Rail moves from vision to reality An artist's impression of the proposed light rail in Parramatta. THIS is your first glimpse of a western Sydney light rail network which will overhaul Parramatta's Church St Mall, fix public transport black holes and generate $5 billion in construction and 2500 jobs. Parramatta City Council, which will today unveil its first report into a $1.7 billion light rail link, has found the network would generate $242 million in economic activity each year, employ 170 people in the long-term and increase the income of the west by $3 billion. The report recommends a 24km light rail network with up to 25 stations which would take more than 5000 passengers per rail corridor during peak-hour periods. It would cost $32 million per year to operate but is forecast to provide $50 million in user benefits per year, linking stranded suburbs to jobs and education. "The report found better transport links would improve social cohesion, particularly for people who have little choice but to use existing poor public transport options to access jobs and education," Parramatta Lord Mayor John Chedid said. Taking people off roads and on to light rail will have flow-on benefits for Sydney's traffic congestion, the environment and people's health and work-life balance. The first stage would link Parramatta to Macquarie Park via Eastwood and another line connecting Parramatta to Castle Hill. The next links would be Parramatta to Bankstown and Parramatta to Rhodes via Sydney Olympic Park. "From here, the network would grow and evolve to meet the future economic and social needs of the region," Mr Chedid said. We estimate the first stage of the network will cost $1.7 billion. The Castle Hill line will cost about $800 million and the Macquarie Park line about $900 million. It has already been backed by the University of Western Sydney and peak business groups. Mr Chedid said $20 million in funding and support must be secured for detailed planning work to be completed before the project progressed to construction. "We're looking to the state and federal governments to help the western Sydney region with taking forward this feasible transport solution," he said. Sydney Business Chamber western Sydney director David Borger said the light rail plan was "a common-sense solution." "We can't just talk about making Parramatta Sydney's second CBD - we need action," he said.