The preferred route for the first stage of the new 12km light rail line across Greater Parramatta has been unveiled.
The first stage of the 12km Parramatta Light Rail – to join Westmead to Parramatta and Carlingford via Camellia – will enable commuters to travel easily to their homes, jobs, hospitals, universities, entertainment hubs, sport stadiums and leisure areas.
The rail line’s potential stops will be at:
- Westmead
- Westmead Hospital
- Children’s Hospital
- Cumberland Hospital
- Factory Street
- Fennell Street
- Prince Alfred Square
- Eat Street
- Parramatta Square
- Harris Street
- Tramway Avenue
- Camellia
- Rydalmere
- Dundas
- Telopea
- Carlingford
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said, “This is a project that will not just connect major parts of Greater Parramatta but also revitalise communities and help create new ones.
“We’ve done the important planning work and are pleased we can unveil the preferred route and proposed stops, which we will now refine in consultation with the community.”
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Andrew Constance, said the proposed 16 accessible stops would operate services from early morning to late at night, every seven and a half minutes throughout the day.
“Customers won’t have to wait long for a service, they’ll tap on with Opal and board with ease and comfort,” Mr Constance said.
“There’ll also be extra services for special events and we are planning for the system as a whole to be capable of carrying 10,000 people an hour.”
Stage one of the new network connects the major health precinct at Westmead to three campuses of Western Sydney University, Parramatta North, new revitalised places in the Parramatta CBD, upgraded schools, Rosehill Racecourse as well as the new Western Sydney Stadium.
Planning work for stage two of the project – from Camellia to Strathfield via Sydney Olympic Park – is being developed in collaboration with Sydney Metro West. Stage two planning work is expected to be finalised by the end of 2017.
Parramatta MP, Geoff Lee, said the new light rail line would bring in a new wave of investors to strengthen and revitalise city centres.
“I have worked tirelessly to get the best for the people of Parramatta and I am delighted that the community is now another step closer to having its very own light rail service,” Mr Lee said.
The NSW Government has allocated $1 billion to the project from the Restart NSW and Rebuilding NSW funds.
“The Government has always said this was an initial down payment for the line, with further funds to be secured from sources including value sharing,” Mr Constance said.
Work is continuing to progress the final business case, which will be further advanced once the stop locations are confirmed following this next phase of community consultation.
“Residents, workers, businesses and the broader community are encouraged to continue playing a part in shaping how both the light rail and their neighbourhoods will look, not just today or in five years’ time, but for future generations,” Mr Constance said.
This round of community consultation will contribute towards finalising the Environment Impact Statement (EIS) before it is placed on public exhibition in mid-2017.
