New community push for Parramatta light rail stage two

Fears are growing the second stage of the Parramatta light rail will go on the back burner as western Sydney leaders seek a way to serve the booming population.

A new push to ensure the future of the Parramatta light rail’s stage two will include advocating to extend the proposed line from Carter Street to Lidcombe station to serve the soaring population.

Cumberland Council — which is preparing to make a submission for the light rail’s stage two environmental impact statement — has pitched two options: a line to run from Sydney Olympic Park to Lidcombe via John St or from Sydney Olympic Park to Lidcombe via Birnie Ave.

The line is proposed to run from Parramatta to Sydney Olympic Park.

The population boom forecast for the Carter Street precinct, which will house 6200 homes near Lidcombe, is driving the extension request.

“This link will ensure there is a strong southern anchor for light rail with mixed land uses and transport hubs, and will provide further travel options for residents, workers and visitors in the Lidcombe area,’’ Cumberland Council general manager Peter Fitzgerald said in a report.

EcoTransit Sydney’s public transport advocate Roydon Ng said the light rail ending at Carter Street would be a wasted opportunity for a corridor to link with Lidcombe and Strathfield.

How the Carter Street Precinct is expected to look.

“Carter Street and the surrounding precinct should be designed to enable a future extension of light rail services, whether it be to Lidcombe, Strathfield or both,’’ he said.

He said public transport advocacy group EcoTransit Sydney supported the light rail extension to Lidcombe but its priority was improving transit through the establishment of the Pippita CityExpress.

Mr Ng said the express line, using the T7 Olympic Park line and Pippita rail trail on the former abattoir line, could provide a 19-minute express train from Lidcombe to Central via Flemington Junction and Strathfield.

The council deferred discussing the submission until its December 21 meeting.

Wentworth Point to Melrose Park bridge over troubled waters

The state government is spruiking the 1.3km bridge from Wentworth Point to Melrose Park but frustrated critics fear it will just be used for buses instead of trams despite being built for stage two of the Parramatta light rail project, which is plagued with doubt.

In November, the government released the environmental impact statement for the second stage of the line that is proposed to run between Parramatta and Sydney Olympic Park and serve heavily-populated suburbs such as Wentworth Point and Melrose Park.

Transport Minister David Elliott encouraged the industries to register their interest as tenders to deliver the 320m bridge, which will be the first major crossing over the Parramatta River since 1987.

Parramatta light rail stage bridge will link Melrose Park and Wentworth Point.

“The works will include a 320m-long bridge and approaches on either side of the river — totalling 1.3km — which will provide a much-needed connection for these growing communities and unlock access to the Sydney Olympic Park peninsula and its world-class sporting, recreational and economic facilities,’’ he said.

While bridge construction is due to begin in 2024 and $600m has been allocated for the structure, concerns still loom large the second stage of the line will not be delivered following an absence of funding commitments.

Parramatta Council recently deferred making a rezoning decision on the Holdmark development at Melrose Park, largely because of the lack of public transport to serve an influx of residents.

Parramatta Lord Mayor Donna Davis said while millions were set aside for the bridge, “not a dollar” had been committed to funding the rail line. Despite the list of stops released recently, it was also revealed that if it proceeded, stage two would not operate until 2031.

Parramatta light rail – first fleet arrives

Despite being surrounded in controversy, the first stage of Parramatta light rail reached a milestone this month with the arrival of the first vehicle in the new fleet.

Construction on the light rail stops is also nearly complete.

Premier Dominic Perrottet and Transport Minister David Elliott unveiled the 45m-long vehicle, which can hold up to 400 passengers — the equivalent of six standard buses.

The carriages have low floors, air-conditioning, bicycle racks, real-time passenger count information and are dual electric and battery-powered with roof-mounted rechargeable batteries.

“Once complete, the new Parramatta light rail will provide frequent, reliable transport services between Westmead and Carlingford via the Parramatta CBD, supporting residents, local businesses and the nearly 14,000 students who attend the nearby university,’’ Mr Perrottet said.

The project supports 5000 jobs using about 4,000,000kg of Australian steel.

Services will run seven days a week and every 7.5 minutes during peak periods (7am to 7pm) on weekdays.

Fourteen of the 16 stops will be fitted with canopies, which will be installed by the end of the year.

On-track testing is expected to begin in mid-2023, with passenger services expected from 2024.