The launch of Sydney’s Parramatta Light Rail has been set back to the end of this year with an array of technical issues with the project reportedly needing to be resolved.
This comes just weeks after the NSW government delayed the opening of the long-awaited Chatswood-Sydenham section of the Metro line by a fortnight.
Parramatta Light Rail entered its final testing phase at the start of July, with interactive drills taking place before it can receive approval from the national rail safety regulator.
The Parramatta Light Rail has been delayed just weeks after the NSW government announced the setback of the Metro line. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw
However, issues regarding the project’s software, Opal card payments and power supply came to light, ultimately setting the rail’s opening date back, the Daily Telegraph reported.
While a launch date was not publicly set for the project, internal documents seen by the publication have August 18 as a suggested kick off.
However, this date will be pushed back as the state government works its way through the testing process.
NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen confirmed the delay in a statement to SkyNews.com.au.
NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen said the government is “ironing out the kinks in the system” for the new light rail. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw
“We are working through the testing process of the first stage of Parramatta Light Rail. We are ironing out the kinks in the system and we want to get this service right before we open it,” she said.
“The testing process has identified some issues for the contractor and Transport for NSW to fix which is the whole point of the process.
“One of the lessons we have learnt from the launch of the CBD and Eastern Suburbs Light Rail is that we do not want to be using passengers as guinea pigs. When we open we want to deliver a service which runs to timetable and is reliable.
“We have made substantial progress doing testing and commissioning of this light rail line but there is a bit more work to do.”
The Parramatta Light Rail was originally planned to launch late 2023, but the start date was pushed back to May 2024 by former transport minister David Elliot when the Coalition was in state government.
This was revised to mid-year 2024 after the Minns government came to power.
The first stage of the Parramatta Light Rail will span 12 kilometres and feature 16 stops between Westmead to Carlingford.
It will cost about $2.875 billion – up from the original $2.4 billion estimate – while the second stage, which will connect the Parramatta CBD to Sydney Olympic Park, forecasted to have a price tag of about $3.9 billion with the state government giving $2.9 billion to the project.
The light rail’s setback comes after the NSW government delayed the opening of the Sydney Metro line when union strike action and additional safety checks pushed the date back about two weeks.
A key factor behind the delay was revealed to be a pay dispute between the NSW government and the Fire Brigade Employees Union.
