Building, financing and maintaining a light rail network is a long-term commitment. Since 2016, Canberra Metro and its joint venture partners have worked alongside the ACT Government to deliver an asset that is now part of daily life in the capital. That work has been recognised by the rail, engineering and infrastructure sectors through a series of national and international awards.
Recognition for delivery and financing
The Canberra Metro consortium brings together John Holland, CIMIC, Pacific Partnerships and UGL under a public-private partnership with the ACT Government. Awards received for this delivery work include:
- Australian Engineering Excellence Award (Engineers Australia, 2020) for the Canberra Metro project.
- Rail Sustainability Award at the Australasian Rail Industry Awards (Australasian Railway Association, 2020) for the Canberra Light Rail Project.
- Operator and Service Provider Excellence at the National Infrastructure Awards (Infrastructure Partnerships Australia, 2020).
- Gold Medal for Best Operational Project, Transport at the Partnership Awards London (2020).
- Transport Deal of the Year at The Asset Triple A Infrastructure Awards (2021), recognising Canberra Metro Finance Pty Limited.
- Excellent Infrastructure Sustainability design rating (Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia, 2019).
Canberra's light rail network was also the first Australian transport public-private partnership to execute a green loan, a milestone in sustainable infrastructure financing.
Operational recognition
Day-to-day passenger services on Canberra's light rail are run by Canberra Metro Operations (CMET). CMET has received its own recognition for operational performance and community safety, including the Keeping Communities Safe On and Around Rail Award at the 2024 Australasian Rail Industry Awards, and a Collaboration Award from the Transport Canberra and City Services Director-General in 2023.
You can view the full list of awards on the CMET awards page.
A shared achievement
Every award listed here reflects the work of hundreds of people across our partner organisations, the ACT Government, local suppliers and the Canberra community that has welcomed light rail into the city. As construction continues on Stage 2A from the City to Commonwealth Park, we remain focused on delivering infrastructure that serves Canberra now and through to 2038.