Calls for more buses to connect to Carlingford Parramatta light rail stop

Fears Parramatta light rail commuters could struggle to reach a stop in northwest Sydney have prompted calls for a new public service to start before the maligned $2.875bn line opens.

The Carlingford light rail stop will be hard to reach, locals say.

The infrastructure is great but getting there stinks.

That’s the consensus from northwest Sydney commuters who struggle to reach the Metro North, while others are bracing for another headache to get to the Carlingford stop of the Parramatta light rail when the delayed $2.9bn line opens in six months.

The struggles have prompted Parramatta Council to ask the state government for more bus services connecting residents in suburbs such as Carlingford and North Rocks – particularly a new bus service along Jenkins and Oakes roads – before the light rail opens.

Carlingford is the last stop on the 12km line that begins at Westmead.

West Pennant Hills’ Zenon Michniewicz has welcomed the Metro and light rail but knows his 52-year-old son Justin, who has a physical and mental disability, won’t be able to use it.

Justin Michniewicz and his father Zenon.

It’s easier for Mr Michniewicz to drive his son to Parramatta than battle a 4km journey to reach Cherrybrook Metro station, where the parking is “chockers”, or the Carlingford light rail stop at Pennant Hills Rd.

“There’s a lot of infrastructure going on around the place, like the Parramatta light rail, and the Metro is the greatest thing since sliced bread, but we can’t get to any of these darn places,’’ Mr Michniewicz said.

“It’s wonderful infrastructure. The Metro is fantastic and I’m sure the light rail will be fantastic, but we can’t get to the damn things.’’

He is not alone.

Requests have been made to connect the future light rail stop at Carlingford to the Carmen Drive shopping centre at Carlingford.

Thousands of northwest Sydney commuters endure choked Metro carparks and hassles reaching public transport.

Parramatta councillor Georgina Valjak said while the light rail would increase public transport access to and from Carlingford, access within the suburb would remain limited because only a few bus services serve commuters.

Those buses travel along “very few main roads”.

“Residents living along Jenkins Rd and Oakes Rd have long, hilly walks to access public transport services Pennant Hills Rd or to North Rocks Rd,’’ she said.

“We need to maximise our public infrastructure and our transport system.’’

She has called for more buses that would connect Carlingford light rail passengers to Carmen Drive, where they can also reach the city-bound express M2 buses.

A request will also be raised for the government to provide a regular bus service between Cherrybrook and Carlingford to boost access to Parramatta, Macquarie Park and Castle Hill.

Mr Michniewicz said buses would not have to be large, but welcomed 20-seat shuttle vehicles.

The council agreed to write to the Transport Minister, local MPs and the Hills mayor to advocate for the new bus services.