Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1
Parramatta, New South Wales
Parramatta Light Rail is reshaping how people move, gather and experience Sydney’s second CBD — delivering not just transport, but a civic spine for Western Sydney.
By 2036, more than half of all Sydneysiders will live in Western Sydney, a population shift that positions Parramatta as the geographic and economic heart of Greater Sydney. In response, the NSW Government’s Parramatta Light Rail delivers essential infrastructure that connects communities, unlocks precincts and supports a more sustainable, integrated future.
Since 2015, COX has played a central role in this transformation – from strategic corridor studies and the development of the Parramatta Light Rail Urban Design Framework, through to architectural and public domain delivery.
As a practice deeply invested to shaping better cities, our people-first approach has delivered infrastructure that enhances public life, access and leaves a legacy for Western Sydney.
Connecting people through a central network
Spanning 12 kilometres, the line links Westmead to Carlingford via the Parramatta CBD and Camellia, servicing key destinations including the Westmead Health Precinct, Cumberland Hospital, North Parramatta, Riverside Theatres, Rosehill Gardens, Western Sydney University, Rydalmere, Telopea and Camellia. The alignment is supported by a new bridge over James Ruse Drive and a dedicated stabling and maintenance facility. Each seven-carriage vehicle accommodates up to 400 people, with an operations system designed for high frequency services. By 2026, more than 130,000 residents will live within walking distance of a stop.
Our design approach embedded transport into the fabric of the city. In collaboration with CONTEXT landscape architects, we treated the corridor as a series of character-rich areas, each with its own identity and placemaking opportunity.
Every decision was guided by a vision for a network that enhances walkability and street life, while improving access across multiple precincts. Seamless integration with the existing urban fabric – from streetscapes and precincts through to existing networks – and a deep consideration for the people it serves – were critical to achieving this.
COX Director, Ian Connolly
Perhaps more than any other type of project, light rail is a true form of urban transformation. Light rail changes the way people move and directly improves public domain – fully embedding it into a city’s legacy.
A more equitable and sustainable metropolis
Parramatta Light Rail is a catalyst for reshaping how Sydney grows. As part of the State’s vision for a polycentric metropolis, the network brings jobs, services and amenity closer to where people live, work and move.
It is also the first light rail project in New South Wales to deliver green track. These grass-planted corridors reduce urban heat, manage stormwater, support biodiversity and soften the infrastructure’s presence. Their integration speaks to a commitment to sustainability in the urban realm – offering a greener, more integrated model for future infrastructure.
Curves, character and a confident new identity
More than a mode of movement, the new network introduces a distinct visual identity for Parramatta, one that reflects its growth, ambition and character.
A modular kit-of-parts – including prefabricated canopies, columns and lighting – enabled designed for efficient repetition across the 16 stops, while allowing for subtle variation to suit each stop’s context.
Visually, the system departs from traditional transport design through a distinctive curvilinear design, seen in the soft arcs of the tracks and sculptural canopy forms. These soft geometric features express a sense of movement and momentum, establishing a confident new identity for Parramatta and its future.
Robust public domain design, contextual landscaping and durable materials reinforce this identity, offering a civic-scaled, highly integrated model for how transport infrastructure can elevate place.
