Newcastle light rail services suspended after mechanical issue

Keolis Downer shut down the services from 5pm on Thursday after inspections of the fleet identified the mechanical problem. Buses are replacing the trams while they are out of action.

"The fleet has been suspended as a precaution until inspections are completed," a Transport for NSW spokesperson said.

"This issue is unrelated to the cracking issues identified in the Inner West light rail fleet."

Sydney's Inner West tram line is out of action for at least 18 months due to cracking in all 12 of its Spanish-made CAF light rail vehicles.

Keolis Downer uses similar CAF vehicles in Newcastle but said last month that it had found no problems with its fleet.

The Transport for NSW spokesperson said Keolis Downer aimed to have some trams running by Monday.

"Obviously, as investigation works progress over the weekend we will be able to provide customers with a more accurate update in coming days," the spokesperson said.

"We will keep customers informed as we progress and when services resume."

Labor seized on the suspension of services as another example of government failure in procuring transport infrastructure.

"This is the NSW government's second light rail fail in a month," shadow transport minister Jo Haylen said. "As if we needed more evidence to build transport infrastructure here in Australia."

Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp said the vehicle fault followed the discovery of cracking in the light rail tracks early last year.

"Novocastrians were promised the world with this light rail and they've been delivered a dud," he said.

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