Sydney monorail abandoned for years – this is what it looks like from the inside

Disturbing photos of Sydney’s abandoned monorail stations have surfaced on social media, inspiring nostalgic Australians to remember the popular old-fashioned travel system.

The single-ring monorail connecting central business districts such as Darling Harbor, Pyrmont and Chinatown was opened in 1988 but was discontinued in 2013.

Once brimming with locals and travelers, the stations are now frozen in time and intact for almost a decade.

The stations are visible from the ground and look like bizarre extensions of buildings.

The stations were once occupied by locals and travelers, but are now intact and stuck in time since 2013, when the monorail closed.

The single-ring monorail opened in 1988 and connects central business districts such as Darling Harbor, Pyrmont, and Chinatown.

On the walls you can see advertisements promoting city tours and a very old version of an Opal-style map.

Sydney resident Simon uploaded pictures to a group called “Old Shops Australia” on Facebook and said, “The station is fully booked but there are holes for some photos from the past (rotation style and ads on the walls)”.

“The next station along the way is still there. Also on board. Access blocking panels are often used for beautiful hand-drawn advertisements for movie screenings.

In the comments, many called for the government to make transportation convenient and suggested that abandoned stations be turned into accessible cafes.

“I wish they had kept the job. They could put a platform on the existing track and use it as a pedestrian circuit, they could use the stations as a cafe, it would be great,” he wrote.

“The monorail was removed, but it could actually be updated and maintained to be 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 3.6km circuit had eight stations and six trains running simultaneously (Photo: Sydney Monorail Map)

Others say they like to see “historic” monorail stations from afar because it reminds them of a particular moment.

One wrote, “I love these old monorail stations that still exist… they will eventually be demolished, but these days we live in 2022, I like to see them as an anachronism.”

Another said, “I was there before the setup discussion and even used it occasionally – then fine for out-of-town tourists like me with small kids and that’s it.”

‘I really liked the monorail, I should have extended it’ [Circular] Quay didn’t delete it!’

Sydney still has other forms of public transport including trains, buses, light rail and ferries.