Sydney Monorail to cease operations in June 2013

Sydney's monorail will cease operations in June next year, clearing the way for the removal of the infrastructure to accommodate the new convention centre at Darling Harbour.

Earlier this year the NSW Government announced it had bought Metro Transport Sydney (MTS), the company that owns Sydney's light rail and the monorail.

The $19.8 million purchase now means the monorail infrastructure will be removed before the redevelopment of the new Darling Harbour Convention Centre and precinct.

NSW Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian confirmed "the monorail will cease operations on Sunday, 30th June 2013 and will be removed after that date."

Minister Berejiklian explained that monorail operations will continue in their current form until that date because of existing contractual arrangements with the operator, adding that "the monorail has never been truly embraced by the community and is reaching the end of its economic life."

As part of the cessation of the service, the monorail infrastructure and rolling stock will soon be taken to market.

The NSW Government plans to replace the monorail with an extension of Sydney's light rail network, with Minister Berejiklian confirming the recent contract award for the design and construction of the Inner West Light Rail Extension.

John Holland will be responsible for the detailed design and construction of the main infrastructure elements of the light rail extension which form part of the $176 million Inner West Light Rail extension.

The monorail was first opened in 1988 and is 3.6 kilometres long.