After five years of construction, testing and delays, Parramatta’s light rail is ready for operation.
The NSW government said the light rail would be open from 5am on Friday, December 20.
Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said it would be a “historic moment” for the people of Western Sydney.
“I want to thank everyone for their patience while a significant amount of testing has been completed to get light rail ready for passengers,” she said.
“We can’t wait to welcome passengers onboard.”
Doors will open on the new L4 Westmead and Carlingford Line, taking passengers through the heart of Parramatta’s CBD, with the first passenger services departing Carlingford and Westmead light rail stops at 5am and Parramatta Square at 5:02am.
The announcement came after the Office of the National Safety Regulator signed off on its opening to passengers.
“Parramatta Light Rail has received accreditation from the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator to carry passengers,” a Transport for NSW spokesperson said.
A ‘frustrating’ project
Completion of stage one of the project, which cost more than $2.875 billion, has been a long time coming.
Earlier in December the NSW government said the opening of the light rail would be pushed back to next year, after an electrical wire fell onto a tram and revealed equipment defects across the network.
An audit then found about half of the fastening joints used along the network were faulty.
Other issues found during the testing process included braking problems and a risk of collision on a shared section of track.
More than 800 tests were completed during the final stage of testing.
Ms Haylen had described the delays as “frustrating”.
“We’ve had some real challenges on that project,” she previously told ABC Radio Sydney.
‘Years in the making’
Member for Parramatta Donna Davis told ABC the opening of the light rail service showed Parramatta was “growing and connected”.
“Parramatta light rail will make it easier for thousands of residents and visitors to move around … This moment has been years in the making,” she said.
Ms Davis said locals “just want to see it open”.
The NSW government said all 55 drivers have been onboarded, trained and were ready to carry passengers on the new line.
A public safety campaign was underway to ensure the community acted safely around the 63-tonne trams, Ms Davis said.
“I want to remind Parramatta to continue being safe around our new light rail,” she said.
“Trams are quiet and do not stop easily. They can’t swerve out of the way, so please be on the lookout for light rail when in the area.”
Stage one of the light rail connects Sydney’s north-west to its west via Parramatta’s CBD. It features 16 stops, including the hospital precinct, stadium, museum and university.
The state government estimates about 28,000 people will use the light rail system every day by 2026.
The government has committed $2 billion to start building the second stage of the light rail, which will add another 10 kilometres of track to extend it to Sydney Olympic Park.
Construction on a bridge over Parramatta River will begin in 2025, but no completion date for stage two has been set.
ABC News
