The new CBD and South East light rail is a high-capacity mass transit system offering high-frequency services, featuring 14 stops along a 12 km route. The 33-meter Alstom light rail vehicles (Citadis X05) are coupled together to form 67-meter trams, accommodating around 450 passengers – as many as up to nine standard buses. This means the new network will have the initial capacity to move up to 13,500 commuters per hour (6,750 in each direction) during peak times. Normal tram services will operate seven days a week between 5am and 1am.
The key benefits of the new light rail line include:
- creating improved urban experience, reducing congestion and promoting sustainability;
- offering better public transportation with more connections for more people;
- boosting the economy by easily taking people to the districts where they live, work and relax.
Press release
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Light rail is an environmentally-focused transportation mode that will reduce greenhouse gases and noise pollution to provide clean, efficient travel. It will provide a sustainable public transportation option to customers who live, work and travel within the CBD and South East, easing the pressure on Sydney’s roads by reducing the city’s reliance on cars and buses. As a reminder, light rail uses 10 times less energy than a car, per passenger kilometer.
In 2014, Transport for NSW (TfNSW) entered into a public private partnership with ALTRAC Light Rail (ALTRAC) to operate and maintain the Inner West Light Rail (L1 Dulwich Hill Line), and to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the new L2 and L3 Lines until 2036. ALTRAC is a consortium consisting of Alstom, Acciona, Transdev and Capella Capital, which has contracted operations and maintenance (O&M) obligations to Transdev Australasia.
Passenger services on the L3 Kingsford Line between Circular Quay and Juniors Kingsford are expected to open in March 2020, seeing an additional five stops added to the network.
This Sydney milestone is a powerful endorsement of Transdev’s global leadership in operating 25 light rail systems in 10 countries and comes as the final highlight of 2019 for Transdev in the light rail field, marked by numerous successes around the world. The year started with the Stage 1 Parramatta light rail (Sydney) contract in January, the extension of the Luas Dublin (Ireland) light rail contract in June, the contract for the Hurontario light rail in Canada and the commissioning of two light rail networks in France (Avignon, Saint-Etienne) in the fall. I am particularly proud of the achievements of Transdev light rail teams around the world.
Thierry Mallet, Chairman and CEO of Transdev Group
As an operator and global integrator of mobility, Transdev – The mobility company – gives people the freedom to move whenever and however they choose. We are proud to provide 11 million passenger trips everyday thanks to efficient, easy to use and environmentally-friendly transportation services that connect people and communities. Our approach is rooted in long-term partnerships with businesses and public authorities, and in the relentless pursuit of the safest and most innovative mobility solutions. We are a team of people serving people, and mobility is what we do. Transdev is jointly held by Caisse des Dépôts Group (66%) and the RETHMANN Group (34%). In 2018, with 82,000 employees in 18 countries, the Group generated total revenues of 6.9 billion euros.
For more information: www.transdev.com or download the MY Transdev app from the App Store or Google Play.