Hornsby to Sydney
January 16, 2010 by Arthur Claytor
Filed under Featured journeys
At the intersection of three different train lines on Sydney’s CityRail network, Hornsby is the busiest commuter station on the north shore of the Australian city of Sydney.
After grabbing a coffee from the kiosk, I wait on platform two for the 07:53am North Shore line train. When I board the train, I try to find a seat on the top deck by the window, so as to enjoy the most panoramic views on my way to work.
The train glides along, stopping frequently at each of the suburbs on Sydney’s North Shore. Each time that the doors open, more commuters get on and the train becomes more crowded.
As we approach the lower North Shore area, commuters begin to alight from the train, especially at St Leonards, which is home to the large Royal North Shore Hospital and many major companies.
Commuting by train in Sydney is very convenient, whether you live on the North Shore, in the western suburbs or further away. The CityRail network connects most of the city with reliable and frequent services.
The most convenient tickets for commuters are the RailPass and the FlexiPass. The RailPass is valid between any two stations for either seven days or fourteen days, but, if you can afford to pay upfront for a longer period, the FlexiPass is a more cost-effective option.
After many more commuters have left the train at North Sydney, we reach Milsons Point. The train is about to rattle over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and I always appreciate the wonderful views of the coastline, the water below, and the Central Business District of Sydney on the opposite side of the bridge.
As the train rumbles over the bridge, landmarks on the opposite side of the harbour appear. The tall, thin Sydney Tower stretches over 300 metres into the sky and Sydney Opera House gleams in the sunshine on its prominent position at the edge of the harbour.
At the end of the bridge, as a vivid contrast to the light and beauty of the view, the train plunges into the darkness of a tunnel. My journey is almost at an end. At 08:35am, I join the stream of commuters departing the train at Town Hall station in the centre of Sydney.
As I leave Town Hall station, I turn left into the Queen Victoria Building, a quaint, Victorian shopping arcade, which is a delight to walk through on my way to work. As I emerge into the light of day on busy Market Street, my working day is about to begin.
