featured in steel lettering on both sides. The upper storey of the facades correspond to the central sections of the platforms, and feature steel-framed windows. The exterior of the remainder of the platform feature open, glass-railed galleries, supported on the lower level by a continuation of the central facade. The top of the northern, harbour-facing facade is incorporated into the viewing platform and rest area located above the station alongside the Cahill Expressway roadway. This platform can be reached from the pedestrian walkway on the Cahill Expressway.

The station platforms are reached from the ground level concourse via stairs, escalators and lifts. The central concourse is surrounded on either side by retail and food shops and public toilets located under the elevated platforms. The concourse is decorated with brass details in an aquatic animal motif, seen in sculpted grills above stairways and doorways. Glass bricks are used extensively in various parts.

The station is in an inter-war functionalist style, as seen in the strong horizontal lines presented by the windows and galleries, with art deco details.

Platforms and Services
Trains on the T2, T3 and T8 lines pass through Circular Quay. Services on the Illawarra line used the station until 1980 when its integration with the newly built Eastern Suburbs line was completed and services were re-routed. The station is staffed at all times, and is fully accessible. During special events, such as VIVID Sydney and New Year's Eve, Circular Quay station either closes or becomes pickup only to prevent dangerously large crowds from forming.