Sydney’s L1, L2 and L3 light rail services will face overnight closures on Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 October, with disruption concentrated between 8pm and 1am. The changes will affect passengers travelling through Central, the CBD, Circular Quay, Darling Harbour, Pyrmont and the Eastern Suburbs.
The L1 Dulwich Hill Line will be replaced between Central Grand Concourse and Dulwich Hill by buses running every 15 to 20 minutes. Road traffic may lengthen that interval, so passengers should allow extra travel time rather than treating the published frequency as guaranteed.
L2 and L3 passengers face a different arrangement. Services will not run between Circular Quay and Central Chalmers Street, but trams will continue between Central and Randwick or Juniors Kingsford.
The practical choice is to reach Central by another mode. Transport for NSW advises passengers to consider trains, metro services, regular buses or walking for the closed Circular Quay to Central section, then connect with the remaining light rail services.
Transport for NSW has advised passengers to check the Trip Planner and travel alerts before leaving. The maintenance window affects late evening travel, including connections between Circular Quay, The Rocks, Central, Moore Park, Kensington, UNSW, Randwick and Kingsford.
L1 passengers will need to adjust where they board. Replacement buses will not stop at Capitol Square in either direction, while buses travelling towards Dulwich Hill and The Star will skip Exhibition Centre.
Paddy’s Market is the listed alternative for Capitol Square, about five minutes away on foot, while Central Station is about seven minutes away. Passengers heading towards Dulwich Hill and The Star from Exhibition Centre should use Convention, also about seven minutes away.
Longer walks apply for some Darling Harbour and Pyrmont trips. Transport for NSW lists the walk from Central Station to Exhibition Centre at approximately 17 minutes, Central to Convention at 29 minutes, Central to Pyrmont Bay at 30 minutes and Central to The Star at 35 minutes.
Most replacement buses will be accessible, but accessibility is not guaranteed on every departure. Passengers who need an accessible vehicle should check the Trip Planner and be prepared to wait for the next bus.
Opal rules remain in place. Where a replacement bus has an Opal reader, passengers must tap on and tap off, and the standard light rail fare applies.
The two lines do not receive the same level of replacement service. L1 has a dedicated bus connection between Central and Dulwich Hill, while L2 and L3 passengers must select another connection for the Circular Quay to Central section.
Normal L1, L2 and L3 services are expected to resume from 5am on Wednesday 28 October. The closure is limited to two overnight maintenance periods, rather than a full-day shutdown.
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Transport for NSW
Transport for NSW plans and coordinates public transport services and infrastructure across New South Wales. It publishes service alerts, maintenance notices, accessibility guidance and journey-planning information for Sydney passengers.
L2 Randwick Line
The L2 Randwick Line links Circular Quay with Randwick through the CBD, Central, Moore Park and the south-eastern suburbs. During the October maintenance closure, it will continue operating between Central and Randwick.
L3 Kingsford Line
The L3 Kingsford Line runs from Circular Quay through Central and the south-eastern light rail corridor to Juniors Kingsford. It will be suspended between Circular Quay and Central Chalmers Street during both overnight maintenance periods.
Passengers travelling after 8pm on either date should avoid relying on the final tram of the night. Checking the Trip Planner before departure will show whether a train, metro service, regular bus, walking connection or replacement bus best fits the journey.