Inside Sydney’s abandoned monorail station after the popular attraction permanently closed in 2013: ‘It’s frozen in time’
- Images of the abandoned Sydney monorail stations have been shared online
- The iconic monorail with a loop was built in 1988 and removed in 2013
- Today, old stations remain untouched and trapped in time for almost a decade
- Images posted online make Aussies think of the old travel system
Eerie photos of Sydney’s abandoned monorail stations have surfaced on social media, inspiring nostalgic Aussies to reminisce about the beloved old travel system.
The single-loop monorail opened in 1988 and connects the central business districts, including Darling Harbour, Pyrmont and Chinatown, but was removed in 2013.
Once bustling with locals and travelers alike, the train stations now remain untouched, frozen in time for almost a decade.
The stations can be viewed from the ground and look like strange extensions of buildings.
Images shared online show the abandoned monorail stations across Sydney (pictured)
Once bustling with locals and travelers alike, the stations now remain untouched and caught in time since 2013, when the monorail closed
The single track monorail opened in 1988 and connects central business districts including Darling Harbour, Pyrmont and Chinatown
There are advertisements on the walls promoting city tours and a very early version of an opal style map
Sydney resident Simon posted pictures to the ‘Old Shops Australia’ Facebook group alongside the caption: ‘The station is completely boarded up but there are a few holes for some photos from the past (tack styles and wall ads) .”
“The next station at the pedestrian bridge is still there. Also boarded. The plaques blocking the entrance are often used for really nice hand drawn advertisements for film releases.’
In the comments, many wished the government would keep the convenient mode of transport and suggested converting the abandoned train stations into accessible cafes.
‘I wish they’d kept track. They could have put a platform on top of the existing line and used it as a loop, used these stations as cafes, it could have been great,” one person wrote.
“The monorail was removed but actually could have been upgraded and kept to be such a great travel system for the city,” added another.
The monorail was popular with locals and visitors alike as it was a convenient way to get around the city before it was removed
The 2.2-mile (3.6-kilometer) loop had eight stations, with up to six trains running at a time (pictured: map of Sydney monorail).
Others say they love seeing the “historic” monorail stations from afar because it reminds them of a specific point in time.
“I love these old monorail stations that still exist…they will eventually be demolished, but I love seeing them as an anachronism as we go about our day in 2022,” one person wrote.
Another added: “I was there because of the controversy surrounding his installation and even used it occasionally – good for out-of-town tourists with young children like me later on and that’s about it.”
“I really liked the monorail, should have extended it [Circular] Quay didn’t remove it!’
Sydney also has other forms of public transport including trains, buses, light rail and ferries.
When did the Sydney Monorail close?
The Sydney Monorail was a loop monorail that connected Darling Harbour, Chinatown and Sydney’s central business and shopping districts
It opened in July 1988 and closed in 2013
There were eight stations on the 3.6-kilometer loop, where up to six trains ran simultaneously
Source: Sydney Underground