A 35-minute walk will replace light rail services between Circular Quay and Central Chalmers Street on the weekend of 15–16 August 2026, as Transport for NSW suspends L2 and L3 CBD runs for planned trackwork. The L1 Dulwich Hill line will not run at all, with replacement buses operating from 5am to 1am each day.
Commuters from Randwick, Kingsford and Dulwich Hill face a weekend of diversions before all lines resume normal operations from 5am on Monday 17 August. The partial and full closures are part of regular maintenance to keep the network safe and reliable, with similar shutdowns having occurred in 2023 and 2024.
Passengers travelling on the L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford lines can still use the services between Central and their final stops at Randwick or Juniors Kingsford. Only the CBD section — Circular Quay to Central Chalmers Street — will be out of action. Transport for NSW is directing passengers to use Sydney Trains, Sydney Metro, regular bus services or simply walk through the city.
The 35-minute walk from Circular Quay to Central is a stark reminder of the gap left by the light rail, though trains and metro will cover the distance in minutes. For the L1 Dulwich Hill line, replacement buses will run every 10 to 15 minutes from 5am to 9pm, and every 15 to 20 minutes between 9pm and 1am. These buses will not stop at Capitol Square or Exhibition Centre; instead, passengers can alight at Paddy’s Markets (a five-minute walk) or Convention (seven minutes) and use alternative stops.
Standard light rail fares apply on replacement buses, and commuters must tap on and off using the onboard Opal readers. Most replacement buses are accessible, Transport for NSW confirmed. The agency urged travellers to check the Trip Planner or travel alerts before heading out.
Eastern suburbs residents heading to Bondi Junction via train or to the CBD should factor in extra transfer time. With L2 and L3 cut through the city, any trip from Randwick or Kingsford toward the eastern suburbs requires a train change at Central or Town Hall. A simple trip from Juniors Kingsford to Bondi Junction could easily add 20 minutes of walking and waiting. Regular bus services along key corridors provide another backup.
The closures are confined to the CBD. Many passengers mistakenly believe the entire L2 and L3 lines will be shut down, but the southern segments operate as normal. The real risk is forgetting to allow extra walking time or missing a tap on a replacement bus, which can attract a fine.
Drivers are being warned away from the CBD on the weekend, with congestion and limited parking making trains and buses the better option. The Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra Line (T4) remains the fastest rail connection to Bondi Junction from Central.
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Transport for NSW
The New South Wales Government agency responsible for transport policy, planning, regulation and delivery across the state, including public transport operations and infrastructure maintenance.
All light rail services return to their normal timetable from 5am Monday 17 August. Until then, the advice is simple: plan ahead, allow extra time, and if you see a replacement bus with an Opal reader, tap on.