After 7 years, the New South Wales Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 Finally Receives $1.3 Billion Budget

Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 finally received funding of $1.3 billion. This comes seven years after Stage 2 of the Parramatta LRT project was first announced. The LRT extension will be the second stage after the Paramatta Light Rail Stage 1 began construction in 2019.

The Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1 Overview

The Parramatta Light Rail is a transport project that will serve residents of Sydney, New South Wales. The LRT project has two stages. The first stage is a 12-kilometer-long LRT with 16 stops running from Westmead to Carlingford.

The LRT system will feature a two-way track, and services every 7.5 minutes from 7 am to 7 pm. The LRT will also feature an Opal card ticketing system, air-conditioned vehicles, and a 400-passenger cart capacity.

The first stage of the LRT has a budget of $1.9 billion and commenced construction in 2019. Currently, the project has completed all major construction work and will open to the public by mid-2024.

The Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1 will accommodate 28,000 daily commuters by 2026 with 130,000 residents living nearby.

Construction work of the LRT is implemented through a joint effort between CPD Contractors/Downer Group and John Holland.

Stage 2 finally receives funding after 7 years

Stage 2 of the Parramatta LRT will connect Stage 1 and the Parramatta CBD to Sydney Olympic Park. This extension of the Parramatta Light Rail will be 10 kilometers long with 14 stops. Similar to stage 1, stage 2 will have services every 7.5 minutes from 7 am and 7 pm. The project will also feature a two-way track. Stage 2 will connect with three transport interchanges. This includes the Parramatta Heavy Rail, Sydney Olympic Park, and Metro West. including the Sydney Metro West, a metro project currently under construction with a 2032 target date.

The Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 is slated to commence design work in 2024, and construction is targeted to begin in 2025.

As of June 2024, the New South Wales (NSW) Government announced that Stage 2 of the Parramatta Light Rail will receive $1.33 billion in funding for its construction committed by the Minns Labor Government. This allocated funding from the 2024-2024 State Budget comes after the Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 was announced by the New South Wales Government early this year 2024.

The Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 is expected to be operational by 2033.

An LRT that will link communities together

With the first stage of the Parramatta Light Rail on the way in the coming months, anticipation for the project is high.

According to New South Wales Minister for Transport Jo Haylen, the growing population of West Sydney will require a reliable form of transport which the government will provide through the Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1 and Stage 2.

The project will be a significant game-changer for residents around the area linking them to shops, businesses, schools, and other essential venues for decades to come.

The Parramatta Light Rail project will link communities like Ermington, Melrose Park, Parramatta, and others, further allowing residents to explore West Sydney’s many attractions.