Broken Hill railway station is a heritage-listed railway station located on the Broken Hill line in the center of Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia. Opened in 1957, the station is crucial as it is the only rail access to Broken Hill. It is serviced by the Outback Xplorer and the Indian Pacific.
History Broken Hill Crystal Street Broken Hill Crystal Street railway station opened on 15 July 1919 when the line opened to Menindee. Until extended further east in 1927, the section was not connected to the rest of the New South Wales Government Railways network.Broken Hill Station NSWrail.netBroken Hill Railway Precinct Office of Environment & Heritage
Broken Hill's first railway connection arrived in 1888, with the Silverton Tramway connecting the city to the South Australian Railways' narrow-gauge system at Cockburn and on to Adelaide via Sulphide Street station. Broken Hill developed into a lucrative location with the mines providing a regular source of traffic.
Current station A new brick station opened on 4 June 1957, 560 metres west of the original station.New NSWR Gateway to Silver City Railway Transportation July 1957 pages 32-24Here & There Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 239 September 1957 page 1
As part of the construction of the project to convert to standard gauge the Sydney to Perth railway line, in 1969 the station platform was extended to 370 metres accommodate the Indian Pacific with a new signal box constructed at the western end of the station building.Here & There Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 385 November 1969 page 6 With modern centralised train control, the signal box is no longer staffed.
Although some 50 kilometres from the border, Broken Hill was the border station between New South Wales and South Australia, with interstate trains changing locomotives up until the 1990s in the era of state-owned railway networks.Broken Hill Today Railway Digest July 1985 pages 190-191
Services From September 1937 until November 1989, Broken Hill was the terminus for the Silver City Comet from Orange.The Official Last Comet Railway Digest February 1990 page 55 It was also the terminus for Australian National's Silver City Limited from Adelaide from December 1986 until December 1990.Western Report Railway Digest February 1987 page 52Silver City Limited Continental Railway Journal issue 70 June 1987 page 313Bye Bye to Country Passenger Services Catch Point issue 90 January 1991 page 16 It was served by The Alice from Sydney to Alice Springs from November 1983 until October 1987.Inland Bound State Wide January 1984 page 1The Last Years of the South Australian Interstate Passenger Business: 1985 - 1990 Australian Railway History issue 1046 April 2025 pages 16/17
Since March 1996, Broken Hill has been served by NSW TrainLink's weekly Outback Express to and from Sydney.Countrylink's Loco Hauled Passenger Trains Railway Digest May 1996 pages 20-23 NSW TrainLink also operates road coach services to Adelaide, Dubbo and Mildura which leave from the city's Tourist Information Centre bus terminal.Western NSW timetable NSW TrainLink
Since it introduction in February 1970, Journey Beyond's weekly Indian Pacific has called at Broken Hill.New South Wales Railways Electric Traction April 1970 page 8 Initially operating twice weekly, in July 1973 it was increased to three times weekly, and in July 1975 to four times per week.Three services weekly each way for the Indian Pacific The Recorder March 1973 page 2Fourth Indian Pacific Australian Transport June 1975 page 47 Today it operates weekly.Indian Pacific timetable Journey Beyond
References
External links
Broken Hill station Transport for NSW