Sydney's Inner West light rail won't fully reopen until mid-2022

Light rail services in Sydney's Inner West will not fully resume until mid-next year, New South Wales Transport Minister Rob Stokes says.

While services between Lilyfield and Central Grand Concourse will partially reopen from February 2022, full services to Dulwich Hill will not resume until October.

Mr Stokes noted that the repairs had been frustrating for thousands of commuters, currently relying on replacement buses for the L1 Dulwich Hill line.

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"It is a terrible situation, enormously frustrating for commuters," Mr Stokes said.

People travelling from Lilyfield will still have to catch both a bus and a tram to get to Dulwich Hill until at least mid-2022.

The minister confirmed commuters will have some reprieve from the frustrating shutdown in February, when surplus trams from Sydney's CBD and South East will be brought in to operate between Lilyfield and Central Grand Concourse.

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The plan to recommence some services earlier than expected hinders on final testing, which Chief Executive Officer of Sydney trains, Howard Collins, was confident would go smoothly.

"I am 95 per cent absolutely sure that we're going to get there for February," Mr Collins said.

Replacement buses will continue to operate at half price, although commuters will have to pay full fare once services are restored.

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