Pacific Partnerships, CPB Contractors and UGL, which form the Canberra Metro consortium are set to finance, design, build and operate the second stage of the Canberra Light Rail.
Canberra Light Rail Stage 2A will extend the existing light rail system by 1.7 kilometres from Aling Park to Commonwealth Park. The extension will provide greater connections to and from the city and will also support active travel in the city, with new cycling and walking infrastructure.
People will be able to board a service every 5-15 minutes on the extended route, with the light rail vehicles having three times the capacity of a bus. It will provide greater connection between the city and the lake. It will also support active travel in the city by including new cycling and walking infrastructure.
As part of the $577 million contract, Canberra Metro will deliver three new stops at Edinburgh Avenue, City South and Commonwealth Avenue.
Canberra Metro will also deliver five new light rail vehicles are under production. These new vehicles will be pre-fitted with battery technology. Canberra Metro will also deliver an expansion of the existing depot.
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Under Canberra Metro, Pacific Partnerships handle sponsor and equity funding, CPB Contractors are responsible for design and construction and UGL take care of operations and maintenance.
This is the third Canberra Light Rail package for Canberra Metro.
UGL Managing Director Doug Moss said the company’s total number of passenger journeys across Australia and New Zealand will grow with the addition of Canberra Light Rail Stage 2A.
“Canberrans have embraced Stage 1 since operations started in 2019, with a service frequency reliability of at least 99.9 percent, delivering services every five to six minutes in peak and 10-15 minutes in off-peak,” he said.
Construction is expected to start in January 2024.