The following desirable design principles apply equally to metro stations and CityRail stations:
Station identification must be visible from within the train.
The name of the station must be immediately visible to every passenger on every train as it arrives at the platform (not like the new Macquarie line, where the stations are all quite similar and names are not obvious).
Some quality public art would generate a sense of public ownership and pride in the station - so it doesn't look like a prison (again, not like the Macquarie line).
Walking distances should be as short as possible - there is no point in having fast trains if it takes ages to get to and from the platforms. Passengers should not be sent on a long detour so they pass more shops.
Information and signage should be absolutely first-class (again, not like the Macquarie line).
Concourses and pedestrian tunnels around the station should have some extended-hours retail in them; this makes the station come to life (not like 2007's station "upgrade" at North Sydney which permanently closed seven shops).
