Free, convenient phone power chargers will soon be available at several Sydney train stations.
Designed and built in Sydney for Transport for NSW, the charging stands offer a mix of wireless, USB-A and UBC -C options, and can provide power to seven devices at once.
The $1 million Power Spots Project will see the stands rolled out at 15 key transport hubs. The first has been unveiled and switched on at Liverpool Station, followed by Campbelltown later this week.
Power spots will be installed at Bankstown, Hurstville, Lidcombe, Penrith and Wynyard, while larger stations including Central, Town Hall and Bondi Junction will get two per site. All power spots will be up and running at the 15 hubs by late 2024.
Where possible, power spots will be installed outside ticketed areas to ensure they are accessible to anyone in the community 24/7.
Liverpool Station’s power spot is outside the pay gates on the concourse, opposite the entrance ramp to Bus Stands A to C. It is free to access and use for anyone who needs it, including people travelling to and from the nearby hospital, schools and TAFE.
Station staff have worked closely with the project team to choose sites across the network that have high foot traffic, are easy to find, well-lit and monitored by CCTV.
Electricity use at each power spot will be monitored and the data analysed to help understand the popularity of different wireless and USB charging solutions, and the average time people spend using them.
The Power Spots Program is funded through the Transport Access Program (TAP). Since the TAP started, the NSW Government has committed more than $2.2 billion to upgrades, with more than 520 projects either completed or currently underway across NSW.
Transport Minister Jo Haylen said the spots provided peace of mind and a sense of security when people need it most.
“Sydney is a world-class city and it should have world-class public transport infrastructure, so I’m delighted to make people’s lives a little easier with this common-sense addition,” she said.
“In the modern world, our phones are our lifelines. They act not only to keep us connected, but as our wallets, maps, travel passes, and staying informed and entertained, so this is a no-brainer.
“Initially there will be 18 phone chargers at 15 locations across the Sydney network, which offer fast, free, convenient charging that supports all types of phones, with the aim of increasing that number at more locations.”
Member for Liverpool Charishma Kaliyanda said a powered-up mobile offered a real sense of safety and security for students, parents, and people riding on trains at night.
“This is going to be especially convenient for all the students who travel to our local schools, our university campuses, our TAFE campus, and to the many people who use the train to get to Liverpool Hospital,” he said.
Transport for NSW Executive Director Rachel Simpson said pulling up a map or public transport timetable in the palm of the hand can be the difference between confidently getting to destinations on time or not.
“If your device can charge wirelessly, you can simply roll up and power up, and there are USB-A as well as USB-C ports on offer for those who need a charging cable,” she said.