ACT Light Rail Stage 2A is the first component of ACT Light Rail Stage Two. Stage 2A involves the construction of three new stops at Edinburgh Avenue, City South, and Commonwealth Avenue. The original business case also included a potential stop at City West which is no longer included.
ACT Light Rail Stage Two is a light rail will run from the Canberra CBD to Woden via the Parliamentary Triangle. The line will be 11 kilometres long, with 12 new stops along the route.
Stage Two has been split into Stage 2A and Stage 2B. Stage 2A will be delivered first, and will extend the light rail from the current terminus at Alinga Street to Commonwealth Park by 1.7 kilometres.
ACT Light Rail Stage 2A is expected to commence once the main construction works to raise London Circuit is complete, which is an enabling road project for Stage 2A.
Key Dates
| Feb 2021 | Project Announcement |
| Dec 2023 | Contract Award |
| Feb 2025 | Construction Commencement |
| 2028 | Expected Construction Completion |
Funding contributions
| Federal Government | |
| ACT Government |
Procurement
| Procuring Agency: | ACT Government |
| Successful Tenderer: | Canberra Metro consortium consisting of Pacific Partnerships, CPB Contractors, John Holland, UGL, Mitsubishi Corporation, Aberdeen Infrastructure Investments, DB Engineering & Consulting, CAF and MUFG |
| Procurement note: | Light Rail Stage 2A is being delivered as an augmentation to the existing Light Rail Stage One PPP agreement with Canberra Metro. Existing Stage One operations will be contractually ringfenced from the Stage 2A works during delivery phase. Canberra Metro will also arrange private finance for the Stage 2A delivery phase costs. The existing Stage One availability payments will then increase once services completion is achieved for Stage 2A to accommodate the extended alignment. Light Rail will operate thereafter as a single system from Gungahlin to Commonwealth Park for the remainder of the PPP contract term through to 2038. |
| Related contracts: |
PROJECT HISTORY
| Jul 2019 | Planning approval for Stage Two was split in two to better deal with complex planning approval through the parliamentary triangle. |
| Sep 2019 | ACT Government endorsed the business case for Stage 2A. |
| Feb 2020 | The ACT Government announced that the Stage 2A Light Rail extension will include 1.7 kilometres of wire-free track from the Alinga Street station, along London Circuit and onto Commonwealth Avenue, finishing at Commonwealth Park. New and existing light rail vehicles will be fitted with energy storage and regenerative braking. |
| Feb 2020 | The Federal Government granted environmental approval to commence work on Stage 2A. |
| Aug 2020 | ACT Government called for public feedback to Preliminary Documentation responding to requirements under Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. |
| Feb 2021 | The Federal Government announced $132.5 million for Stage 2A. |
| Apr 2021 | The ACT Government released updated delivery plans for the project with early works commencing before the end of 2021. |
| Sep 2021 | The ACT Government commenced an Expressions of Interest phase for the Raising London Circuit Main Works package, as part of Stage 2A, closing 14 October. The project involves works to raise the southern portion of London Circuit and is to be delivered through a construct-only contract, with design undertaken by Major Projects Canberra. |
| Mar 2022 | The National Capital Authority provided works approval to raise London Circuit, enabling the construction of an at-grade intersection with Commonwealth Avenue. |
| Jul 2022 | Contract awarded for the raising of London Circuit. |
| Oct 2022 | Construction commenced on the raising of the London Circuit. |
| Mar 2023 | The ACT Government issued a Request for Tenders for a Quantity Surveyor for the ACT Light Rail Stage 2A – City to Commonwealth Park, closing 21st March. |
| Mar 2023 | The ACT Government opened the Works Approval for the project for public consultation, closing on 11 May. |
| Jul 2023 | The National Capital Authority has granted works approval to enable delivery of Stage 2A. |
| Dec 2023 | Contract for Stage 2A awarded to Canberra Metro consortium. |
| Jun 2024 | The 2024-25 ACT Budget allocated $649 million over four years to deliver the project. The estimated total cost was also increased to $784 million, up from the $577 million stated by the ACT Government in December 2023. |
| Feb 2025 | Construction commenced on the project. |
Works Approval Consultation
Light Rail Stage 2A consultation
