It’s a Christmas miracle – after five years of construction and testing, the $2.875 billion Parramatta Light Rail will officially open tomorrow.
For the first time in 80 years, trams will carry passengers through the heart of Parramatta on Friday, December 20.
The first passenger services depart Carlingford and Westmead light rail stops at 5am, followed by Parramatta Square at 5:02am.
It comes after the Office of the National Safety Regulator signed off on its opening to passengers on Tuesday, December 17.
Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said they can’t wait to welcome passengers onboard.
“It’s been more than 140 years since the first steam powered tram chugged through Parramatta in 1883,”
“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.”
When operational, services on the L4 Westmead and Carlingford 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 One connects 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.
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 added.
“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.”
The announcement of the opening date comes after a live wire came down at Carlingford Station last month and became tangled around a carriage, with 7NEWS reporting that tram drivers said the project opening before Christmas “can’t happen, it’s simply not safe.”
However, the NSW Government said 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 tomorrow.
Residents are reminded to stop, listen and look around for incoming trams when driving, walking, or riding near the tracks in Parramatta.
Ellie Busby is a news reporter for Western Sydney Publishing Group. A graduate of the University of Hertfordshire and Western Sydney University, she is a journalism Major. Ellie has worked with Universal Media, The Cova Project and for a range of other organisations. In 2024, Ellie was named Young Writer of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.