City Circle - Definition and Overview

The City Circle is a system of underground passenger railway lines located in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia that make up the heart of the Sydney passenger railway network, owned and operated by CityRail, a New South Wales government agency.

Designed in the 1920s under the supervision of John Bradfield, the constituent stations of the Circle are (clockwise): Central, Town Hall, Wynyard, Circular Quay, St. James, Museum, back to Central.

St. James and Museum stations were constructed in 1926 under Hyde Park, Sydney. Their opening corresponded with the initial electrifcation of Sydney railways.

Town Hall and Wynyard stations were opened in 1932 in association with the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Circular Quay was designed as the "missing link", but was not added until 1956. It has one of the best views of Sydney railway stations.

Several unused railway tunnels also exist. The former tram tunnels at Wynyard, and other stub tunnels at St. James are well known.

External links

• CityRail Network site (http://www.cityrail.info)
• City of Sydney webpage about City Circle (http://www.sydney.com.au/circle.htm)