VISIONS OF SYDNEY: Parramatta Road Light Rail as envisioned in 2002

Below is a 2002 newspaper article from The Daily Telegraph reporting on a proposal to build a light rail line along Parramatta Road. Twenty-five years later, it is still being explored as an option to revitalise the road corridor, which has struggled to attract business and development. 

The aim was to build the line to take advantage of the construction of the M4 East Expressway (which eventually became WestConnex), which would have removed cars from Parramatta Road.

It didn't mention of any specific stretch of road but forewarned that branch lines could have been included to connect with railway stations on the Inner West line.

Work on the expressway was estimated to have commenced in 2005, but the road itself (WestConnex) did not open until 2019. The M4 East was built as part of the broader project, which also included the construction of the M8 motorway to connect the M4 and the M5. Construction had commenced in 2015, meaning it took an extra decade for it to become a reality. 

Source: Skelsey, M. 2002. "Light is right for clogged Parramatta Rd". The Daily Telegraph, October 30: 6. 

Momentum for light rail has gained traction in recent times. Inner West mayors have expressed their support for a Light Rail Line, and that could lead to the construction of 50,000 homes along the road. Click here to read a 2025 article from The Daily Telegraph (Subscription Required).