NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance has finally cleared the way for school students to travel for free on Sydney's inner-west light rail line, more than two years after the government approved a detailed report into the matter.
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Documents obtained by Labor show Mr Constance signed off in January on allowing students to travel on trams between Central Station and Dulwich Hill in the inner west from July.
Opposition transport spokeswoman Jodi McKay accused the government of "sitting on its hands" for years while parents have had to pay for their children to use the light rail.
"Why are we still waiting given the minister has signed off on it? In the meantime, parents are paying full fare for their children to travel on light rail," she said.
At present, students are able to travel for free between home and school on trains, buses and ferries on school days but not the light rail.
The documents – obtained using freedom of information laws – show then transport minister Gladys Berejiklian approved in October 2013 for officials to begin a detailed assessment into extending the school transport scheme to light rail.
That report was due to take six months.
Ms McKay said it appeared to have taken more than a year for the government to make a decision because the report on the light rail should have been completed in early 2014.
"It is extraordinary that it has taken this long," she said.
Mr Constance confirmed on Friday that the changes would take effect from July, describing them as a "great win for families living around Sydney's inner west".
"Students and parents will be able to apply online for the School Opal card for travel on the light rail from 1 July this year, and will start travelling from the start of the third school term a few weeks later," he said.
The recommendation signed off by Mr Constance in January shows Transport for NSW wants until July before students can travel for free to "allow sufficient time to implement any necessary operational changes".
"The scheme will then be extended to all new light rail lines as they open," it said.
Transport authorities have investigated the impact of allowing students to travel for free during school days on the $2.1 billion light rail line from the CBD to Randwick and Kensington, in the city's east, when it opens in 2019.
"While some services will be busy, it is expected that there will be sufficient capacity on all services, even accounting for demand from school students," the document said.
In January, the government announced as many as 90 extra services a week would run on the inner-west light rail line to cope with demand during peak travel periods.
The number of passengers using the trams rose almost 60 per cent to 6.1 million last financial year due in large part to the opening of a 5.6-kilometre extension of the line to Dulwich Hill in early 2014, government figures show.
The School Opal card replaced paper tickets at the start of this year. While it gives students free travel to and from school, they need a separate concession card for weekend travel.
Under the latest changes, existing School Opal cardholders will be able to request online that light rail be added to their transport entitlement, or replace the existing mode of approved travel.
The Greens MP for Balmain, Jamie Parker, said it was "manifestly unfair" that students had not been able to travel for free on the light rail to and from school.
"It simply makes sense to include light rail as it will reduce bus congestion on our roads and make travel to school faster for students," he said.
