Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1A sustainable transport solution future-proofing a growing Western Sydney

Pioneering light rail track solution

The Parramatta Light Rail includes approximately eight kilometres of innovative concrete track slab. The design of the concrete track slab – informed by a detailed review of local and international track slab installation standards and methods – incorporated Macro Synthetic Fibres (MSF) within concrete for the track form.

The use of MSF reduced steel reinforcement by 2,466 tonnes and was faster to install. This shortened construction time while also increasing concrete durability and performance, together with reducing the risk of stray current.

This solution was adopted for much of the alignment, with different designs tailored to meet functional requirements and enhance the streetscape. Notably, along Church Street in Parramatta, the design was carefully integrated with the historic sandstone arch of Lennox Bridge to preserve its heritage and maintain high urban design standards.

The project was awarded an Infrastructure Sustainability Council State First innovation as the first light rail system in NSW to use MSF within concrete for the track form.

Australian-first light rail boot reduces long term maintenance challenges

An Australian first innovation was achieved, using a bespoke light rail boot within the light rail track form designed by Trelleborg for 51R1 rail. The use of the light rail boot provides a complete warranted system for rail resistivity, stray current and meets the high noise and vibration attenuation requirements needed for the surrounding urban environment and removes the need for floating track solutions.

The light rail boot’s double-wide top is an innovation unique to this project within Australia. It prevents rail wear, allows for reduced maintenance issues across the life of the light rail system, and minimises repair works or replacement. The sacrificial support system for the trackform resulted in the fastest embedded rail construction system in light rail to date across the country.

Minimal disruption: micro-tunnelling enhances Parramatta’s drainage system

Nearly 600 metres of micro-tunnelling was undertaken to build drainage and stormwater capacity underneath Parramatta’s Church Street.

The use of micro-tunnelling machines minimised the construction impact in comparison to traditional ‘dig’ pipeline construction at street level. It improved safety for construction workers by minimising the need for surface trench construction required for traditional pipeline construction at street level.

It also minimised accidental impact with other pipework, electrical wires, and utilities and reduced noise, dust and vibration. The approach allowed businesses and the community to continue to access public spaces above ground while the micro-tunnelling progressed below.

Digital engineering excellence for an urban transformation

The joint venture team used digital engineering and advanced modelling of light rail infrastructure assets to tackle the engineering challenges. These digital tools were gateways to solving complex interactions between existing and new utilities and below ground services, and instrumental in enhancing safety in design and delivering construction certainty.

Advanced modelling captured each element of the project’s design, including track, bridge and civil structures, stop features, roadside infrastructure such as light poles and signposts, and foundation supports, as well as underground utilities. These design elements were federated in 3D models, enabling detection of potential clashes between utilities, structures and road infrastructure, and removal of potential incompatible interactions between differing elements of the design well before construction began.