Just In Time: Sydney's South East Light Rail Is Finally Complete
Considering its tumultuous journey so far, we're kind of impressed it's finally open — even if there are hardly any passengers to experience it.
What seems like years ago, in a pre-COVID-19 time, the first stage of the Sydney's infamous light rail project opened to the public on Saturday, December 14, 2019. Now, the final piece of the puzzle — something I'm sure you're all well acquainted with at the moment — has been put into place, with trams on the final stretch taking passengers from today, Friday, April 3.
To summarise the saga that was the CBD and South East Light Rail project: it was first announced back in 2012, construction began in 2015 and then faced legal stoushes, cost blowouts (to almost $3 billion) and delays galore, due to everything from awry overhead wires and a discovery of thousands of Indigenous artefacts. It was initially meant to be completed in early 2019, but that was pushed out to March 2020.
It's not the first time trams have run through Sydney's CBD — just the first time in almost 60 years. The old tram tracks were ripped up back in 1961.
The new L3 Kingsford Line runs from Circular Quay to Kingsford, via Kensington and Anzac Parade, while the L2 runs from Circular Quay to Randwick. Trams on both lines will continue operating from 5–1am daily, with services every 4–8 mins in the CBD and 8–12 mins in the south east from 7am–7pm, for the time being.
Public transport is currently deemed an essential service by the NSW Government and you're allowed to catch it if you're leaving the house to shop for what you need — such as food and other essential supplies; for medical care or compassionate reasons; to exercise, in-line with the new two-person limit; and for work or education if you cannot work or learn remotely.
If you're not leaving the house for an essential reason, you risk getting a $1000 on-the-spot fine, with maximum penalties of $11,000 and six months in jail.
As many of are now working from home and cannot experience the new light rail, you can catch glimpses of it on this less-than-riveting live cam or watch some videos over on the Sydney Light Rail Facebook page. There's also this flashback to training of tram 'conductresses' back in 1942 from the Sydney Tramway Museum:
https://www.facebook.com/518209841638929/videos/783812858707083/
Commuter services are now running on both the L3 Kingsford and L2 Randwick Lines, with more info available via the Transport for NSW website.
To find out more about the status of COVID-19 in Australia and how to protect yourself, head to the Australian Government Department of Health's website.
