For the first time in 80 years, and after five years of construction and testing, trams will carry passengers through the heart of Parramatta.
Doors will open on the new L4 Westmead & Carlingford Line on Friday the 20th of December, with first passenger services departing Carlingford and Westmead light rail stops at 5.00am and Parramatta Square at 5:02am.
Testing and commissioning of the $2.875 billion Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1 project is now complete, with the Office of the National Safety Regulator signing off on its opening to passengers.
More than 800 tests were completed during the final stage of testing, ensuring safety and reliability are at the forefront, ahead of passenger services starting.
This included interactive scenarios carried out on the alignment to replicate potential ‘real-life’ incidents and recovery plans such as working with emergency services on how we would respond to a car collision with a light rail vehicle.
Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said she can’t wait to welcome passengers onboard the Parramatta Light Rail in just a few days time.
“It’s been more than 140 years since the first steam powered tram chugged through Parramatta in 1883,” she said.
“It will be a historic moment for the people of Western Sydney when they jump onboard the sleek, modern red and white light rail vehicles.
“I want to thank everyone for their patience while a significant amount of testing has been completed to get light rail ready for passengers.”
All 55 drivers have been onboarded, trained and are ready to carry passengers on the new line. The drivers have completed an extensive training program, with more than 6,000 hours of on-track training carried out, to gain valuable local awareness and familiarity of the alignment and areas the light rail will travel through.
A public safety campaign is continuing to remind the community to stop, listen and look around when driving, walking, or riding near the tracks as the 63-tonne trams continue to run each day ahead of the official opening.
This includes not driving on or queuing across the tracks, bike riders crossing the light rail tracks in a straight line, and pedestrians only crossing at dedicated crossings.
Member for Parramatta Donna Davis MP said the Parramatta Light Rail network shows the city is growing and connected.
“It will make it easier for thousands of residents and visitors to move around, and connect to current heavy rail, buses, and ferry services,” she said.
“I want to remind Parramatta to continue being safe around our new light rail. 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.
“This moment has been years in the making, and I can’t wait to see everyone join us at the launch of the Parramatta Light Rail and celebrate this milestone for Western Sydney.”
When operational, services on the L4 line will be every nine minutes in the peak between 7am to 7pm, and 12-16 minutes in the off-peak on Monday to Friday; and 12 minutes in the peak between 7am to 7pm and 16 minutes in the off-peak on weekends.
Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1 will connect Westmead to Carlingford via the Parramatta CBD and Camellia, with a two-way track spanning 12 kilometres and 16 light rail stops.
It will connect passengers to the Westmead Health Precinct, CommBank Stadium, cafes and restaurants on and around Church Street, Parramatta Square and PHIVE, Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, and three Western Sydney University campuses at Westmead, Parramatta, and Rydalmere.
By 2026, around 22,000 people are expected to use the Parramatta Light Rail every day, with an estimated 130,000 people living within walking distance of the 16 stops.
In the 2024-25 Budget, the New South Wales Government committed $2.1 billion to Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 to extend Stage 1 and further connect growing communities in Western Sydney between Ermington, Melrose Park, Parramatta, and Olympic Park.
Early works commenced this month on the Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 Enabling Works project to deliver the first 1.3km light rail alignment. This will include a 320m public and active transport bridge between Wentworth Point and Melrose Park. Major bridge construction is expected to commence in 2025.
