‘Stupidest train station’ gets overhaul
Written by admin on June 10, 2024
A two-platform inner-city rail stop, once dubbed “Sydney’s stupidest train station”, has received $2.3m to kick off a substantial makeover.
Located in Sydney’s inner west between Redfern and Newtown, and named after a now non-existent suburb, the ailing 146-year-old station will be redesigned, with the potential for construction to begin in late-2025, subject to approvals and securing funding for the build.
Accessibility concerns are a top priority.
Despite Macdonaldtown train station being Sydney’s only station with an on-platform pay phone, which was made wheelchair accessible in 2009, trains are only accessible via a steep flight of stairs.
It’s understood the estimated 18-month revamp will include the addition of ramps or lifts, plus improved signage, a family accessible toilet, accessible parking spaces, tactile ground surface indicators, and new platform hearing loops.
More lighting and CCTV will also be included in the redesign, with the potential for an additional station entrance and forecourt.
Writing for The Daily Telegraph in 2009, commentator Joe Hildebrand dubbed the station as “Sydney’s stupidest” over the wheelchair-friendly payphone gaff, which was installed by Telstra as per its legal requirements.
Online detractors have also called the Macdonaldtown stop “little less than a forgotten bus station” and a “desolate station, way more desolate than the Outback”.
However, NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen defended the small station, which comes in at “Sydney’s 126th most-used station” out of 228 contenders across the Greater Sydney region.
“It’s vital we make Macdonaldtown fully accessible, just like we need to work towards making all of our stations fully accessible,” she said.
“This 146-year-old station that has only ever had access via stairs. I’m pleased that that will change, and in the coming years this community will have a fully accessible train station.”
The funding has been drawn out of the state government’s $800m Safe and Accessible Transport program. As of March 21, 72.6 per cent of suburban, intercity, metro and regional stations were independently accessible.
Work is under way at Macquarie Fields, Chester Hill, Bardwell Park, Lewisham, Moss Vale, Queanbeyan and Griffith stations to improve accessibility, and planning is in progress at Kempsey, Nambucca Heads, Yass and Canberra.
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