With 96 percent of Sydney’s train services concentrated through Central Station, this historic hub forms the backbone of the metropolitan rail network. Enhancing the city’s transit system in relation to its urban fabric, this project provides a catalyst for cultural and economic activity. The upgrade to the historic Walter Vernon-designed station marks a significant phase in modernising the city’s transport system, with the ability to service 450,000 passengers per day.

The new metro and concourse insertions are designed to be purposeful, functional, and sculpturally rich to complement the historic qualities of the original station. The Clock Tower, the original vaulted Grand Concourse, and the architectural gravitas remain iconic, with new contemporary interventions that elevate the station’s unique historic status.

The design places the user experience at the centre of Central Station’s transformation. More open spaces, such as the new Northern Concourse, significantly improve circulation and station legibility, with enhanced accessibility, permeability, and connectivity across the station’s precinct. Natural light, particularly in subterranean elements, is maximised to enhance the user experience, assisting orientation and intuitive wayfinding around the station.

Photography: Trevor Mein