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National
Heath Parkes-Hupton and Paulina Vidal

Limited service, discounted fares as Sydney's inner-west tram route resumes from February 12

Trams used on the eastern suburbs line will be deployed to run inner-west services from next Saturday. (ABC News)

Sydney's inner-west tram line will resume next weekend with limited services and reduced fares after the route was closed due to major faults in its carriages last year.

The line — which runs between Central Station and Dulwich Hill — was shuttered in October when major cracking was found in all 12 trams used on the popular L1 line.

NSW Transport Minister David Elliott said the resumption of services would come as a relief to commuters and residents.

"It's been an unfortunate situation where that service has been taken offline," Mr Elliott said.

"There will be a slight reduction in the frequency but there will be a service every 15 minutes."

He said discounting the fare was a "sign of goodwill" from the government and a recognition that commuters had been "inconvenienced".

The new fares are expected to remain in place until regular services resume, which Mr Elliott said could either be in a couple of months or "certainly by the end of the year".

When the closure was announced, it was speculated the line could be out of action for up to 18 months while repairs to the faulty trams were completed.

Mr Elliott says the fare reduction is a sign of goodwill by the government. (AAP: Bianca De Marchi)

Now six Citadis trams used on the eastern suburbs line will be deployed to run inner-west services every 15 minutes, starting on Saturday, February 12.

Transport for NSW's chief operations officer, Howard Collins, said platforms and tracks had been modified to allow the larger Citadis trams to run on the line.

Shadow Minister for Transport Jo Haylen welcomed today's announcement but called it a "bandaid solution" after 100 days of no service.

"Make no mistake, the government has cobbled together a bandaid solution to a transport disaster completely of their making," Ms Haylen said.

"The replacement service is a reduced quality of service. Previously, passengers here would be able to catch a tram every six to eight minutes. This replacement service will see them wait over 15 minutes.

"The off-peak fare is an admission of a reduction in the quality of service."

Mr Minns renewed his calls for Australian-made public transport infrastructure. (ABC News)

Labor leader Chris Minns said he feared the "complete debacle" with the inner-west line would not stop the government "taking the lowest bid in a foreign country rather than building it in Australia".

"I believe we can build it in Australia but it does require the willpower from the New South Wales government," Mr Minns said.

"Now they're not listening to the people of this state when it comes to transport infrastructure, COVID management, the economic response, tolls, taxes, fines, charges or any of these issues. 

"They need to listen to the people of this state because I think the people of this state are sick of the management when it comes to the essential public services."

However, the call for Australian-made products was also backed by Mr Elliott.

"I have always been an advocate for Australian manufacturing and certainly was the case when I was in industry before i got elected to parliament," Mr Elliott said.

"So my preference will always be to encourage Australian manufacturers to put bids forward and I will be saying something on that later on in the year."

Tram services will be complemented by the 2L1 bus service between Central and The Star every 15 minutes from 7am to 9am and 3pm to 7pm, Monday to Friday.

The F10 ferry service between Blackwattle Bay and Barangaroo also operates daily every 30 minutes.

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