The opening of the delayed first stage of the Parramatta Light Rail on Friday was a subdued affair, with locals heralding the service as a new era for the western Sydney CBD. The $2.875 billion new line, which runs 12 kilometres between Westmead and Carlingford via Parramatta Square, was cleared to operate by the rail safety regulator on Tuesday .
Transport Minister Jo Haylen – who has spent the week attempting to avoid a complete shutdown of Sydney’s train network on New Year’s Eve in a stand-off with rail unions – boarded the first service from Carlingford just before 5am, joined by dozens of locals and train gunzels. The first service filled out with a rush of passengers, but during the morning peak there was no fight for seats: half of passengers were Transport for NSW staff riding the service for the first time or customer service officials welcoming passengers onboard. Repeated delays, construction issues and cost blowouts have dogged the Parramatta light rail project since it was first announced in 2015.
The light rail winds through the Parramatta CBD. Credit: Janie Barrett The former Coalition government had promised the first section of the line would open last year, and the targeted opening date was pushed back again this year. But the delays were back of mind for commuters experiencing the journey for the first time on Friday.
Three-year-old Beau couldn’t stop grinning as he rode through Parramatta CBD with his family. Beau, 3, Eliott, 6, and their parent.
