The ARA has toured the fantastic, recently opened Paramatta Light Rail and extensive works underway on the Bankstown upgrade to extend the successful Sydney Metro.  

The team was very impressed with the high-quality offering to patrons on the light rail and its world-class depot as well as the Metro Southwest project which will see services running every four minutes in peak hour in both directions. 

A huge thank you to Brian Brennan (CEO Transdev Australasia), and Yohan Touzard (General Manager Operations – Sydney Light Rail Transdev), for hosting ARA CEO Caroline Wilke, ARA GM – Sustainability, Joeley Pettit and ARA GM – Passenger Rail and Safety) Jesse Baker on the Parramatta Light Rail. 

The team, which boarded at Westmead, observed the beginnings of the urban uplift along the alignment that always accompanies light rail projects. It was also terrific to visit the depot, a world-class facility keeping the operation running smoothly, and preparing for the Stage 2 expansion connecting Paramatta to Sydney Olympic Park in the coming years. The ARA team also enjoyed testing Transdev’s new simulator. 

The ARA team also joined Josh Murray, NSW Transport Secretary, Matt Longland, CE, Sydney Trains CE and Peter Lensink, Chief Operating Officer, Transdev Australia & New Zealand, and members of the TfNSW, John Holland and Laing O’Rourke teams to view the Bankstown upgrade.  

This city-shaping project will extend the successful Sydney Metro, bringing new, fully air conditioned Sydney Metro trains every four minutes in the peak in each direction with lifts, level platforms and platform screen doors for safety, accessibility and increased security later this year.