Construction of Light Rail Stage 2A is well underway with significant works taking place in January 2026 to install the tracks and connect the existing light rail network at the intersection at Northbourne Avenue and Alinga Street.
During this time there will be disruption to both bus and light rail services. Customers are encouraged to allow extra time to travel during this period.
More information regarding the construction work can be found on the Built for CBR website.
Light rail impacts and rail replacement bus services
To allow safe access for track installation, there will be no light rail services operating between Alinga Street and Sandford Street from the first service on Monday 12 January to the last service on Friday 23 January 2026 (1:00 am Saturday 24 January).
Rail replacement buses, operated by CDC Canberra, will run at the normal light rail frequency or better between Alinga Street and Sandford Street in Mitchell (and will continue to Well Station Drive).
Rail replacement bus transfer locations
Light rail stops | Rail replacement bus stops |
|---|
Alinga Street | City bus interchange platform 4 |
Elouera Street | Next to light rail stop on Northbourne Avenue |
Ipima Street | Next to light rail stop on Northbourne Avenue |
Macarthur Avenue | Next to light rail stop on Northbourne Avenue |
Dickson Interchange | Dickson bus interchange platform 2 |
Swinden Street | Next to light rail stop on Northbourne Avenue |
Phillip Avenue | Next to light rail stop on Northbourne Avenue |
EPIC and Racecourse | At EPIC main entry bus layover |
Sandford Street | Next to light rail stop on Flemington Road |
Well Station Drive | At the Kiss and Ride drop off bay next to light rail stop on Flemington Road |
Passengers are encouraged to transfer to a rail replacement bus service from Well Station Drive if they intend to travel to Alinga Street or south of Sandford Street due to ease of transfer. Sandford Street stop is the last opportunity to transfer to a bus service to the city.
Light rail stops north of Mitchell between Sandford Street and Gungahlin Place will continue operating for the duration of these works. There are no changes to operating hours.
Please see below for the rail replacement bus and light rail frequencies:
| Rail replacement bus frequency (Alinga Street to Well Station Drive) | Light rail adjusted frequency (Sandford Street to Gungahlin Place) |
|---|
Weekday off-peak (6 am – 7 am) | 7.5 minutes | 10 minutes |
|---|
Weekday morning peak (7 am – 9:30 am) | 2.5 minutes | 5 minutes |
|---|
Weekday interval off peak (9:30 am – 3 pm) | 5 minutes | 7.5 minutes |
|---|
Weekday afternoon peak (3 pm – 6:30 pm) | 3 minutes | 6 minutes |
|---|
Weekday off-peak (6:30 pm – last service) | 7.5 minutes | 10 minutes |
|---|
Saturday off-peak (6 am – last service) | 7.5 minutes | 10 minutes |
|---|
Sunday off-peak (7 am – last service) | 7.5 minutes | 10 minutes |
|---|
Customers are not required to tap on and off on replacement buses, however, customers will still need to tap on and off at light rail stops as usual.
Customers are encouraged to allow extra time to travel during this period.
Map of rail replacement buses Monday 12 January to Friday 23 January 2026 (PDF 149.5 KB)
Bus impacts
There will be significant changes to the City bus interchange from the first bus service on Monday 5 January 2026 until the last service on Sunday 1 February 2026. During this time, City bus interchange platforms 1, 2, 3 and 4 will be closed for Transport Canberra services.
The bus routes that normally depart from these platforms will be moved to the alternative platforms in the city:
- For City bus interchange platform 1, please use platform 6 at the City or bus stop 4530 on Marcus Clarke Street before Rimmer Street for routes R2, R3, R4 northbound services.
- For City bus interchange platform 2, please use platform 8 at the City for routes R2, R6, R7 and R10 southbound services.
- For City bus interchange platform 4, please use platform 8 at the City for routes R3, R4 and R5 southbound services.
- Route 53 to Dickson will be departing from City bus interchange platform 9 (instead of platform 6).
- Route 53 to National Museum will be departing from City bus interchange platform 12 (instead of platform 8).
- Route 31 to Belconnen will be departing from City bus interchange platform 12 (instead of platform 6).
* Platform 4 will have rail replacement buses operating from this location from Monday 12 January to Friday 23 January 2026.
View the City interchange maps showing road works and bus impacts:
More information
Journey planner
Journey planner
Please be aware that the journey planner will not reflect the disruption, updated frequencies or rail replacement bus information during the disruption period.
Transport Canberra services are operating on a summer holiday timetable from Monday 22 December 2025 to Sunday 1 February 2026. Please refer to the summer holiday timetable.
Park and Ride
Park and Ride
The Park and Ride facilities at EPIC, Well Station Drive and Swinden Street will remain operational for the duration of the works.
Bikes on rail replacement bus services
Bikes on rail replacement bus services
Customers won’t be able to take bikes onto rail replacement bus services. However, they can secure bikes at racks located near affected light rail stops.
Accessibility
Accessibility
Rail replacement bus services will be operated by CDC Canberra and will be wheelchair accessible.
Support for non-English speakers
Support for non-English speakers
Google Translate can be used to translate all information on the website.
Customer Service Officers also have the Google Translate app to assist customers who may not speak English as a first language.
Lost property
Lost property
Items found/lost on board rail replacement bus services will be processed in the same way as when items are left on light rail services.
To report lost property please visit www.cmet.com.au and follow links to submit a lost property notification.
Items found on the rail replacement bus services will be sent to the light rail depot at 9 Sandford Street in Mitchell.
More information and helpful links
More information and helpful links
- Transport Canberra services are operating on a summer holiday timetable from Monday 22 December 2025 to Sunday 1 February 2026. Please refer to the summer holiday timetable.
- A new bus network will begin on Monday 2 February 2026.
- Read more about Transport Canberra’s ticketing options on Ticketing and MyWay+.
- Sign up to TC e-news for the latest news, service information and project updates from Transport Canberra.
- Follow us on Facebook @TransportCanberra
- Call us on 13 17 10 for further assistance.
Transport Canberra staff and Canberra Metro customer service officers will be onsite to support during this disruption period. Signage will be in place to assist. We thank our passengers for your patience during this time.
