Canberra’s Light Rail project has reached a mammoth milestone with the last section of rail being installed along the Gungahlin to the City corridor, Minister for Transport Meegan Fitzharris announced today.
The Minister also confirmed that services on Canberra’s first light rail project will commence in early 2019 with construction still on track to finish later this year.
“Just over a year after the rail installation began on the project in Gungahlin, this significant milestone today brings Canberra’s light rail system one step closer to reality,” said Minister Fitzharris.
“The final installation of rail is a very significant moment in any rail project. From here we expect to see more of the light rail vehicles being tested along the alignment over the coming weeks.
“The ACT Government, in conjunction with Canberra Metro, would like to thank the community for their continued patience and understanding as we get closer to the completion of construction.”
Minister Fitzharris said it was clear to everyone who travels along the route that significant progress is being made on the project. All the light rail vehicles are now in Canberra, the track slab has been laid and landscaping is being done across the project.
“It’s really exciting to see how much progress has been made, and I know the community is keen to find out when they can begin riding on light rail.
“Following completion of construction, Canberra Metro will need to obtain third party rail accreditation from the Office of National Rail Safety Regulator and the Independent Certifier before the system begins operations.
“While this means we don’t yet have an exact date, I can confirm we are expecting the first services to begin in early 2019, which is really exciting.
“We’re also working on a plan to design a launch weekend that will give as many Canberrans as possible the chance to ride light rail on the first weekend, and we’ll have more to say about this soon.
“As with any complex infrastructure project, there are also risks that affect timing such as weather, the testing and commissioning of rail and signalling systems, and finalising of the stops.
“It is clear to all that significant progress is being made on the project, and I look forward to updating the community on a start date as soon as possible,” said Minister Fitzharris.
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