<span class="" id="parent-fieldname-description"> New South Walesâ newest train station has opened in the Illawarra, with the first train leaving for Sydney from Shellharbour Junction at 2.51am last Saturday morning. </span> <p>The new station and interchange includes lifts, CCTV cameras and security lighting, a kiss and ride zone, taxi and bus bays, bike racks and 105 parking spaces for the community, including four accessible spaces.<br /><br />State minister for transport Gladys Berejiklian joined minister for the Illawarra John Ajaka and member for Kiama Gareth Ward to inspect Shellharbour Junction Station last Friday, before it opened on Saturday.<br /><br />“As minister for transport, it doesn’t get much better than this,” Berejiklian said.<br /><br />“It has been exciting to watch this station take shape and now we’re at the stage where our customers will be tapping on with their Opal card this weekend and jumping on the train to connect with Sydney and the surrounding region.”<br /><br />Ajaka said the new station will serve the growing communities of Shellharbour, Shell Cove, Flinders and surrounding suburbs.<br /><br />“More and more people are moving to the Illawarra and new homes are going up right across the region. This government is working with the community to shape the future of the Illawarra and deliver the crucial services and infrastructure it deserves,” he said.<br /><br />“Shellharbour Junction not only offers a new state-of-the-art train station for the community, it will serve as a modern and accessible interchange, complete with a pedestrian and cycle pathway connecting to Haddin Road, Flinders.<br /><br />“I am also pleased a new bus service will begin next week to connect locals with their new station. Route 52 will carry customers to and from Flinders via Shellharbour Village, made possible thanks to this Government’s investment in new growth buses.”<br /><br />Ward, the local member, said the opening was good for the Illawarra. <br /><br />“I use our rail system frequently and having fought for this project in Parliament, I’m delighted that we’re finally opening this new station today,” he said.<br /><br />“It’s also worth celebrating that from Monday, South Coast Line customers who catch the popular 4.24pm from Central will have twice the seats after the Minister listened to my concerns and those of the community and doubled the number of train carriages.<br /><br />“This means now all trains departing Central for the South Coast on weekday afternoons between 4pm and 6.30pm are eight-carriage trains.”</p>
