Released 28/10/2023
Canberra’s light rail system has reached another passenger milestone with the ACT Government’s successful public transport project hitting 15 million total passengers this weekend.
“We’re incredibly proud of the services that light rail is providing Canberrans ensuring a convenient, attractive, sustainable and reliable form of public transport,” said Minister for Transport and City Services Chris Steel.
“That’s why we’re investing in additional stages to bring this fantastic service to more parts of the city, and expanding light rail to the southside to create the central mass transit spine that our fast-growing city needs from Gungahlin to Woden.”
A light rail satisfaction survey undertaken last month found that 98 per cent of passengers reported they were satisfied with the ease of using the light rail when they took public transport.
Fifty-one per cent of passengers also reported they plan to continue their journey through the city by taking advantage of light rail stage 2A in the future.
“It’s been a real win for Canberrans who live on the northside being able to skip the traffic on their way into work, the city or surrounding suburbs on the light rail line,” said Minister Steel.
“In the past three months, 22 per cent of all public transport journeys across the whole of Canberra were on the light rail.
“We know that light rail increases public transport patronage, with around 43 per cent of people who use it having not used other types of public transport previously.
“The latest data shows that public transport mode share in Gungahlin has increased by nearly 50 per cent since the introduction of light rail. Private car usage has declined further with the highest drop recorded in Gungahlin and North Canberra, along the light rail alignment, reducing by 9 per cent in Gungahlin, and 13 per cent in North Canberra.
“Buses alone won’t deliver increased patronage on public transport, or the mass transit we need to move more people as our city grows. Light rail stage 1 has already shown it can provide these benefits to our city and its why we are extending to the line to the southside.”
Construction on Stage 2A – which will see the line extended to Commonwealth Park - is expected to start once raising London Circuit is complete.
“The raising London Circuit work is progressing well, with the first temporary road and demolition of the southbound bridge over London Circuit fully complete,” said Minister Steel.
“Over the next year, Canberrans can expect to see our city centre change substantially with the upgrades better connecting the city and the lake whilst planning and design continues on the further Stage 2B to Woden.
“We’ve also started construction on the ‘green track’ prototype at the National Arboretum Canberra, where Canberrans will be able to see the design of grassed track areas through the city on the stage 2A line and the Light Rail Stage 2A project will benefit from their understanding of the prototype’s performance, and the necessary refinements to the current design.”
- Statement ends -
Chris Steel, MLA | Media Releases