Olympic Park railway station, Sydney

History[edit]

Olympic Park station is now the only station functioning on the Olympic Park railway line, originally built as the Abattoirs Branch line to serve the state abattoirs and associated sale yards located in the area that is now Sydney Olympic Park. The line closed in stages in 1984 and 1995 when these facilities moved out of the area. After the last passenger service on the line was withdrawn in 1995, the line was rebuilt and realigned in places to serve the new stadiums and sports grounds that were being built for the 2000 Summer Olympics.


Olympic Park station opened in 1998 at the same time as the new Sydney Showground nearby, which is used each year for the Sydney Royal Easter Show. As well as Easter Show attendees, the station was designed to support large crowds travelling to and from the stadiums and sports grounds in Olympic Park.


After the 2000 Olympic Games, most of the sporting facilities were retained and adapted to recreational, entertainment and domestic competition uses. The Easter Show also continues to draw large crowds each year. In addition, the Sydney Olympic Park area has seen high density residential developments, as well as the development of hotels, offices and shops. As a result, in addition to transporting crowds attending sporting and other events, Olympic Park station now also fulfils a workday commuter role.