The Canberra Metro consortium has been awarded a contract for the financing, planning, construction, and operation of phase 2A of the Canberra light rail transit (LRT) network. The CIMIC Group is involved in the consortium with the companies Pacific Partnerships, CPB Contractors and UGL. The 1.7 km LRT section with three new stations will run from Aling Street in the city centre to Commonwealth Park. The project is jointly funded by the Australian government and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). Canberra Metro was awarded the contract worth €351 million (AU$577 million) following a single-stage selection process and is realising the catenary-free phase 2A as part of an existing public-private partnership (PPP) between ACT and Canberra Metro. Construction is scheduled to start in January 2024 and last four years. Consortium partner CAF is currently supplying five additional Urbos light rail vehicles (LRV) with batteries for catenary-free operation. The existing depot will also be expanded. Canberra Metro had already implemented the first LRT phase to Gungahlin. The LRT network is to be further extended by 9.3 km to Woden in phase 2B.
