Main Ecourbanism The Goods Line: New Experience on Old Rails

The Goods Line: New Experience on Old Rails

The Goods Line is a partly elevated urban walkway from Sydney Central Station to Darling Harbour that follows the route of the once bustling but long neglected railway line. After completion of a $15 million transformation, The Goods Line reopened to the public on Sunday 30 August 2015 as a walkway, linear park and open space.

The Goods Line Project is very similar to the popular New York High Line, an urban renewal development that turned a section of an historic Manhattan freight line into a public park and walkway. While High Line-inspired projects have been proposed all over the world from Mexico City to Singapore, The Goods Line is one of the first to be completed. Chicago’s 606, another High Line-inspired project, opened in June 2015.

With a length of only 0.5 km, the Goods Line is a very short stroll, but it’s the perfect way to cross the city from Central Station to vibrant Darling Harbour. it is also a great place to enjoy a quiet and green little oasis, away from the busy city streets while still being close to everything. The refurbished Goods Line is a very welcome, green addition to an already beautiful city that will be very popular with local office workers, students and tourists.

History
The Goods Line was once part of a busy freight rail system that started operation in the middle of the 19th century. This rail line ran from Dulwich Hill to Sydney Central, via big rail yards at Rozelle and Darling Harbour. The rail line was mainly used to transport wool, meat and wheat into the area without interfering with passenger trains.

The last official train left Darling Harbour on the Goods Line in 1984. In the following years, the line was occasionally used by steam locomotives to transport goods between the Powerhouse Museum and Darling Harbour. Some parts of the old line have also been re-used for the Sydney Light Railway.

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