The Canberra Metro consortium has been selected to build and operate the Light Rail Stage 2A City to Commonwealth Park project in Australia.

The consortium comprises CIMIC Group companies Pacific Partnerships (sponsor and equity funding), CPB Contractors (design and construction), and UGL (operations and maintenance).

Under the $577m contract, Canberra Metro will be responsible for financing, designing, building, and operating Light Rail Stage 2A.

Construction is set to commence in January 2024 and be completed within four years.

Light Rail Stage 2A will extend the current light rail system by 1.7km, from Alinga Street to Commonwealth Park. The extension will follow along London Circuit West.

The consortium will design and build three new stops at Edinburgh Avenue, City South, and Commonwealth Avenue.

Jointly funded by the Australian Government and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government, the Light Rail Stage 2A project is planned to be delivered under Canberra Metro’s existing public-private partnership (PPP) with the ACT Government.

UGL managing director Doug Moss said: “UGL is involved in more than 150 million passenger journeys across Australia and New Zealand each year, which 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%, delivering services every five-six minutes in peak and ten to 15 minutes in off-peak.”

Canberra Metro used a green loan to fund the PPP finance contribution for the Stage 2A extension.

CIMIC executive chair Juan Santamaria said: “Canberra Light Rail’s progressive stages are modernising the city’s public transport system, connecting residential areas with employment centres and social and cultural hubs.”

The Light Rail Stage 2 project is being developed in two phases - Stage 2A and Stage 2B.