Major construction is underway on Stage 1 of the Parramatta Light Rail, with 100% of track installed along the 12km alignment and work underway on the light rail stops.
The project will provide the people of Parramatta and the surrounding areas with a first-class transport system as well as support more than 5000 local jobs.
Delivering a significant infrastructure project has its challenges, and we have seen, unprecedented and significant events experienced across all projects around the country, including the Parramatta Light Rail, over the last few years.
These challenges include the:
- delayed handover of the light rail depot site at Camellia to the contractor (by 20 months) to start construction due to the extensive remediation required on the contaminated site
- severe flooding across the region
- impacts of COVID-19, including the extended 4-week construction pause, lockdown, and Local Government Area (LGA) restrictions
- worker limits on site and supply chain impacts.
Despite these significant impacts, Transport for NSW and the light rail contractor have worked to minimise delays and agreed to a revised opening date of May 2024.
However, the Minister for Transport and Transport for NSW are continuing to work towards securing passenger services to begin in late 2023.
Stage 1 of the Parramatta Light Rail will connect Westmead to Carlingford via the Parramatta CBD and will interchange with trains, buses, ferries, Sydney Metro West, and Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2.
The NSW Government recently committed $602.4 million to proceed with Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2, with the project's Environmental Impact Statement to be released for public comment by the end of the year.
Construction of the Stage 2 project will begin with enabling works to deliver the vital bridge connection across the Parramatta River between Wentworth Point to Melrose Park.