The Longest Escalator in the Southern Hemisphere Will Be Constructed as Part of Central Station's Huge Transformation
The first section of Central Station's renovations are set to open later this year.
More than four years in the making, Central Station's $955-million transformation is set to partially open later this year. To mark the first stages of the new station and platforms opening in late-2022, the NSW Government has provided some insight into what we can expect, including the installation of the Southern Hemisphere's largest escalators.
There are a total of 42 sets of escalators currently being installed, amounting to 955-metres of new automated walkways for tired workers. Each set is made up of three 45-metre-long escalators forming 135-metre long structures.
While three sets of escalators have been built inside the new Metro stations, the majority will be incorporated into the new Central Walk underground concourse. 19-metres wide and 80-metres long, the new Central Walk runs below platforms 16 to 23 of the station, connecting the new metro lines to existing train and light rail platforms.
Other elements of the station's transformation include the aforementioned Metro platforms that will be incorporated into the new Sydney Metro City and Southwest Metro lines, and the bright 330-tonne Northern Concourse canopy which you can currently see if you make a trip to the inner-city transport hub.
"This city-shaping work is an extraordinary engineering and construction accomplishment," NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said. "We're delivering this Metro rail station below the surface at Central while existing train services continue above."
Unlike the NSW Government's last major public transport project, the Light Rail, Central Station's revamp is on track to open in line with the 2022 date proposed when construction began back in 2018. Following the opening of the first section, the Sydney Metro City and Southwest metro lines are on track to be operational in 2024.
From 2024, the new train lines are expected to shorten travel time between Central and Martin Place to 4 minutes, Victoria Cross Station to 9 minutes and Chatswood Station to 15 minutes.
Head to the NSW Government website to stay up-to-date with the Sydney Metro and Central Station renovations.
