Canberra Light Rail Stage 2A
Light Rail Stage 2A City to Commonwealth (Stage 2A) is a $575m expansion of Canberra’s world-class Light Rail network.
LRS2A will be delivered under Canberra Metro’s existing Public Private Partnership (PPP) with the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), procured under an availability-based PPP commercial structure with scope to finance, design, build, operate and maintain.
Canberra Metro delivered Stage 1 of Light Rail in 2019 as the first transport PPP with the ACT. Stage 2A is the next step in the network, building on the success of Stage 1 (Gungahlin to City). The project includes a 1.7km extension from the current end-of-the-line in Alinga Street to Commonwealth Park, including three new stops. The extension will be ‘catenary free’, using On-board Energy Storage System (OESS) battery technology.
Combined with Stage 1, Stage 2A will deliver a north-south light rail transport link providing a "one-seat" journey between Gungahlin and Lake Burley Griffin as part of Canberra’s integrated light rail network.
Innovative financing approach
Achieving financial close for the project in 2023 demonstrated a genuine evolution of an existing partnership, through successful augmentation of the existing Stage 1 PPP agreement, and collaboration between the parties through a double-SPV structure. This innovative solution can be replicated for future augmentations.
Project delivery
Canberra Metro was awarded the $575m contract in December 2023 to finance, design, build and operate the next stage of Canberra’s world-class Light Rail network, Stage 2A as part of an integrated network.
Construction by the D&C Contractor, an unincorporated joint venture including CPB Contractors is set to commence in early 2025. CIMIC’s UGL is part of the Canberra Metro Operations (CMET) joint venture that operates the existing operational Stage 1 and will also operate the Stage 2A extension once it is built.
Upon achievement of Stage 2A Services Completion, operations will be rolled into the existing operating contract with Canberra Metro for the remainder of the 20-year operating period under an Amended and Restated Project Agreement (ARPA) through to 2038.