A forklift driver was trapped for almost three hours after driving his forklift into an empty service elevator well at Sydney's Central Railway Station on Monday.

The man, 22, still inside his forklift, plunged five metres between two train platforms, breaking his leg, according to the Australian Associated Press.

An ambulance spokeswoman said the man opened the elevator's doors and drove into the shaft, not realising the elevator was five metres below.

The forklift hit the roof of the elevator, piercing it with one of its tynes. Police, fire and ambulance personnel worked for almost three hours to release the man, who was taken to hospital.