The Parramatta Light Rail Problem

Stage 1 of the Parramatta Light Rail project has been under construction since 2018, and its opening finally expected next year in 2024. As part of the project the closed Carlingford Railway Line is being converted to light rail, which will make it significantly easier for people who live north-east of Parramatta, along the former railway line, to get to Parramatta. But it wasn't always meant to be this way. The Parramatta Light Rail almost followed a very different route; from Parramatta to Castle Hill, and from Parramatta to Macquarie Park via Eastwood. This route would've allowed for more people to be served by the light rail, while also having more heavy rail interchanges making it very robust. Most importantly, it would have finally dismantled the dreaded Uncrossable Zone. So...why wasn't this route chosen? This is the story of the version of the Parramatta Light Rail that never came to be, and why I think it should still be built.

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Links:
My video about the Carlingford Line from last year: The Carlingford Line, The Forgotten E...
The Parramatta Light Rail website: https://www.parramattalightrail.nsw.g...
Western Sydney Light Rail Feasibility Study from 2013:
- Part 1 (delves into choosing the best routes): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zVNM...
- Part 2 (delves into the best stations for the chosen routes): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wxiv...
Parramatta Light Rail: How the final route was determined Report from 2016: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FjlB...