Project

Parramatta Light Rail

PROJECT STATUS
Detailed Planning
Parramatta Light Rail

The New South Wales Government's Parramatta Light Rail project involves the construction of over 20 kilometres of light rail. Designed to be a turn-up-and-go service, the line links key precincts across Western Sydney. Through interchanges with existing rail, bus and ferry terminals the light rail will also be closely integrated with the wider Sydney transport network. The project is being delivered in two stages:

  • Stage One: Westmead to Carlingford, and
  • Stage Two: Parramatta CBD to Sydney Olympic Park.

The 12 kilometre Stage One of the project links Parramatta’s CBD and train station to the Westmead Health Precinct, Cumberland Hospital, the Bankwest Stadium, Camellia Town Centre, New Powerhouse Museum, Telopea housing development, Rosehill Racecourse and three of the Western Sydney University campuses. Stage One delivery is packaged under two major contracts, named:

  • the Infrastructure Package, and
  • the Supply, Operate and Maintain (SOM) Package. 

Stage One is currently under delivery and due for completion in 2024.

The preferred route for Stage Two will connect Stage One and the Parramatta CBD to Ermington, Melrose Park, Wentworth Point and Sydney Olympic Park.

Key Dates

Dec 2018 Contract Award for Stage One
Jul 2024 Expected Construction Completion for Stage One

Funding contributions

NSW Government

Stage One of the project has an estimated cost of $2.875 billion. The original cost was estimated to be $2.4 billion, with the increase confirmed in the NSW 2022-23 Budget. 

In 2022, the NSW Govenrment made a funding committment of $604 million to progress Stage Two of the project.

Procurement

Procuring Agency: Transport for NSW
Related contracts:
Stage One - Early Works
Successful Tenderer - Ventia

Stage One - Enabling Works
Successful Tenderer - Diona Ward Joint Venture

Stage One - Infrastructure Package
Successful Tenderer - CPB Contractors and Downer EDI Joint Venture

Stage One - Supply, Operate and Maintain (SOM) package
Successful Tenderer - Great River City Light Rail consortium

PROJECT HISTORY

May 2018 Ventia was awarded the Early Works contract for Stage One of the project, with work expected to begin in July 2018.
Dec 2018 The NSW Government awarded the Great River City Light Rail consortium the Supply, Operate and Maintain (SOM) package.
Dec 2018 The NSW Government awarded the CPB Contractors Downer EDI Joint Venture the Infrastructure Package for Stage One.
Nov 2020 2020-21 NSW State Budget indicated that over $1 billion has been expended to June 2020 on Stage One of the project, and allocated $1.4 billion over the four-year estimate period to complete Stage One.
Jun 2021 The NSW Government announced $50 million in funding for Stage Two.
Jun 2022 NSW Budget confirmed that the Stage One cost had increased from $2.4 billion to $2.875 billion. $604 million is committed to progress Stage Two.
Sector
Rail
Procurement approach
Traditional Procurement | Unconfirmed |
Location
New South Wales |
Resources
Project website
Parramatta Light Rail
Government resources
Project maps
Fact sheets
Major Contract

Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1 - Infrastructure Package

PROJECT STATUS
Under Delivery
Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1 - Infrastructure Package

Key Dates

Dec 2018 Contract Award
Dec 2019 Expected Construction Commencement
Jul 2020 Construction Commencement
2024 Expected Construction Completion

Funding contributions

NSW Government

Parramatta Light Rail Stage One is wholly funded by the NSW Government. The total cost of Stage One increased from $2.4 billion to $2.875 billion in the NSW 2022-23 Budget Papers.

Procurement

Procuring Agency: Transport for NSW
Shortlist: CPB Contractors and Downer EDI Works Joint Venture; John Holland
Successful Tenderer: CPB Contractors and Downer EDI Works Joint Venture
Related contracts:
Early Works: chemical and asbestos contamination at Camellia
Successful Tenderer - Ventia

Enabling Works: traffic and road changes
Successful Tenderer - Diona Ward Joint Venture (comprising Diona Pty Ltd and Ward Civil & Environmental Engineering Pty Ltd)

Risk Specialist Support
Successful Tenderer - HKA Global Pty Ltd

PROJECT HISTORY

Aug 2017 The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Stage 1 were released.
Aug 2017 TfNSW announced that Stage 1 would be delivered in two packages - the Infrastructure Package and the Supply, Operate and Maintain (SOM) Package.
Sep 2017 Expressions of Interest (EOIs) were released for the Infrastructure Package.
Oct 2017 EOIs closed and two tenders were shortlisted to the Request for Proposal (RFP) phase.
Oct 2017 Public feedback on Stage 1 closed.
Dec 2018 NSW Government awarded the contract for the Infrastructure Package to CBD Contractors Pty Ltd and Downer to the value of $840 million.
Mar 2019 Contract Award Notice Details published for Infrastructure Works with amended estimated amount payable to contractor listed at $1.287 billion.
Jun 2022 NSW 2022-23 Budget Papers released indicating an increase of $475 million for Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1, from $2.4 billion to $2.875 billion.
2022 Major construction works complete on the 16 light rail stops. Remaining works include finishing Stabling and Maintenance Facility in Camelia, work on power substations, building the back-up operations control centre, and installation of overhead canopies. 13 light rail vehicles are expected to arrive in 2023 and vehicle and systems testing and commissioning will occur before passenger services begin in 2024.
Sector
Rail
Procurement approach
Traditional Procurement |
Location
New South Wales |
Resources
Major Contract

Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1 - Supply, Operate and Maintain (SOM) package

PROJECT STATUS
Awarded
Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1 - Supply, Operate and Maintain (SOM) package

The SOM Package will comprise design and construction of system and above-rail level works as well as the operation of Stage 1, including:

- procurement of light rail vehicles;
- systems, stops fitouts and operation elements;
- stabling and maintenance facility;
- operations and maintenance for the Stage 1 system and infrastructure;
- systems integration; and
- testing and commissioning.

Four kilometres of the track between Westmead and Cumberland Hospital and between Prince Alfred Square and Tramway Avenue will have a wire free design.

 

Key Dates

Dec 2018 Contract Award

Funding contributions

NSW Government

Parramatta Light Rail Stage One is wholly funded by the NSW Government. The total cost of Stage One increased from $2.4 billion to $2.875 billion in the NSW 2022-23 Budget Papers.

Procurement

Procuring Agency: Transport for New South Wales
Shortlist: Connecting Parramatta Consortium: comprising John Holland, ALSTOM Transport, and Deutsche Bahn; Greater Parramatta: comprising Downer EDI, Keolis Downer, Ansaldo STS and CRRC Changchun, and; Great River City Light Rail: comprising Transdev, Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) and Laing O'Rourke.
Successful Tenderer: Great River City Light Rail consortium

PROJECT HISTORY

Sep 2017 EOIs were released for the SOM Package.
Oct 2017 EOIs closed for the package.
Nov 2017 Three consortia were shortlisted for the RFP phase.
Dec 2018 NSW Government awarded the contract for the SOM Package to the value of $536 million.
Mar 2019 Contract Award Notice Details published for Supply, Operate and Maintain contract with amended estimated amount payable to contractor listed at $720 million.
Jun 2022 NSW 2022-23 Budget Papers released indicating an increase of $475 million for Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1, from $2.4 billion to $2.875 billion.
Sector
Rail
Procurement approach
Service Contract |
Location
New South Wales |
Resources
Major Contract

Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2

PROJECT STATUS
Announced
Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2

Stage Two of the Parramatta Light Rail will connect Stage One of the Parramatta Light Rail and Parramatta CBD to Sydney Olympic Park via Camellia, Rydalmere, Ermington, Melrose Park and Wentworth Point. It will have 14 stops over a 10-kilometre two-way track and will connect to the Sydney Metro West, the heavy rail in Parramatta and Sydney Olympic Park, and ferry services at Rydalmere and Sydney Olympic Park.

The project will be delivered in multiple phases, with the Enabling Works package to comprise the delivery of a 320-metre bridge over the Parramatta River, linking Wentworth Point and Melrose Park, and approaches on either side of the river totalling 1.3 kilometres.

Details of further works packages have not yet been released. 

Key Dates

Jun 2022 Project Announcement
Dec 2022 Enabling Works - ROI Open
Jan 2023 Enabling Works - ROI Close
2025 Expected Construction Commencement
2033 Expected Construction Completion

Funding contributions

NSW Government

$602.4 million in NSW 2022/23 Budget

Additional $200 million in NSW 2023/24 Budget

Procurement

Procuring Agency: Transport for NSW
Shortlist: Enabling Works Package: CPB Contractors and McConnell Dowell joint venture; Fulton Hogan and SRG Global joint venture; and John Holland.

PROJECT HISTORY

Oct 2017 The NSW Government released the preferred route for Stage Two of Parramatta Light Rail. The 10-kilometre, 10 to 12 stop preferred route connects with Stage One at Rydalmere and runs east through Ermington, Melrose Park and Meadowbank, before crossing the Parramatta River south into Wentworth Point, passing through Silverwater and terminating at Sydney Olympic Park. The Government is also considering an alternative connection for Stage Two, that connects Stage One at Camellia, before running east and crossing Parramatta River to Rydalmere.
Jun 2018 The 2018-19 NSW Budget allocated $20 million in FY2018-19 to progress planning of Stage Two.
Jul 2018 Transport for NSW (TfNSW) announced that Arup had been appointed to undertake investigations for Stage Two following their role as Infrastructure Technical adviser to TfNSW on Stage One.
May 2019 The NSW Department of Planning and Environment issued the Secretary's Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) for the project, allowing development of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to commence.
Jun 2019 $2 million was allocated to planning in the 2019-20 NSW Budget.
Jun 2021 The NSW Government announced an additional $50 million for detailed planning, including geotechnical work and preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement, for Stage Two as part of its 2021-22 NSW Budget.
Nov 2021 Transport for NSW called for Expressions of Interest (EOI) for Underground Investigation Services, closing on 22 December.
Dec 2021 Transport for NSW issued a Request for Tenders for Utilities Investigation Services for the project.
Dec 2021 The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment Secretary's Environmental Assessment Requirements were issued for the preparation of the Environmental Impact Assessment of the project.
May 2022 Consultation commenced on the preferred route and 15 stop locations from Camellia to Sydney Olympic Park, closing 26 June. Site investigation work and geotechnical investigation also commenced.
May 2022 Infrastructure NSW's 2022 State Infrastructure Strategy recommended the project be re-sequenced to avoid delivery risks caused by complexity and a shortage of skilled labour. The NSW Government will assess the strategy's recommendations before making a decision on their implementation.
Jun 2022 The NSW Government confirmed it will proceed with Parramatta Light Rail Stage Two by committing $602 million for the construction of the connecting bridge between Wentworth Point and Melrose Park and other early works. The 2022-23 NSW Budget confirmed this funding and allocated $373 million over the four years to FY2025-26, including $26 million in FY2022-23.
Jun 2022 NSW Government committed $602 million to commence the enabling works package as part of the 2022-23 Budget.
Sep 2022 Transport for NSW released an Invitation to Respond (ITR) to a Market Engagement Process for the enabling package on the Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 project, closing 10 October. The package includes delivery of a public and active transport bridge, and approaches between Wentworth Point and Melrose Park.
Oct 2022 Transport for NSW released a Request for Tender (RFT) for cost advisor services, closing on the 7th of November.
Nov 2022 The Environmental Impact Statement for Stage Two was placed on public exhibition, closing on 7 December.
Dec 2022 The NSW Government called for Registrations of Interests (ROIs) to deliver the Enabling Works phase of the project. The package comprises the delivery of a 320-metre bridge over the Parramatta River, linking Wentworth Point and Melrose Park, and approaches on either side of the river totalling 1.3 kilometres.
Mar 2023 A Parliamentary Inquiry revealed the new cost estimate of Stage Two is $3.286 billion, excluding then-funded enabled works, bringing the total cost to $3.9 billion.
Sep 2023 The NSW Government allocated an additional $200 million to to ‘expedite the planning of the procurement, construction and delivery of Stage Two’ in its 2023-24 Budget, bringing the total State funding commitment to $802 million.
Oct 2023 TfNSW announced the shortlist for the Enabling Works Package - bridge from Wentworth Point to Melrose Park. Shortlisted bidders include a CPB Contractors and McConnell Dowell joint venture; a Fulton Hogan and SRG Global joint venture; and John Holland.
Feb 2024 The NSW Government announced planning approvals for the project had been granted.
Estimated Total Cost
(2023)
Sector
Rail
Procurement approach
Traditional Procurement | Unconfirmed |
Location
New South Wales |
Resources
Infrastructure agency resources
Infrastructure NSW - re-sequencing recommendation
Project pages
Parramatta Light Rail