A train station in New South Wales has implemented new lifts into the building for the first time, making it more accessible for all members of the community as part of the Sydney Metro Southwest Project.
After years of community campaigns, passengers on the 128-year-old Bankstown Line are starting to see the benefits from major accessibility upgrades at Wiley Park Station thanks to its new lifts.
Having changed very little since it opened in 1938, Wiley Park station visitors will now benefit from a renovated concourse, a new station entry plaza with seating, lighting and extra bicycle parking, new platform canopies and re-surfaced platforms and platform access ramps.
The installation of the lifts took place during weekend trackwork closures, using a 350t crane to lift the shafts into place.
New South Wales Minister for Transport, Jo Haylen, said that the upgrade was long overdue.
“This is an exciting milestone for the south-west Sydney community, as their local stations finally see long overdue upgrades to improve accessibility,” Ms Haylen said.
“This upgrade is part of Wiley Park station’s transformation from an under-served train station with four trains an hour, to a modern metro station with 15 trains per hour.”
New lifts will also be operational at Punchbowl, Canterbury, Hurlstone Park and Dulwich Hill before the end of the year, making the stations fully accessible for the first time.
Once open in 2025, the Bankstown to Sydenham Metro Southwest will allow Wiley Park to be one of ten stations that will see modern, frequent and reliable metro services in Sydney’s southwest.
Member for Bankstown, Jihad Dib, that the community of Wiley Park was finally being recognised and essential upgrades are now being delivered.
“For decades, Wiley Park was the forgotten station on the Bankstown line. There was no shelter from the rain or sun, terrible lighting and the whole place looked like it was frozen in time,” Mr Dib said.
“After strong community campaigns along the Bankstown line forced action, it’s great to see vital accessibility upgrades finally being delivered.
“Mums with prams, elderly people, kids with bikes and people with disabilities who didn’t want to try their luck with the steep ramps will finally be able to make the most of the newly accessible train station.
“A big congratulations to Canterbury Bankstown Council and the community who have held this government and previous governments to their commitments to improve station accessibility across Sydney’s south-west.”
