First Tram Ride on Parramatta's New Light Rail Line. Yay!

Parramatta's New Light Rail Has opened. This is video from the first tram on the line. How cool eh!

In December 2023, we got an early Christmas present when Parramatta Light Rail started trial running - we thought trams would run mid 2024 - but didn't happen. But literally one year later we received another Christmas Gift when it was announced with just two days notice that the line would start running on 20th December 2024.

[pepeloco]

they should have extend to Epping! Going just to Carlingford is just ok if it was extended to Epping metro that would been the best option.

[AheadMatthewawsome]

Made it in at the start as an extra in the blue shirt! It was a fantastic day for Parramatta, and a fantastic day for Public Transport and the revival of trams which are desperately needed!

I love all the work you do describing the old tram lines in detail! It helps me a lot with the stuff I do! And it’s given me a few extra bushwalks to do on old tram lines!

Thanks again,
Matthew

[adrianleeds]

Its nice how people still turn out to see things like this.

[whophd]

Went and saw it yesterday, lovely bike ride alongside. I’m so glad you got that video of the gates opening!! Especially seeing your origin story of the Eastern Suburbs line opening, being the same age as you, it was one or two “rail mania” eras ago. This current era really is the best one 50 years either side, I’d speculate.

[sytonicflux]

Wow, thanks for putting this together for us, great stuff. It's great we have an opportunity to celebrate another tram line in Sydney.

[richardw]

My son and I waited till around 9am to hop onboard at Fennell Street. Only went to Westfields but I was happy to see how nice the light rail went.
Thanks for posting, Marty.

[scottietheshark]

Can hardly wait to use it! Parramatta is big enough to deserve infrastructure like this

[rhondizzy]

Thanks Marty for the very informative journey of yours. Keep doing more videos

[AbitLippy]

I went to Parramatta from Dundas last weekend to buy some guitar strings. Left home at 1pm and got back home at 1:30 😮

[BlessedXS]

I worked on this in 2020, glad to see it finally finished. 🇦🇺

[anthonywalsh]

10:50 I was at the opening of the Eastern Suburbs Line with my parents and brother in 1979. I remember it well. The only other inaugural I’ve been on was the first Canberra-Sydney Xplorer in 1993 (?).

[darrenhaines]

It’s so good to hear the cheers for proper light rail. Something we won’t have in Brisbane with our fancy bendy buses.

[Mediawatcher]

So Parramatta has light rail now wonderful

[sunsetlights]

Very smart looking new Tram, (be good to have these over here NZ)

[fishingcat_]

I can see myself in the video! It was very exciting to ride the first service.

[nickrod]

i'm hearing tourner de la vide somewhere in the background 🎶 literally a metal snail ya got here 🐌 👍

[akhalif]

GDay - Its great to see a modern lightrail system operating in Sydney finally...Its decades overdue!

[Mediawatcher]

i am so glad that you agreed with me the difference between light rail and trams Neil Forbes gets very confused at times between the two.

[RGC]

Hi Marty, thanks for sharing this excellent video. I rode on the Parramatta Park Museum steam trams several times during the 1970s and my last visit there was in 1983. Also, my dad actually rode on one of the Parramatta steam trams heading to the wharf in about 1941. The light rail conversion there reminds me a lot of the St Kilda and Port Melbourne lines down here, which are light rail tram lines previously converted from train lines. You were at the opening of the Eastern Suburbs Railway?? Wow!! So was I, though I am not sure if I saw the very first train. Hey, you should have given me a wave!!! LOL. Incidentally, when I was very young, my dad took me to the newly opened Circular Quay Station. I remember seeing some teenagers sliding down the hand rail areas of the escalators. Anyway, take care. Rob in Melbourne Australia.

[ontenge]

Congrats to everyone who helped build this new infrastructure for Parramatta and surrounds!