Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian today joined Minister for the Illawarra John Ajaka and Member for Kiama Gareth Ward to inspect the brand new Shellharbour Junction Station before it opens to customers tomorrow – Saturday 22 November.
The NSW Liberals & Nationals came to Government promising to deliver this crucial infrastructure for the Illawarra, and in just three and a half years the fully accessible station is ready to open to customers.
Ms Berejiklian said the new station and interchange includes lifts, CCTV cameras and security lighting, a kiss and ride zone, taxi and bus bays, bike racks and 105 parking spaces for the community, including four accessible spaces.
“I am so pleased to be in Shellharbour as we get ready to open the new station for customers – what a fantastic day for this community. As Minister for Transport, it doesn’t get much better than this,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“It has been exciting to watch this station take shape and now we’re at the stage where our customers will be tapping on with their Opal card this weekend and jumping on the train to connect with Sydney and the surrounding region.
“Labor talked about this station for years and like most things in transport, they failed to deliver. Good governments identify the facilities local communities need, provide the funds and get on with delivering – and thanks to the hard work of the local member Gareth Ward – that’s what we have done here in Shellharbour.”
The first train will stop at Shellharbour Junction at 2.51am tomorrow Saturday 22 November on the way to Sydney. The first southbound train will stop at 5.25am. From tomorrow, trains will no longer stop at Dunmore Station.
Mr Ajaka said the new station will serve the growing communities of Shellharbour, Shell Cove, Flinders and surrounding suburbs for generations to come and is a testament to the hard work of the local member.
“More and more people are moving to the Illawarra and new homes are going up right across the region. This government is working with the community to shape the future of the Illawarra and deliver the crucial services and infrastructure it deserves,” he said.
“Shellharbour Junction not only offers a new state-of-the-art train station for the community, it will serve as a modern and accessible interchange, complete with a pedestrian and cycle pathway connecting to Haddin Road, Flinders.
“I am also pleased a new bus service will begin next week to connect locals with their new station. Route 52 will carry customers to and from Flinders via Shellharbour Village, made possible thanks to this Government’s investment in new growth buses.”
Customers will be able to leave their car at home and catch the bus to connect with peak weekday train services, leaving Flinders between 5am and 7:42am, and departing from Shellharbour Junction Station between 3:32pm and 8:10pm.
Mr Ward said it was a great day for the Illawarra and after years of broken promises from the former Labor Government, the region was finally getting the public transport infrastructure it deserves.
“I use our rail system frequently and having fought for this project in Parliament, I’m delighted that we’re finally opening this new station today,” he said.
“It’s also worth celebrating that from Monday, South Coast Line customers who catch the popular 4.24pm from Central will have twice the seats after the Minister listened to my concerns and those of the community and doubled the number of train carriages.
“This means now all trains departing Central for the South Coast on weekday afternoons between 4pm and 6.30pm are eight-carriage trains.”
Shellharbour Junction Station was built under the NSW Government’s Transport Access Program and includes:
- CCTV surveillance cameras and modern lighting;
- Footbridge and lift access between platforms;
- A car park with 105 parking spaces, including four accessible spaces;
- An interchange with two bus bays, to be served by the new Route 52;
- Four kiss-and-ride spaces, a taxi zone and bicycle racks; and
- A pedestrian and cycle pathway connecting to Haddin Road, Flinders.
Some finishing touches are being added to the station in the coming months, but it’s important to get the new facility open for customers as soon as possible.
For more information about train and bus timetables at Shellharbour and along the South Coast Line, customers can visit http://www.transportnsw.info/
Brand new Shellharbour Junction Station ready to open to customers (pdf 95KB)