Parramatta Light Rail

[achiruel]

I'm currently sitting on a train to Carlingford, as I'm in Sydney and wanted to visit it, before it closed. I'm at Rydalmere, and based on what I can see from the train, I'm not sure why you'd want to build light rail in this corridor.  :conf

^^Cheaper running costs.

They're spending a lot of capital for cheaper running costs. Why not just run the 535 to/from Parramatta as a permanent measure?

[verbatim9]

I'm currently sitting on a train to Carlingford, as I'm in Sydney and wanted to visit it, before it closed. I'm at Rydalmere, and based on what I can see from the train, I'm not sure why you'd want to build light rail in this corridor.  :conf

^^Cheaper running costs.

They're spending a lot of capital for cheaper running costs. Why not just run the 535 to/from Parramatta as a permanent measure?

The Council is counting on Urban Renewal as a flow on effect as well. A bus route won't achieve this.

[#Metro]

A busway could achieve it, but I guess light rail conversion was easier.

[SurfRail]

Today is the last day for the Carlingford line before closure and conversion.  I understand an old red rattler is out and about on the branch today.

[achiruel]

So apparently the nearest LR stop to Parramatta HR station is a block walk away. Not very well thought out IMO.

[ozbob]

Today is the last day for the Carlingford line before closure and conversion.  I understand an old red rattler is out and about on the branch today.

https://twitter.com/railmaps/status/1213339308695920641?

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railjournal/status/1224725031772663810

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald -->'Why rip everything up': Parramatta light rail stage two in serious doubt

NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance has given his strongest indication that the second stage of the Parramatta light rail will not go ahead.

Mr Constance on Thursday said the government was increasingly likely to instead use "trackless trams" or buses to service the stage two route between Camellia and Sydney Olympic Park.

"Ultimately into the future if we had the option with either bus rapid transit or trackless tram technology, I think that's what we're going to do," he said.

"If I can provide trackless trams, why the hell would we go and rip everything up if we can avoid it."

Mr Constance said he would be "a mug" for not investigating less invasive and potentially more economical ways to service the region without laying tracks, and pointed out that trackless tram technology was not available when the government committed to stage one.

"For us, it makes sense to do that, and I'd be crazy not to ... I'd be a mug to not go and check this out."

The nine-kilometre second stage has long been in doubt, complicated by the government's multibillion-dollar metro rail line between Parramatta and the central city.

Parramatta lord mayor Bob Dwyer implored the government to push ahead with the second stage of the light rail, pointing out that close to 30,000 more homes were forecast to be built along the route by 2036.

"The City of Parramatta has contributed significantly to the NSW government's goal to increase housing supply by providing the largest number of housing approvals in the state," Cr Dwyer said.

"But we need the Premier's continued commitment to provide the infrastructure to support this growth."

Opposition transport spokesman Chris Minns said the government needed to provide clarity to the community and commit to a specific transport option.

"It's simply a roundabout way of saying to western Sydney that they are going to cancel a public transport project," Mr Minns said.

"Constance should be honest with western Sydney. If the project is off, let them know."

Western Sydney Business Chamber executive director David Borger said trackless trams or buses would not attract the same level of investment as light rail.

He warned the second stage would be a defining issue at the next state election.

"The NSW government has developed a strong narrative that it delivers what it promises when it comes to public transport," Mr Borger said.

"It would be a shame to throw that away now by breaking this promise to western Sydney."

Mr Constance inspected the first 50 metres of track laid for the light rail on Thursday.

Stage one will offer a service between Westmead and Carlingford every seven minutes when it opens in 2023.

Mr Constance said that, unlike those impacted by the CBD light rail, no businesses along the route of the Parramatta project had received any government compensation because it was running on time.

Parramatta Light Rail
Routes for stages 1 and 2



STAGE 1

• 12 kilometres in length
• 16 stops
• About 40 homes and businesses to be acquired for line

STAGE 2

• 9 kilometres in length
• 10– 12 stops
• About 12 homes to be acquired for line

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/abcnews/status/1328068578768158720

[ozbob]

Sydney Morning Herald --> 'Sent to purgatory': Parramatta light rail extension starved of funding $

"The Berejiklian government has not allocated any funding in the state budget for the second stage of the Parramatta light rail project, all but confirming that it will not be built. ... "

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1404458574957334534

[ozbob]

^

Sydney Morning Herald --> Missing link in Sydney's light rail back on track $

The second stage of the Parramatta light rail has been revived after months of speculation over its future, with the NSW government set to allocate $50 million to the project in next week's state budget.

The government commitment to the second stage, which will link Camellia and Sydney Olympic Park via Wentworth Point, comes seven months after NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance indicated he was considering a trackless tram option for the route.

Stage one of the Parramatta light rail is set to open in 2023 at a cost of $2.4billion. NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the new money would be spent on stage two planning, geotechnical work and an environmental impact statement.

Transport Minister Andrew Constance said the tender process for the next stage would begin ahead of the opening of stage one, and estimated the price would reach into the billions. ...

[verbatim9]

Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 --->https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOYgf25zt7w

[achiruel]

Re: changing stage 2 to trackless trams, is it just me or is this an incredibly daft idea for extending an existing system. It'd be kind of like if we decided to build Stage 3 of GCLR as trackless trams instead, you end up having to deal with 2 lots of fleet, 2 different crews etc. A different story if it was segregated from existing systems.

[ozbob]

^ the ' trackless trams [guided buses] '  has been dropped.  Stage 2 is now light rail as for stage 1.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/trashyhonky/status/1467775741718794243

[ozbob]

@ozbob13 the Westmead section hasn't obviously had the same priority as Church St/'Eat St'

A couple of pics looking towards the terminus at the railway station, past the hospitals and the back streets of Westmead/Parramatta Park

And of course the obligatory cyclist warning 😂 pic.twitter.com/RHrLmEiPYb

— Lord of the Dance 🍺💩🚳🕺🚶🌨️🎭🏆💦 (@trashyhonky) December 21, 2021

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/RailExpressNews/status/1490502334861905921

[Gazza]

Thats what should have been done on G Link.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/AustRail/status/1532238168048955392

[ozbob]

In-ground charging station

CHARGE IT UP | ⚡ The 300kW in-ground charging station, recently installed at the Westmead terminus, will allow light...

Posted by Parramatta Light Rail on Wednesday, 10 May 2023

[ozbob]

OUR FLEET IS GROWING | The Stabling and Maintenance Facility at Camellia is now home to more than half of the Parramatta...

Posted by Parramatta Light Rail on Monday, 4 September 2023

[ozbob]

https://x.com/ozbob13/status/1702345435246157905?

[ozbob]

WHERE IS WIRE-FREE? | A few eagle-eyed members of the community have noticed there are some sections of the future...

Posted by Parramatta Light Rail on Tuesday, 12 September 2023

[ozbob]

https://x.com/TransportforNSW/status/1703619789292515358