State government announces 16 light rail stops between Westmead, Parramatta and Carlingford
PREMIER Gladys Berejiklian has unveiled the route for the planned $1 billion Parramatta Light Rail – with 16 stops running from Westmead Hospital, through Parramatta and up to Carlingford.
NSW
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PREMIER Gladys Berejiklian has unveiled the route for the planned Parramatta Light Rail, with 16 stops running from Westmead Hospital, through Parramatta and up to Carlingford.
Olympic Park has not been named on the 12km route – but is expected to be added in phase two of the design later this year. It is unclear, though, when the line to Olympic Park will be built.
Rosehill Racecourse is on the list of stops being built in the first phase of construction.
Ms Berejiklian confirmed the long-awaited finalised route for the light rail on Friday morning, saying it will revitalise parts of Western Sydney.
The $1 billion project will lead to major disruption during construction, as the CBD and South East light rail has caused in the city centre.
“This is a project that will not just connect major parts of Greater Parramatta but also revitalise communities and help create new ones,” the Premier said.
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“We’ve done the important planning work and we are pleased we can unveil the preferred route and proposed stops, which we will now refine in consultation with the community.”
Transport Minister Andrew Constance said the light rail will operate from early morning to late at night, with services every seven-and-a-half minutes.
It will utilise the Opal card system and the light rail will connect with existing heavy rail systems, providing a boost for commuters.
The first phase of the project will also see a stop at the new Western Sydney Stadium, which is being built to replace Parramatta Stadium.
Money for the rail line is coming from the long-term lease of the state’s electricity network.
Although $1 billion has initially been set aside for the work, the final cost is likely to be much higher.
“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.
Western Sydney University, which is getting a stop by its Parramatta CBD campus, welcomed the announcement.
“The light rail is game-changing. Up to 25,000 Western Sydney University students and researchers will be connected to the fastest growing CBD in the country – Parramatta – and its surrounding precincts through this network,” said Vice Chancellor Professor Barney Glover.
“The rapid exchange of people and ideas this type of infrastructure makes possible is how ‘smart city’ strategies become a reality.”
Greater Sydney Commission boss Lucy Turnbull also welcomed the plans.
“The new 12km of light rail with its 16 stops will add to the ever-building momentum to this whole place which has so much going for it,” Ms Turnbull said.
The Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue group is disappointed Olympic Park and a route Strathfield was not in today’s plans. They are expected to be in phase two of the light rail development.
“While we are disappointed that we don’t yet have the route that the government promised to Strathfield, we are heartened by the commitment that Premier Berejiklian and Minister Constance gave today for an eventual light rail link to support the growth of the Olympic Corridor,” said the group’s chairman, Christopher Brown.
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