Transport for NSW (TfNSW)
Rail Infrastructure
Dapto
Dharawal Country
NSW
Dapto Station Upgrade
The Dapto Station Upgrade balanced operational continuity, stakeholder engagement, and complex technical challenges while respecting the site’s heritage values.
Degnan delivered the works as part of the Transport Access Program, a NSW Government initiative to provide a better experience for public transport customers by delivering accessible, modern, secure and integrated transport infrastructure.
Opened in 1887, Dapto Station has been a vital part of the Illawarra line for over a century. As a heritage-listed site, careful planning and design ensured preservation of its historical significance while incorporating modern infrastructure. Works were executed in a live rail environment, requiring precise scheduling and coordination to maintain uninterrupted operations.
The Dapto Station Upgrade features artwork by Coomaditchie artists Lorraine Brown and Narelle Thomas, including totem poles and a mural depicting the six seasons recognised by the Dharawal people.
By balancing heritage preservation, technical requirements, and cultural respect, the Dapto Station Upgrade exemplifies a holistic approach to modern infrastructure development while creating a lasting positive impact on the local community.
Construction was executed in stages to maintain continuous station access, with work areas sequentially closed, constructed, and reopened to ensure ongoing operations.
Unexpected underground services presented challenges, and to mitigate these risks Degnan carried out extensive non-destructive digging for all excavations. While this increased costs, it prioritised safety given the number of undocumented electrical and communications services uncovered during the project.
Community engagement was central to the project, including bespoke Rail Safety Week presentations at local schools to raise awareness of rail safety, particularly level crossing safety, and social procurement initiatives that employed a local disability enterprise for cleaning and letterbox drops to support community inclusion.
The works interfaced with multiple concurrent projects, requiring careful coordination for safe and timely completion. Key challenges included:
Stakeholder Management: Redesigning access areas required consultation with accessibility groups, TfNSW, and Sydney Trains.
Scheduling and Sequencing: The project experienced delays due to heritage constraints, industrial action, and unexpected discoveries, including termites, hazardous materials, and unknown underground services. Degnan worked with TfNSW to expedite the programme where possible, including expanding the final possession scope to avoid additional disruptions caused by PIA delays.
Technical Integration: Degnan managed complex services design, undertaking
detailed assessments of upgrade pathways for existing electrical infrastructure alongside large-scale replacement options, supported by cost-benefit analysis for TfNSW.
Scope of Work
upgrading kerbs and ramps
installing a formal kiss and ride zone
upgrading bathrooms with an ambulant toilet in both male and female bathrooms
upgrading footpaths
re-levelling platform 2 in front of the station building
widening Platform 1 and installing a new canopy cover
installing a new water bubbler on platform 2
upgrading the waiting room, including installing accessible seating
installing new seating throughout the station
Degnan’s Illawarra Station Upgrades:
Finalist in the 2024 Banksia Foundation awards for Placemaking.
Our goal was to produce station upgrades that prioritise user experience and accessibility, using a holistic approach that embraces urban design principles and celebrates natural elements.
“The Transport Access Program is transforming stations across our state,
ensuring everyone has safe, accessible access to our train stations.
“The transformation of Dapto Station will ensure that commuters with disabilities, parents
and passengers with luggage or bikes are able to make the most of our public transport network.”
Transport Minister Jo Haylen
History
- Dapto Station opened in 1887, one of more than 50 stations to open in 1887.
- In 1903 the Commissioner for Railways declared that Dapto was the most valuable station on the Illawarra line, its traffic being double that of Wollongong.
- In the 1940’s it was common for a special dog carriage to be attached to trains leaving Central for Dapto. The Dapto Greyhound Racing Club was established in 1936 and is still operating.
- Dapto station was later renovated in the 1920s, and again in the 1970s
- In 1993 Dapto Station became an interchange point between diesel multiple units to Bomaderry and electric multiple units to Wollongong and Sydney and an additional platform was built on the western side of the station, this is what is now named Platform 1.
