“Every major project has its challenges but this project is coming to life. We know the public will love it,” she said. “We are seeing real progress.” Transport authorities are finalising the sequencing of signals at about 67 intersections along the route of the line between Circular Quay, and Randwick and Kingsford in the south east. The time that trams spend waiting at intersections for red lights to change will be one of the major causes of delays to trips for passengers. A 67-metre tram undergoes testing at Moore Park in Sydney's east on Tuesday. Credit: Jessica Hromas But Transport for NSW secretary Rodd Staples said trams would have a “high priority relative to everything else” at intersections along the route of the line.

“These [trams] carry 450 people, equivalent of nine buses, so you move more people through the intersection per second than you do with the old bus system,” he said. “Clearly these are going to be a high priority when you've got 450 people on them.” Loading The 67-metre long tram sets – more than twice the length of those on the inner west light rail line – will have seating for 120 people, and standing room for 330. They will run every four minutes during peak periods of the day. Construction of the light rail project has been marred by legal battles, cost blowouts, repeated delays and prolonged disruption to businesses and residents along the route of the line.

Spanish contractor Acciona is suing the government for $1.1 billion for “misleading or deceptive” conduct in the lead-up to the signing of a contract in 2014 to design and construct the light rail line. Ms Berejiklian apologised to residents and businesses for the disruption caused by the project, which had been more severe for some than others, but said the “light is definitely at the end of the tunnel”. The ALTRAC consortium responsible for the project has said the line will not be completed and opened to passengers until March 2020, which is a year later than originally promised. “Obviously the date we've been given is March 2020 but we are hoping we can bring that forward to late next year,” Ms Berejiklian said. The remaining 900 metres of track that has to be laid is expected to be completed in the next few weeks. Construction barriers on George Street in the CBD between Circular Quay and Liverpool Street are due to be removed by November.