🌆 Why This Matters
Sydney is growing towards 8 million people by 2050. That means more demand on trains, buses, and roads — and more pressure on housing.
While multi-billion-dollar metro mega projects dominate the headlines, there’s another solution: smarter upgrades to our existing Sydney Trains network.
By adding just five new stations — targeted where they’re needed most — we can deliver:
- Faster, easier public transport.
- Thousands of new homes, including affordable housing.
- Fewer cars clogging our roads.
- A more connected, liveable Sydney.
🚉 The Vision: Five New Sydney Trains Stations
Stage 1: Infill Stations (2025–2035)
✅ Doody Street (T8, Alexandria/Rosebery) – Relieves pressure on Green Square and serves one of Sydney’s fastest-growing housing corridors.
✅ Art Gallery (T4, Domain/Woolloomooloo) – Connects Sydney’s cultural heart (Art Gallery of NSW, Domain, Woolloomooloo) directly to rail.
✅ Woollahra (T4) – Long-planned but never delivered; reconnects Woollahra Village and local schools to the rail network.
Stage 2: Bondi Extension (2030–2040)
✅ Bondi Road (T4 extension) – Captures dense housing along Bondi Road and relieves Sydney’s most overcrowded bus corridor.
✅ Bondi Beach (T4 extension) – Direct heavy rail to Australia’s most iconic beach and tourism destination.
Costs and Timeframes
These projects are deliverable and realistic when staged.
| Station | Cost Estimate | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|
| Doody Street | $700–900m | 6–8 years |
| Art Gallery | $900m–1.2b | 7–9 years |
| Woollahra | $600–800m | 6–8 years |
| Bondi Road (ext.) | $1.3–1.8b | 12–15 years |
| Bondi Beach (ext.) | $2.2–2.8b | 12–15 years |
Total Program: ~$5.7–7.5 billion — less than a single Metro line section, but with broader benefits spread across multiple communities.
🏠 Housing Opportunities
New stations don’t just move people — they unlock new places to live.
| Station | New Homes | Affordable Housing Potential |
|---|---|---|
| Doody Street | 5,000–8,000 | 15–20% via rezoning uplift, key worker housing |
| Art Gallery | 1,000–2,000 (indirect) | Student & rental housing near CBD & Woolloomooloo |
| Woollahra | 1,500–2,500 | Low-rise infill, seniors’ housing |
| Bondi Road | 3,000–5,000 | 10–15% via inclusionary zoning |
| Bondi Beach | 500–1,000 | Affordable rentals for hospitality/tourism workers |
Total Impact: 10,000–15,000 new dwellings, including 1,500–2,500 affordable homes.
Global Inspiration
We’re not reinventing the wheel. Around the world, new stations have transformed communities by linking transport to housing:
- Melbourne – Arden Precinct: New station delivering homes for 15,000 residents + 34,000 jobs; at least 10% affordable housing mandated.
- London – Elephant & Castle: Station-led renewal delivering 5,000+ homes, with 2,300 affordable dwellings.
- Vancouver – Cambie Corridor: SkyTrain corridor rezoning unlocking 30,000+ homes, with affordability built in.
- Paris – Clichy–Batignolles: New Metro station anchored 7,500 homes, 50% affordable housing.
- Hong Kong – MTR Model: Stations built with property development above, funding rail and homes together.
Sydney can — and should — do the same.
Benefits at a Glance
🚆 65–85k new daily train boardings
🚗 18–22k fewer car trips per day
🏠 10–15k new homes unlocked
💸 1,500–2,500 affordable homes delivered
💰 $5.7–7.5 billion cost (staged and achievable)
✅ Our Recommendations
Stage 1 (2025–2035)
- Build Doody Street, Art Gallery, Woollahra first.
- Pair with rezoning to lock in affordable housing quotas.
- Bundle procurement for Doody Street + Art Gallery for efficiency.
Stage 2 (2030–2040)
- Safeguard corridor now.
- Deliver Bondi Road + Bondi Beach as one extension package.
- Integrate with bus reform to reduce duplication.
Cross-Cutting Actions
- Mandate affordable housing quotas near all new stations.
- Use value capture (developer contributions, joint ventures).
- Deliver walking, cycling, and feeder bus access.
Conclusion
These five new stations are smart, targeted investments.
- They improve transport for tens of thousands of Sydneysiders.
- They unlock thousands of homes — including affordable housing.
- They reduce car dependency, easing congestion and cutting emissions.
- They deliver results faster and at lower cost than megaprojects.
This isn’t just about transport. It’s about building a better Sydney — connected, liveable, and affordable.
Take Action
Support this campaign: Share the vision for a better Sydney with your council, MP, and community.
Join the conversation: What do you think — should Sydney invest in more heavy rail stations?