As of 18 May, a new timetable for L2 and L3 is in effect which has reduced
the journey time on L2 to 38 mins and L3 to 39 mins. This is per contract,
so it won't improve beyond this and this timetable is likely to be
permanent unless they change any headways in the future.

https://transportnsw.info/routes/lightrail

These trips are about 5-10 minutes slower (peak/off peak) than the present
bus services from the same two points to Circular Quay, so it's going to be
a bit of a bloody affair if they go ahead with the bus changes (terminating
buses to interchange at the termini of the two lines). But they need to go
ahead with this because one of the project objectives is to free up buses
to cascade to other services.

It's interesting to compare the performance of these lines with the old
tram system which had to contend with heavy mixed traffic through the city
from Circular Quay to Moore Park Road, before it got onto reservation, as
well as many more stops. CSELR has its own exclusive lanes throughout and
far fewer stops. The running times on the present bus system are similar to
those of the former trams.

*L2*

On L2 the 8.5 km end to end journey between Circular Quay and Randwick is
done in 38 mins at an average speed of 13.4 km/h.

The former tram covered Circular Quay-Coogee (9.9 km) in 37 mins at an
average of 16 km/h. In other words, by the time the L2 tram reaches
Randwick, the old tram is already at Coogee Beach!

It's a slightly different story on the run from Central because the old
trams had to battle in mixed traffic along Cleveland Street (compared to
the new system's easy run along Devonshire Street) and started at Railway
Square, whereas now the "Central" stop is on the other side at Chalmers
Street.

So in this case, the L2 covers the 5.5 km from Central to Randwick in 19-22
mins (depending on direction - don't ask me to explain that!), at an
average speed of 15-17.3 km/h.

The former tram covered Railway Square-Coogee (8.5 km) in 29 mins at an
average speed of 17.5 km/h.

*L3*

It's a similar story on the L3 where Circular Quay-Kingsford (8.5 km) is
covered in 39 mins at an average speed of 13 km/h.

The former tram covered Circular Quay-Maroubra Junction (9.9 km) in 36 mins
at an average of 16.5 km/h.

From Central, the L3 covers the 5.5 km to Kingsford in 20-23 mins at an
average of 14.3-16.5 km/h (depending on direction).

The former tram covered Railway Square to Maroubra Junction (8.4 km) in 28
mins at an average of 18 km/h.

*96*

It's interesting to throw in Melbourne's 96 (13.9 km) as a comparison. This
is mostly street running with some priority and a long section of ROW. The
journey time seems to vary over a range of a few minutes but as far as I
can see is about 56 minutes. This results in an average speed of about 14.9
km/h. CSELR struggles to match even this timing and is completely thrashed
by the old Sydney system. Such is progress with the wonders of modern
light rail and its much-vaunted superiority over rattling old trams.

Tony P