Redfern railway station

Redfern is a major interchange station on the Sydney Trains network. Multiple rail lines converge here they as they enter the Sydney CBD. The station is located near Gibbons Street, Lawson Street and Eveleigh Street. Redfern station serves its namesake suburb, as well as the nearby areas of Waterloo, Darlington and Eveleigh.

It is the ninth busiest station on the network.

History
In the early history of the New South Wales Railways, "Redfern" was the name of the principal Sydney terminus. It was located to the south of Devonshire Street and opened on 26 September 1855 in an area known as "Cleveland Fields." This original "Redfern" station comprised one wooden platform in a corrugated iron shed. As traffic increased the original station was replaced in 1874 by a brick building containing two platforms. This second station, which grew to 14 platforms, was designed for through traffic if the lines were extended in the city direction. This second station was found to be too far from the city centre, so a new station (the present Sydney Central Station) was built to the north of Devonshire Street and opened on 4 August 1906. The 1874 station was soon demolished. A station was opened in 1876 1.3 km on the Parramatta side of the "original Redfern" and called 'Eveleigh'. In 1885 Eveleigh's platforms were reconstructed at the present Redfern site, and on 21 October 1906 this station was renamed Redfern. Platforms 11 and 12, as well as the area containing the unfinished platforms (see below), were constructed in the late 1970s as part of the Eastern Suburbs Railway construction, which opened in 1979.

Until the early 1990s Redfern had an overhead footbridge at the Eveleigh end of the platforms, connecting all platforms 1-10 by stairs. This was demolished because the funds for its maintenance were not available. A single track underground tunnel for trains going to Eveleigh Maintenance Centre, known as the Engine Dive, runs under the above ground platforms. Various chimneys on the platforms (especially on platform 1) are evidence of this. The tunnel surfaces near the Eveleigh end of platform 10 and on the non-station side of the Lawson St bridge.

The station is walking distance to the suburb of Waterloo known by its government housing high rise buildings. The present Redfern station was damaged by fire in the 2004 Redfern riots. The ticketing area and station master's office were significantly damaged - and the windows in the front of the station were bricked up for almost a year afterwards to prevent further attacks. They have since been replaced with glass windows.

2015 Upgrade
In 2015, Redfern station received an access upgrade. Improvements included a new lift from the concourse to platforms 6/7, a new section of canopy and new CCTV, lighting and fencing. Construction commenced in April and was completed in November. This upgrade was part of the Transport Access Program.

2019-2022 Upgrade
In May 2019, a further accessibility upgrade was announced for Redfern station. As part of this upgrade, a new concourse, with lifts down to all platforms, will be constructed. A new concourse needed to be built, as there is no space for lifts in the northern concourse.

Configuration
Redfern has 12 platforms - 10 above ground and 2 underground. Each platform has stairs up to the northern concourse, which has gated entrances on Gibbons and Lawson streets. Additionally, platforms 6-7 have a lift, while platforms 11-12 have escalators, both connected to the northern concourse. Platform 10 also has stairs to an ungated entrance on Marian St. Station offices and facilities such as toilets and the main indicator boards are located next to the Lawson Street entry.

As part of the construction of the Eastern Suburbs Railway (now platforms 11 and 12), it was proposed to build up to four platforms for the underground route (similar to Central). Two of these platforms were built and now are platforms 11 and 12, however, two more platforms were half constructed above Platforms 11 and 12. These are visible through a small gap in the wall opposite Platform 11, as well as by a boarded up entry portal under the Lawson Street Bridge (which was to be the down track), and a now filled-in dive tunnel under the Wells Street Sectioning Hut on the Central side of Lawson Street (which was to be the up track). The area in which the platforms were to be situated is visible from the station concourse at the entrance to Platform 10.

The southern concourse, currently under construction, has entrances on Little Eveleigh St, Marian St and Gibbons St. There are stairs and lifts down to all the surface platforms from this concourse. There is an elevated corridor linking the lifts and stairs for platform 8/9, as the platform is too narrow where the concourse crosses for a lift and stairs.

Platforms and Services
The station is served by all Sydney Trains services except T5 Cumberland and T8 Airport services.

Some intercity services make an extra stop during peak hours for the convenience of passengers for Sydney University. The platforms are only long enough for 8 suburban cars, so V sets stopping on platform 1/2 only stop with the front 6 cars on the platform (short platform code SP6#).

The station is served by eighteen to twenty-six trains per hour each way, with additional trains during weekday peak hours.