Record-Breaking Escalator Part of Station’s $995m Transformation

The longest escalators in the Southern Hemisphere have been unveiled as part of a $995-million renovation of Sydney’s Central Train Station.

The 45m-long escalators are two of 42 new escalators planned for Australia’s busiest railway station.

The upgrade also includes a new underground pedestrian link, Central Walk—an 80m-long concourse underneath platforms 16 to 23.

The project is well advanced with the new Metro platforms and underground cavern excavation completed.

“The upgrade to Central Station will create more than 5500 jobs over the four years of construction, and represents the biggest improvement to the station in decades,” NSW premier Dominic Perrotet said.

“This city-shaping work is an extraordinary engineering and construction accomplishment.

“We’re delivering this Metro rail station below the surface at Central, while existing train services continue above.”

The first stage of the Central Walk concourse is due to open later this year along with new escalators and lifts from platforms 12 to 23.

”When complete, this underground link will make it easier for customers to connect with train, bus, light rail and metro services,” transport minister David Elliott said.

The station’s new Metro platforms will become operational once Sydney Metro City & Southwest services begin in 2024.

The Central upgrade is part of the NSW government's $108.5 billion public infrastructure pipeline to drive the state’s Covid recovery.