Parramatta Light Rail now aiming to start running at the end of 2024

A “mid-year’’ opening for the much-vaunted Parramatta Light Rail has been pushed back to the end of 2024 after testing on the new $2.9bn service revealed major issues.

Small businesses driven to the wall after five years of Parramatta Light Rail construction have branded revelations the project will be delayed yet again as ­“insane”, with Premier Chris Minns unable to provide a new date for the trams to hit the tracks.

Testing on the $2.875bn service has revealed major issues including power supply problems, software glitches with Opal card payments, and blowouts in times spent stopped at stations due to inexperienced drivers, with transport authorities now targeting an opening by the end of the year.

It’s the latest embarrassing blow to strike the Minns government’s rollout of major projects, coming just days after the Sydney Metro City line opened two weeks behind schedule after being blighted by industrial action.

The NSW government had targeted a “mid-year” opening for the Parramatta Light Rail, which has now been scuttled, with transport authorities now rushing to open it in late 2024.

Owner of Little Greece Gyros and Souvlaki Bar, Ali Abid, said the indefinite delay on the service was a “disaster” for his Phillip St business.

The Parramatta Light Rail being tested on Church St yesterday, amid revelations the opening date of the new service has been pushed back. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“(The light rail not opening) will cost us, waiting until the end of the year is crazy,” he said.

“We’ve been waiting for years now … how can I run a business like this?”

Ibrahim Hamdan, who owns multiple businesses in the area, was forced to close his EzyMart store in front of the Church St stop for 18 months during construction.

“This is insane, to be honest … I was lucky enough to have other businesses (to) support me and help me to maintain this store. Otherwise … I probably (would have closed) a long time ago,” he said.

Opposition transport spokeswoman Natalie Ward said the government “seems to trip over at every turn when delivering infrastructure”.

“Taxpayers know Labor won’t build infrastructure, but it increasingly appears they can’t open it either,” she said.

Ayush Nepal and Amir Parajuli at the Little Greece Gyros and Souvlaki Bar in Parramatta. Picture: Jonathan Ng

However, Transport Minister Jo Haylen said the testing which revealed the problems was “the whole point of the process”.

“One of the lessons we have learnt from the launch of the CBD and Eastern Suburbs Light Rail is that we do not want to be using passengers as guinea pigs,” she said.

“When we open, we want to deliver a service which runs to timetable and is reliable.”

Mr Minns said on Thursday it wasn’t possible to set a new date for the light rail opening.

Internal Transport for NSW documents, seen by The Daily Telegraph, show August 18 had been a suggested opening date for the Parramatta Light Rail.

Parramatta Chamber of Commerce president Anthony Mazza and Business Western Sydney executive director David Borger both branded the latest delay disappointing.

“From a positive perspective, it’s wise management to delay it if there’s challenges in the testing stage,” Mr Mazza said.

Mr Borger said: “This thing could be really great for the city – but it’s only great when it actually turns up.”

The Parramatta Light Rail, has also blown out by more than $470m in cost.

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