Capital Metro bidders announced on 22 Dec 2014

The ACT Government announced on 22 December 2014 that they received four expressions of interests from consortiums seeking to build and operate the Capital Metro light rail line from Gungahlin to Civic. The project will be financed and built using a PPP model.

In announcing the four bidders that would be competing for the project, Capital Metro Agency Minister Simon Corbell said: 

"I am very pleased by the level of interest shown by these global, nation and local firms. What it shows is great confidence in Canberra, great confidence in the Capital Metro light rail project. It is about delivering infrastructure to our city, creating jobs and opportunity for our city." 

The EOI process opened on 31 October 2014 and closed on 19 December 2014.

The four bidders that submitted EOI's were:

Canberra Metro
ACTIVATE
Connecting Canberra
CANGO

Each of the bidders are consortiums comprised of multiple companies:

• Canberra Metro: Pacific Partnerships, Mitsubishi Corporation, Aberdeen Infrastructure Investments Limited, John Holland, DB International, Leighton Contractors, Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) and Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi.

• ACTIVATE: Downer EDI, Plenary Group Private Limited, Bombardier Transportation Australia, Keolis Downer, Keolis SA, Parsons Brinckerhoff Australia, Aurecon Australasia, Cox Architecture, Itochu Australia and Partners Group AG.

• Connecting Canberra: Capella Capital, TransDev Australia, Alstom Transport Australia, Acciona Infrastructure Australia, Acciona and Coleman Rail.

• CANGO: Macquarie Capital Group Limited, Obrascon Huarte Lain, SMRT International Private Limited, UGL Rail Services, and Siemens.

A shortlist will now be made (expected early 2015) and the selected bidders will progress to the Request for Proposals stage. A single bidder will then be selected. The successful consortium is expected to commence construction on Capital Metro by early 2016.

Phase I of the Capital Metro light rail line will run from Civic to Gungahlin along Northbourne Avenue and Flemington Road. 

The media covered the announcement here:

ABC Canberra - Major companies vying for chance to build ACT light rail network

Canberra Times - Capital Metro light rail bidders announced for Canberra Gungahlin tram line

ABC Canberra televison also covered the announcement.

For more frequent updates on Capital Metro and light rail related news, please visit our Facebook page 'Light Rail for Canberra'.