Transport for NSW chief operations officer Howard Collins said integrating the lines was “worthy of consideration” as it would bolster the flexibility of operations.
“At the moment ... we cannot do[a mixed-fleet operation] because we have one tram line with a tram wheel profile and one with a heavy rail profile,” he said.
The agency is awaiting a proposal from the ALTRAC consortium,which is the contractor for the inner west and CBD and eastern suburbs lines. French company Transdev,which is part of the consortium,operates trams that differ in length and width on the two lines.
Tram services on the 12.8-kilometre inner west line between Central Station and Dulwich Hill weresuspended in late October,after sizeable cracks were discovered in the 12-vehicle Urbos fleet.
However,the inner westline returned to operation in February when six Citadis trams were borrowed from the CBD and eastern suburbs light rail line,after modifications to station platforms,track,and changes to speed limits were made to accommodate them.
The CBD and eastern suburbs trams are slightly narrower,creating a greater distance between the vehicle and the platform on the inner west line,which has meant a temporary “gap filler” was needed on platforms for the Citadis trams to carry passengers.