Whether you’re walking, cycling, driving or catching public transport, it’s important we all take care and are safe around light rail.
Facepainting and balloon magic these school holidays!
Newcastle light rail runs from Newcastle Interchange in Wickham to Newcastle Beach in the east end of Newcastle.
With six convenient stops, Newcastle light rail is a great way to explore Newcastle’s city centre.
The turn-up-and-go service operates from 5am to 1am, seven days a week.
Whether you’re walking, cycling, driving or catching public transport, it’s important we all take care and are safe around light rail.
Safety for pedestrians
Safety for drivers
Safety for cyclists
Using light rail is easy when you follow these travel tips:
Tap on with your Opal card
Catching light rail is easy with an Opal card. Simply tap on at the platform.
For fare information visit transportnsw.info
Transferring to light rail within 60 minutes of tapping off the train, bus or ferry will make you eligible for the Opal Transfer Discount.
Children aged three years and under travel free on public transport.
You can make multiple trips on light rail under the same fare as long as you tap on within 60 minutes of tapping off from your last trip.
If you don’t have an Opal card, you can tap on at one of the Opal readers with an American Express, Mastercard or Visa credit or debit card or a linked device. Standard Adult Opal fare pricing applies.
You can also buy single trip tickets from ticket machines on the platform. However, single trip tickets cost more than an Opal card fare and don’t provide any Opal benefits.
For more information, visit newcastletransport.info/tickets-and-opal
Get on board and hold on
Enter the light rail stop safely and wait on the platform behind the safety line until your service arrives. When the light rail vehicle has come to a stop, board by pressing the door open button when it turns green. Always allow other passengers to exit the vehicle before you board.
Once on board, make sure you stand clear of the doors and take a seat or, if standing, hold onto a hand strap or handrail. There are luggage racks for larger items and surfboard racks to secure your board on the way to the beach.
There are 60 seats on each vehicle, including 16 priority seats which should be made available for less mobile passengers. There is standing room for 216 people, with hand straps and handrails available for passenger safety.
Enjoy your trip
Follow the instructions of staff, signs and onboard announcements and remember to be respectful of other passengers.
Vehicles have a speed limit of 40km/h. Please make sure you hold on and store your belongings safely as vehicles may brake suddenly.
Leave the vehicle
Pay attention to the passenger information display or the onboard announcements so you don’t miss your stop.
Be prepared to leave the vehicle as it pulls into your stop. When the light rail vehicle has come to a stop, exit by pressing the door open button when it turns green.
Remember to tap off at the Opal reader using your Opal card, American Express, Mastercard or Visa credit or debit card or linked device on the platform.
Leave the platform
Please cross the road at the designated pedestrian crossing at each stop.
Light rail vehicles are very quiet and can approach from either direction, so it’s important you pay attention when around the tracks and look both ways when crossing.
Pay attention to the signs, traffic lights, and road markings in place along Hunter and Scott streets.
When driving, walking and riding around light rail, it is important to obey all traffic and pedestrian signals and signage, and to always be aware of your surroundings.
Some key signs and road markings to look out for are:
40km/h sign
Tramway
Mixed running
Tram only road marking
Warning sign (road users)
Warning sign (pedestrians)
Rules that apply for tramways and mixed running