THE much politicised Shellharbour Junction Station was launched today with the first train due in the early hours of Saturday morning.
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The first train to stop at the newly completed station will arrive at 2:51am tomorrow morning (Saturday, November 22).
Piper Drive is the new home for the station which features two eight-carriage platforms, two lifts, a footbridge, 105 car spaces, bus access (route 52) and state-of-the-art technology including CCTV cameras, new Opal card tap docks and devices for the visually and hearing impaired.
From midnight tonight the old Dunmore Station will officially be secured and trains will no longer stop at the station.
Construction on the $39 million station started in August 2013 and it was officially named Shellharbour Junction in October this year.
Member for Kiama Gareth Ward had been pushing for the station since its inception and said he was “delighted” to see it complete.
“It’s great to be able to provide better access, not just for the community now but also for future growth,” he said.
Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian said it was the first new station built from scratch that she had opened since becoming minister.
“If the community entrust us in the March elections, this will be just the tip of the iceberg,” she said.
Earlier today, Shellharbour Mayor Marianne Saliba told ABC radio it was “poor form” that she and the Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson, were not invited to the opening party.
Cr Saliba said council had been working closely with NSW transport during the construction period of the station.
Mr Ward said Cr Saliba had “frustrated” the process over time and actively slowed down decisions on giving the station its formal name.
The Government also re-announced the addition of two carriages on the 4.24pm train from Central to Kiama.
Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson said she was "unconcerned over the apparent snub of Labor representatives" but said she was disappointed mayor Saliba was not invited on behalf of the Shellharbour City Council.