After 80 years, and following five years of construction and testing, trams will finally carry passengers through the heart of Parramatta. The new L4 Westmead & Carlingford Line will begin operations on Friday, December 20, with the first services departing from Carlingford and Westmead light rail stops at 5:00 a.m., and from Parramatta Square at 5:02 a.m.
The $2.875 billion Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1 project has completed its testing and commissioning phase, with the Office of the National Safety Regulator giving the green light for passenger services to begin. Over 800 tests were conducted during the final stage, prioritizing safety and reliability ahead of the official launch.
This testing phase included simulations of real-life incidents and recovery plans, such as collaborating with emergency services for responses to potential collisions between light rail vehicles and cars.
All 55 drivers have been fully trained and are ready to transport passengers. They completed more than 6,000 hours of on-track training to ensure they are familiar with the local area and the light rail’s route.
A public safety campaign is in place to remind the community to “stop, listen, and look” when driving, walking, or cycling near the tracks. This includes not driving or queuing across the tracks, riding bikes in a straight line when crossing, and only crossing at designated pedestrian crossings.
Once operational, the L4 line will run services every 9 minutes during peak hours (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and every 12-16 minutes during off-peak hours from Monday to Friday. On weekends, services will run every 12 minutes during peak hours and every 16 minutes off-peak.
The Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1 will connect Westmead to Carlingford via the Parramatta CBD and Camellia, spanning 12 kilometers with 16 light rail stops. It will link passengers to key locations, including the Westmead Health Precinct, CommBank Stadium, Church Street’s cafes and restaurants, Parramatta Square and PHIVE, Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, and Western Sydney University campuses at Westmead, Parramatta, and Rydalmere.
By 2026, it is expected that around 22,000 people will use the Parramatta Light Rail daily, with approximately 130,000 people living within walking distance of the 16 stops.
In the 2024-25 Budget, the Minns Labor Government committed $2.1 billion to Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2, which will extend Stage 1 and further connect growing Western Sydney communities, including Ermington, Melrose Park, Parramatta, and Olympic Park. Early works on Stage 2 began this month, with construction of a 320-meter public transport bridge between Wentworth Point and Melrose Park. Major bridge construction is set to begin in 2025.
For more information, visit www.nsw.gov.au/parramatta-light-rail.
Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:
“We’re thrilled to welcome passengers onboard the Parramatta Light Rail in just a few days. It’s been more than 140 years since the first steam-powered tram ran through Parramatta in 1883, and now we’re introducing modern, sleek red and white light rail vehicles to the people of Western Sydney. I want to thank everyone for their patience as we’ve completed the extensive testing needed to get the light rail ready.”
Member for Parramatta Donna Davis MP said:
“The Parramatta Light Rail network is a sign of our city’s growth and connectivity. It will make it easier for thousands of residents and visitors to travel, linking with existing heavy rail, buses, and ferry services. Please remember to be safe around the new light rail—trams are quiet, and they don’t stop easily, so always be on the lookout. This moment has been years in the making, and I can’t wait to see everyone join us in celebrating the launch of the Parramatta Light Rail and this major milestone for Western Sydney.”
Article originally published by https://www.miragenews.com/parramatta-light-rail-opening-date-announced-1381155/