Parramatta Light Rail

The Parramatta Light Rail (often unofficially referred to as the

Parramatta Light Rail
Western Sydney Light Rail) is a proposal for a twelve kilometre light
rail line in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, running from Westmead
to Carlingford via the Western Sydney centre of Parramatta. The initial
announcement of the project also included an eastern branch from
Camellia to Strathfield. Plans to construct this branch were deferred in
February 2017, and in October the original plans were replaced with a
The routes serve Parramatta, the largest
redesigned and truncated route to Sydney Olympic Park. The project will
centre in Western Sydney
add to light rail in Sydney but the new line will be completely separated
from the existing and under construction lines. The project is being Overview
managed by Transport for NSW. Status Proposed
Termini Westmead railway station
Carlingford (stage 1)
Sydney Olympic Park (stage 2)
Contents Stations 16 (stage 1)
History Services 2
Background and initial announcement
Website www.parramattalightrail.nsw.gov.au
Deferral and redesign of the eastern branch
Design
Operation
Stage 1 (main route through Parramatta and branch to Planned 2023 (stage 1)
Carlingford)
opening
Stage 2 (branch to Sydney Olympic Park)
Railway line closures Owner Transport for NSW
Potential extensions Technical
Parramatta - Duck River tramway Line 12 kilometres (stage 1)
See also length 9 kilometres (stage 2)
References Track 1,435 mm (4 ft 81⁄2 in)
External links gauge

History

Background and initial announcement

In 2013, Parramatta City Council published a $1 million feasibility study into a proposed Western Sydney Light Rail Network,
designed to improve transport links throughout Western Sydney and meet the challenges posed by the projected rise in population in
the region in the coming decades. The study found that a light rail system was a viable solution to address the growing transport
needs of Parramatta and Western Sydney. The report estimated $20 million in funding was required to undertake a detailed
investigation and to prepare a business case.[1] It proposed that construction of the network would take place in several stages, the
first of which comprised a route from Macquarie Centre to Castle Hill via Eastwood, Dundas, Parramatta and Baulkham Hills, with a
branch from Parramatta toWestmead. Further extensions were proposed from Parramatta toBankstown and Rhodes.[1]

As part of its 2014/15 budget, the state government announced Transport for NSW (TfNSW) would investigate ten potential light rail
routes in Western Sydney. The government allocated $400 million to ensure funds for detailed planning and construction of an initial
project would be 'ready to go', should the investigations prove favourable.[2] Six of the ten routes being investigated were eliminated
from contention in October 2014.[3] The routes investigated were:

Route Status Notes

Parramatta to Bankstown Not selected
Parramatta to Castle Hill via Old
Not selected
Northern Road
Parramatta to Castle Hill via Eliminated in October Based on the route proposed by Parramatta City
Windsor Road 2014 Council
Parramatta to Liverpool via the T- Eliminated in October
way 2014
Parramatta to Macquarie Park via Parramatta - Carlingford
Carlingford section selected
Parramatta to Macquarie Park via Eliminated in October Based on the route proposed by Parramatta City
Eastwood 2014 Council
Parramatta to Strathfield/Burwood Strathfield option Route extended from Sydney Olympic Park to
via Sydney Olympic Park selected Strathfield/Burwood in October 2014
Parramatta to Sydney CBD via Eliminated in October
Parramatta Road 2014
Eliminated in October
Parramatta to Rouse Hill
2014
Parramatta to Ryde via Victoria Eliminated in October
Road 2014

Of the final four routes, the Macquarie Park via Carlingford and Strathfield via Olympic Park options were perceived as the
frontrunners to be selected.[4] The Macquarie Park route was supported by Parramatta, Ryde and The Hills councils.[5][6][7] The
Strathfield route was supported by The WestLine Partnership, a lobby group consisting of businesses and organisations with a
presence in the area.[8] Auburn and Canada Bay councils were later joined byStrathfield Council as members of the group.[9][10]

The Strathfield route passes through industrial areas of Sydney and the potential for these areas to generate funding and patronage
was a key point of contention during the lobbying period. The WestLine Partnership suggested the Strathfield route could be partially
financed via value capture. Property developers building urban renewal projects along the line would provide a financial contribution
to the government.[11] The group also suggested building a branch from Newington to Rhodes and indicated its funding model could
allow a route to Carlingford to be built as well.[12] Supporters of the Macquarie Park route argued the needs of that corridor were
[13][14]
more pressing and the Strathfield route would be poorly utilised in its early years.

The Parramatta Light Rail scheme was officially unveiled on 8 December 2015, when the government announced it had selected the
Strathfield route plus a truncated version of the Macquarie Park route that ends at Carlingford.[15] The two routes were proposed to
converge at Camellia and proceed through Parramatta to Westmead.

The government's announcement included a $1 billion contribution towards the project. The government will also adopt the value
capture approach advocated by The WestLine Partnership, by instigating a "Special Infrastructure Contribution" on new residential
developments along the route. The revenue raised by the levy will be used to help fund the light rail and other infrastructure for the
area.[15] The government's investigations into the value capture process held up the announcement of the preferred route but would
reportedly have allowed the two lines to be built together.[11] The state government will also explore funding contributions from the
federal and local tiers of government.[15] The convenor of The WestLine Partnership stated that the light rail project's funding model
[10]
would be used as a test case for funding future infrastructure projects.

Construction of the lines was expected to commence in late 2018 but there was no announcement of an expected completion date or a
total budget for the project.[16][17] An early estimate from January 2016 put the total cost at $3.51 billion.
[18]

Deferral and redesign of the eastern branch

In August 2016 TfNSW noted the project could be delivered in stages.[19] A new metro line between the Sydney central business
district and Parramatta was announced in November 2016.[20] The metro would adopt a similar route to the Strathfield branch of the
light rail; media reports indicated the metro project would most likely cause the deferral of construction of this branch.[21] This was
confirmed in February 2017, when it was announced that the Westmead - Camellia section and the Carlingford branch would be built
as stage 1 of the light rail project.

Despite the deferral of construction, planning work for the Strathfield via Sydney Olympic Park branch continued.[22] Media reports
indicated the route could shift from running to the south of the Parramatta River to the north of the river and that the section from
[23][24]
Sydney Olympic Park to Strathfield could be dropped.

The preferred stage 2 route was announced on 18 October 2017. The changes reported on by the media were confirmed. The
redesigned route runs from either Rydalmere or Camellia to Sydney Olympic Park via Ermington, Melrose Park and Wentworth
Point. No details about the project's cost or construction dates were announced. A final business case for stage 2 is scheduled to be
completed in 2018.[25]

Design
The routes will begin at Westmead before proceeding east to Camellia or Rydalmere via North Parramatta and the Parramatta CBD.
At Camellia/Rydalmere the two routes split.

Stage 1 (main route through Parramatta and branch to Carlingford)

The stage 1 route was announced on 17 February 2017. The stage 1 route runs
Interactive map of stage 1
between Westmead and Carlingford via North Parrramatta, the Parramatta CBD,
Camellia, Rydalmere, Dundas and Telopea. It includes sixteen stops along a twelve
kilometre route. The stops are:[26][27]
 Platform
Name Suburb Notes
arrangement
Westmead 1 Island, 1 Includes 3 platforms. Terminus of Western Sydney Stadium special
Westmead
Station side event services.
Westmead
Westmead Side
Hospital
Children’s
Westmead Island
Hospital
Cumberland North
Side
Hospital Parramatta
Factory North
Side
Street Parramatta
Fennell
Parramatta Side
Street
Prince
Alfred Parramatta Side Serves Western Sydney Stadium.
Square
Eat Street Parramatta Side
Parramatta Serves Parramatta railway station. Terminus of Western Sydney
Parramatta Side
Square Stadium and Rosehill Racecourse special event services.
Harris
Parramatta Side
Street
Tramway
Parramatta Island
Avenue
Serves Rosehill Racecourse and is the terminus of special event
Camellia Camellia Side
services to the racecourse.
Rydalmere Rydalmere Side
Dundas Dundas Side
Telopea Telopea Side
Carlingford Carlingford Side

Land has been purchased for a maintenance and stabling facility, to be located east of Rosehill Racecourse. Trams will access the
facility via a short branch line that uses the alignment of theSandown railway line.[28][29]

An Environmental Impact Statement for stage 1 was released in August 2017.[30] Construction is expected to begin in 2018 with the
line is scheduled to open in 2023.[31] Services are expected to operate every 7.5 minutes throughout the day
.[22]

In November 2017, a CPB Contractors / Downer Group joint venture and John Holland were shortlisted to build Stage 1. At the same
[32][33]
time, three consortia were shortlisted to supply the rolling stock, maintain the infrastructure and operate the services:

Connecting Parramatta: John Holland,Alstom and Deutsche Bahn

Greater Parramatta: Downer Rail, Keolis Downer, Downer Group, Ansaldo and CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles
Great River City Light Rail:Transdev Australasia, CAF and Laing O’Rourke

Stage 2 (branch to Sydney Olympic Park)

The second branch of the light rail continues east to Sydney Olympic Park. Comparison of the original
and modified routes for
There are two options being considered for the connection to the stage 1 route. The stage 2. The Rydalmere
first option would utilise the Carlingford railway line (and stage 1) corridor over the option of the modified
Parramatta River to Rydalmere, where it would then branch. The second option route is shown.
would leave the main stage 1 route at Camellia and utilise the branch line built to provide access to the tram depot. It would continue
via the Sandown railway line corridor and Grand Avenue, then cross the Parramatta River just east of Rydalmere ferry wharf. Both
versions of the route then continue via Ermington and Melrose Park, cross back to the south of the Parramatta River, pass through
Wentworth Point and terminate at Sydney Olympic Park. The stage 2 route is around nine kilometres long and will include ten to
twelve stops.[25][34]

The original plans for this branch followed a route similar to that taken by Grand Avenue through Camellia before crossing the Duck
River, passing through Newington, crossingHaslams Creek, serving Sydney Olympic Park and terminating at the major transport hub
of Strathfield.[35]

Railway line closures

The northern branch to Carlingford will reuse Map of the Carlingford
most of the Carlingford railway line, which will line showing the section
be closed. The closure includes Rosehill to be converted to light
rail in grey and the section
railway station, located between Clyde and
to close in red.
Camellia, which will not be served by the light
rail project.[35][36]

The Carlingford and
Sandown railway lines
The Carlingford line is single track for most of its length, has shorter platforms than other lines
in Sydney and has long been seen as under-utilised. Patronage declined from 446,000 journeys
in 2001 to 260,000 journeys in 2014.[37] 2016-17 patronage figures, which are based on Opal
tap on and off data, recorded 511,000 journeys on the line during the year. This still places the
line last among all train lines in the Opal network.[38] Various modification schemes to
revitalise the line had been proposed. Action for Transport 2010, a New South Wales
Government plan released in 1998, included the Parramatta Rail Link; a heavy rail line from
Parramatta to Chatswood that would have utilised the Carlingford line between Camellia and
Carlingford. As part of theRail Clearways Programannounced in the 2000s, a passing loop was
to have been built at Rydalmere, enabling a more frequent service.[39] Neither scheme came to
fruition.

The Sandown railway line will also close.[36] This short, disused freight line branches from the Carlingford line at Camellia and runs
close to the southern bank of the Parramatta River. The line remains in place, having last been used by freight trains from the Clyde
Refinery in 2010.

Potential extensions
An extension from Carlingford toEpping is being investigated.[22]

Parramatta - Duck River tramway

A tramway that followed a similar route to parts of the Parramatta Light Rail opened in 1883, operating from the Parramatta Park end
of George Street to the Duck River, where it connected with Parramatta River ferry services to Sydney.[40] The connecting ferries
ceased in 1928 and the tramway closed in 1943.[41][42][43] The Parramatta Light Rail will run via Tramway Avenue, Parramatta -
named after the original line.

See also
Transport in Sydney in the 2010s
References
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External links
Parramatta Light Rail project website

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Parramatta_Light_Rail&oldid=820894037

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