Railways and Tramways of Australia

A century in the making

 

Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs Railway opened on 23 June 1979.

 

The idea of a railway to the eastern suburbs was first suggested in the 1870s. Construction was recommended by John Bradfield in 1915 but little progress was made until after the Second World War. Work on the line was undertaken from 1947 before stopping in 1952. It resumed again in 1967, but various issues led to delays and cost blowouts. The line was finally ready for traffic in 1979.

 

The new line was built mostly underground, with the exception of Woolloomooloo and Rushcutters Bay Viaducts and a short section at Woollahra. Upon opening it was the most modern railway in Australia, with features including ticket vending machines, automatic ticket barriers, closed circuit television, enhanced lighting and platform indictors.

 

Two ceremonies were held on the opening day. The first was at 10.30 am on the concourse at Martin Place station. New South Wales Premier Neville Wran made a speech in front of invited guests before unveiling a commemorative plaque. The guests then boarded two official trains to Bondi Junction. Here the Premier cut a ribbon across the tracks before there was a public ceremony at the bus interchange. There were various speeches and the Premier unveiled another plaque. The official trains then took guests back to Martin Place for a luncheon on the station concourse.

 

Following the departure of the official trains, station gates were opened at Bondi Junction and people surged forward, eager to board the first public train from the station. Free public services operated over the opening weekend, with four eight-car trains providing a shuttle service between Central and Bondi Junction. Large number of people rode on the new line.

 

A century after it was first suggested, the Eastern Suburbs Railway was finally open.

 

Bibliography

I Brady, Eastern Suburbs Railway for Sydney, Australian Railway Historical Society (NSW Division), Sydney, 1979.

I Brady, ‘Eastern Suburbs Railway opened’, Railway Digest, vol. 17, no. 7, July 1979, pp 166–7.

RG Henderson, ‘Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs Railway opens’, Electric Traction, vol. 34, no. 7, July 1979, pp 103–116