Transport for NSW will take advantage of a shutdown of the T4 Eastern Suburbs Line to access the station site that has sat idle since the 1970s when a station at Woollahra was proposed but did not progress.
The new station will be an eight-minute trip from the CBD on a rail line that has more spare passenger capacity than every other line in Sydney. The usage rate during the AM peak between the city and Bondi Junction is just 43% of operating capacity.
As works progress on the station, the NSW Government is leading a rezoning of Woollahra and Edgecliff stations, similar to other state led rezonings like Burwood North and Parramatta Road, to allow up to 10,000 homes to be built.
Affordable housing will also make up a proportion of development on the site with the final amount of affordable housing, to be determined as part of the rezoning process.
The rezoning is expected to take around two years, with plans anticipated to be on public exhibition in the second half of 2026. This work will further support the Minns Government’s housing targets that rebalance the delivery of new homes around existing infrastructure.
Passenger services will not operate on the T4 Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra Line this weekend, with buses replacing trains between Hurstville, Central and Bondi Junction. Subject to planning approval, station construction is expected to begin in 2027.
The Minns Labor government is investing significantly in critical improvements to the heavy rail network, including:
- $458.4 million over four years on additional track maintenance, to improve rail reliability on the Sydney Trains network,
- $447 million over four years to extend the life of the Tangara train fleet, improving the reliability and accessibility of trains on the T4 line,
- $800.7 million over four years invested in station upgrades across the rail network to improve accessibility and passenger facilities
The Federal and NSW Government have also jointly funded $100m for the South West Sydney Rail Planning Full Business Case which is investigating the expansion of the train network between Leppington and Bradfield, and from Bradfield to Macarthur.
Further information is available on the Woollahra Station Activation webpage:
www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/woollahra-station-activation
Minister for Transport John Graham said:
“This is a back to the future moment in which work to connect the Woollahra ghost station into the rail system begins this weekend.
“Woollahra Station will provide locals an eight-minute journey to the CBD and take cars off busy local streets.
“This station just makes sense when you consider the young families that are being forced to move out of Sydney because they can’t afford a home. About 10,000 new homes in this area is part of the solution to that problem and a rebalance from all housing growth happening in Sydney’s west.”
Acting Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Yasmin Catley said:
“Planning for homes as you build new transport infrastructure is something the former Liberal-National Government failed to do.
“Woollahra is the latest example of the Minns Government building homes close to transport, services and great public spaces.
“Every area of Sydney has to take their fair share of housing, this is why we set new housing targets to rebalance our housing growth in a way that was fair for all of Sydney.”
Transport for NSW Secretary Josh Murray said:
“These works are an important step toward delivering a station that meets the needs of the community for decades to come."
“This work will be critical to inform plans for the design of the station. Construction is expected to start in 2027 and be completed in 2029.”
Matt Longland Sydney Trains Chief Executive:
"Safety is our top priority. By carrying out these investigations during a scheduled rail shutdown, we ensure our teams can work efficiently and safely while minimising disruption to passengers and residents.
