The L1 Dulwich Hill to Central light rail line will be nonoperational for up to 18 months due to extensive cracking in the vehicles.

Minister for Transport and Roads Rob Stokes and Transport for NSW Chief Operations Officer Howard Collins have announced all 12 trains are affected by the problem.

2GB senior reporter Clinton Maynard told Jim Wilson the cracking was much worse than first realised when engineers pulled apart one of the carriages today, and there is no known solution.

“It’s believed to be potentially, Jim, a global problem.

“It will affect light rail operations all over the world.”

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Buses will replace the light rail for the duration of the nonoperational period, lengthening the commute.

State Labor leader Chris Minns took aim at the NSW government’s decision to award the light rail contract to a Spanish manufacturer.

He told Jim Wilson the Opposition will commit to local transport manufacturing for all future projects if they win the 2023 election.

“This is a proper light rail fail, a real disaster on our hands here.

“I think it’s time we drew a line in the sand here, and started backing Australian know-how and Australian manufacturing.”

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Image: Getty