2 million within 30 mins (Transport)
Parramatta is within a 30-minute reach of 2 million people in Sydney.
Sydney's Central River City
Sitting in the geographical heart of Greater Sydney is Parramatta, a City representing a cross-section of economic activity, cultural diversity and opportunity. The backbone of this great City is its accessible transport infrastructure, connecting Parramatta to five major transport hubs across the region.
Parramatta is within a 30-minute reach of more than two million people across Sydney. The recently upgraded Parramatta Transport Interchange links train and bus connections under one roof, and with the Parramatta Light Rail and future Metro West only a short walk away, commuters can expect a seamless travel experience.
Transport development will be the critical link that continues to connect Parramatta to the Greater Sydney region and essential for achieving our Global City Vision by 2050.
Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1
Completed in 2024, Stage 1 of the Parramatta Light Rail connects Westmead to Carlingford via the Parramatta CBD and Camellia with a two-way track spanning 12 kilometres. It will revolutionise the way workers, residents and visitors move around the Parramatta area. It will link Parramatta’s CBD and train station to:
- Westmead/Cumberland Precincts, Camellia Town Centre and Telopea
- CommBank Stadium & new Powerhouse Parramatta
- Rosehill Gardens Racecourse
- Three Western Sydney University campuses
Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2
Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 is moving ahead, with state and federal planning approval granted for this game-changing Western Sydney megaproject. Stage 2 will connect Stage 1 and the Parramatta CBD to Sydney Olympic Park via the growing communities of Camellia, Rydalmere, Ermington, Melrose Park and Wentworth Point. There will be 14 new stops over a new 10km two-way track, three new river crossings and 8.5km of new walking and cycling paths.
Passengers will be able to travel from Sydney Olympic Park to Camellia in around 30 minutes, and on to the Parramatta CBD in another 7 minutes.
In 2041, 280,000 people are expected to live along the Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 alignment and will benefit from frequent and reliable public transport services.
Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1 connects Westmead to Carlingford via the Parramatta CBD and Camellia with 12 kilometres of two-way tracks. Stage 1 has been operational since December 2024.
Construction on Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 will be phased, with initial work to begin late 2025.
Sydney Metro West Railway Project
The Sydney Metro West project is a new underground metro railway that will connect the Parramatta and Sydney CBDs. The NSW Government has committed $6.4 billion over 4 years to the project. The new metro railway will:
- Double rail capacity between these two areas
- Link new communities to rail services
- Unlock housing supply and employment growth between the two CBDs
Likely have stations at Parramatta, Westmead, Sydney Olympic Park, North Strathfield, North Burwood, Five Dock, Bays Precinct and the Sydney CBD.
This route was selected because more travel services are needed between Parramatta and the Sydney CBD. An extra 420,000 people are expected to move into the corridor between Greater Parramatta and Central Sydney over the next 20 years. More than 300,000 new jobs are expected to be created by 2036 in this corridor which includes the Parramatta CBD, Sydney Olympic Park and the Bays Precinct.
Western Sydney Aerotropolis by 2026
Sydney’s new Airport is set to open to international, domestic and freight flights in 2026, providing much-needed aviation capacity for the entire Sydney region.
In its first stages, Western Sydney International will be a long overdue airport for Western Sydney and its population of two million which continues to grow. The Airport has also led to record investments in the infrastructure the region needs, including new and upgraded roads.
Designed to grow in stages and over decades, the Airport will eventually become one of the biggest gateways to Australia and the primary airport for the entire Sydney region.
Find out more about the new Western Sydney airport.
