Action for Public Transport (N.S.W.) Inc.

In December 2014 Transport for NSW issued a Review of Environmental Factors (the REF) for a planned upgrade of Wynyard Railway Station in Sydney. Public submissions were invited, with a closing date of 19 December 2014. This submission is from Action for Public Transport (NSW), a transport users advocacy group, active in the Sydney region since 1974.

PEDESTRIAN MOVEMENT

The use of the circa 1987 Fruin Level of (pedestrian) Service in the design of the station upgrade is noted. It is to be hoped that this process will ensure that the wording and location of directional signage is optimised. Note that two distinct markets need to be met - those intending to catch a train, and of those, people who may be unfamiliar with the station layout and may well be in a hurry - and those who are merely passing through the station's unpaid concourse. They may be in no hurry at all. The signage designers need to recognise the possibility of conflict between these groups and make every effort to keep everybody moving with a minimum of inconvenience. We have noted that relatively new directional signage on the platforms at Town Hall Station does not satisfactorily pass this test.

If not already planned, we would suggest consideration of much better station-entrance identification signs at the various street level entrances. Historically, these have been somewhat obscure.

It is disappointing that a route has not been found for pedestrians to access the station from the south, in the vicinity of, say, Erskine and Clarence Streets.

FUNCTIONAL IMPROVEMENTS

We note, with approval, the provision of a new stair between the paid concourse and the southern end of platforms 3 & 4. It is to be hoped that the balustrading and other architectural features of the new stair will emulate that on the existing stairs. We also commend the re-direction of the southern stair to platforms 5 & 6, to serve the southern end of those platforms.

HERITAGE

We are pleased to note the designers' awareness of the many heritage relics at this station, and the proposals to interpret these items for public enjoyment. In particular, we would like to see some interpretation of the once-intended escalators between platforms 5 & 6, and 1 & 2, rather than just the removal of the escalator cavern(s) which has/have survived for so long.

OMISSIONS FROM THE REF

There are some matters which have only been lightly touched in the REF, or omitted altogether.

The REF acknowledges that there will be future interaction with a station on the southerly extension of the North West Rail Link, but there is no detail. We believe that now is the time to canvass possible scenarios for that interaction.

While the heritage values of the former tram tunnels and platforms are adequately documented, there is no commitment to the retention or protection of that infrastructure for future reversion to transit use. We suggest that this REF should have discussed the possible re-use of the tram infrastructure by mass transit services.

The REF should also have discussed the need (or not) to implement a planning instrument to preserve an alignment connecting the southern end of Wynyard Platforms 1 & 2 to the proposed LRT tracks in George Street via Wynyard Street and Regimental Square. In our opinion, the option of reclaiming the eastern Harbour Bridge lanes for transit services, extended to serve the northern end of the North Sydney CBD, and then beyond, is one that should at least be preserved, and certainly not destroyed.


Kevin Eadie

Advocacy Manager
Action for Public Transport (NSW) Inc.
PO Box K606
Haymarket, NSW, 1240.
File - WynyardUpgrade12.14.rev1