{"id":63653,"date":"2024-06-11T15:32:12","date_gmt":"2024-06-11T05:32:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=63653"},"modified":"2024-06-11T15:32:19","modified_gmt":"2024-06-11T05:32:19","slug":"macdonaldtown-train-station-given-2-3m-in-major-accessibility-design-overhaul","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=63653","title":{"rendered":"Macdonaldtown train station given $2.3m in major accessibility, design overhaul"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A two-platform inner-city rail stop, once dubbed \u201cSydney\u2019s stupidest train station\u201d, has received $2.3m to kick off a substantial makeover. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Located in Sydney\u2019s inner west between Redfern and Newtown, and named after a now non-existent suburb, the ailing 146-year-old station will be redesigned, with the potential for construction to begin in late-2025, subject to approvals and securing funding for the build. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accessibility concerns are a top priority. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite Macdonaldtown train station being Sydney\u2019s only station with an on-platform pay phone, which was made wheelchair accessible in 2009, trains are only accessible via a steep flight of stairs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s understood the estimated 18-month revamp will include the addition of ramps or lifts, plus improved signage, a family accessible toilet, accessible parking spaces, tactile ground surface indicators, and new platform hearing loops. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

More lighting and CCTV will also be included in the redesign, with the potential for an additional station entrance and forecourt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While Macdonaldtown\u2019s on-platform payphone is accessible, the rest of the train station is not. Picture: NewsWire \/ Gaye Gerard<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Writing for The Daily Telegraph in 2009, commentator Joe Hildebrand dubbed the station as \u201cSydney\u2019s stupidest\u201d over the wheelchair-friendly payphone gaff, which was installed by Telstra as per its legal requirements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Online detractors have also called the Macdonaldtown stop \u201clittle less than a forgotten bus station\u201d and a \u201cdesolate station, way more desolate than the Outback\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen defended the small station, which comes in at \u201cSydney\u2019s 126th most-used station\u201d out of 228 contenders across the Greater Sydney region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

News.com.au<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Home to one major city\u2019s only on-platform payphone, a much-maligned train station has been promised a makeover.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":63657,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[273,163,2695],"tags":[10267,10268,2139],"class_list":["post-63653","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-australia","category-rail-industry-news-australia-new-zealand","category-sydney-trains","tag-macdonaldtown","tag-macdonaldtown-railway-station","tag-sydney"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t