THIS MONTH is due to see the start of services on Sydney’s A$65m Ultimo - Pyrmont light rail line. The first Adtranz-built Variotram to reach the city arrived on May 31 and the second on June 5, enabling test running to start on the reserved alignment behind the Darling Harbour exhibition centre (right). Services will run every 15 min on the 3·5 km horseshoe route from Central station to Wentworth Park.
Proposals lodged by private-sector concessionaire Sydney Light Rail Co for two extensions have moved forward, with the New South Wales government authorising an environmental impact study into both routes. One would form a loop through the city centre from Central station to Circular Quay, and the other would continue from Pyrmont to Lilyfield.
- State Rail Authority of NSW has started prequalification, and plans to call tenders this month, for supply of double-deck EMUs to boost its City Rail fleet. The initial order will be for 80 cars, followed by two options for a further 60 vehicles each. The first four-car set is required in service by November 1999, just 96 weeks after the contract award in December 1997. Around 40 cars must be ready for the Olympic Games in September 2000, and the rest by June 2001. o
