Independent guide · locals & visitors · ACT
Canberra Light Rail — open Stage 1, Stage 2 building
Canberra Light Rail Stage 1 runs today from Gungahlin Place to Alinga Street (map, timetable, MyWay+). New light rail tracks for Stage 2A are under construction — not passenger service yet. Get Stage 2 / 2A / 2B status without the confusion.
- Stage 1 Open now ~12 km · 14 stops
- Stage 2A Building New tracks · target ~2028
- Stage 2B Planning Toward Woden · longer term
- Pay with MyWay+ Not NSW Opal
Photo · CC licensed How a typical visit works
- Start north or City Gungahlin Place or Alinga Street
- Ride Stage 1 MyWay+ · high frequency
- Dickson or Braddon Food strips mid-corridor
- Civic & beyond City base · bus to institutions
The line at a glance
Full stop guides →Schematic only (not to geographic scale). Stage 1 only — Stage 2A stops (Edinburgh Avenue / City West, City South, Commonwealth Park) are under construction and not shown as open. Official maps: CMET stops · Transport Canberra. Click a stop name to jump to its guide below.
Photo · CC licensed 
Photo · CC licensed Major stops worth knowing
All 14 stops →- 1 Gungahlin Place Town centre & buses
- 7 EPIC and Racecourse Events & shows
- 10 Dickson Interchange Food & bus hub
- 14 Alinga Street City terminus
Stage 2, extension & “new tracks” Full update →
- Stage 1 Open Gungahlin Place to Alinga Street (Civic) — open to passengers since 20 April 2019.
- Stage 2A Building City area toward Commonwealth Park (~1.7 km). New stops planned include Edinburgh Avenue (City West), City South and Commonwealth Park. Public services targeted ~2028 — confirm on the official Light Rail to Woden program.
- Stage 2B Planning Commonwealth Park toward Woden via the National Triangle / Adelaide Avenue corridor. Preferred alignment work continues; longer-term project — not under passenger operation.
Start here
- How to ride & MyWay+ First trip, tickets, transfers, etiquette
- Timetable orientation Hours & frequency — plus official links
- Things to do City, Gungahlin→City, food & institutions
- History How Stage 1 was planned and opened
Stay near the line
Hotels & stays near the light rail
Sleep near Civic, Dickson or Gungahlin and ride Stage 1 for City days, food strips and event hops. We may earn a commission if you book via Booking.com (no extra cost to you).
- Gungahlin Northern terminus · town centre hotels & apartments Search on Booking.com →
- Dickson Dickson Interchange · dining strip & mid-corridor stays Search on Booking.com →
- City / Civic Alinga Street terminus · CBD hotels & apartment towers Search on Booking.com →
- Commonwealth Park area Near Stage 2A works · lakeside & national triangle access Search on Booking.com →
Booking.com affiliate links. Affiliate disclosure
Beyond the light rail
Tours & experiences
Capital tours, national institutions and day trips that pair well with a Canberra stay. Stage 1 gets you to Civic — many attractions need a short bus, walk or tour from there. We may earn a commission if you book via GetYourGuide (no extra cost to you).
- Canberra city & capital tours National institutions, city highlights and guided walks Search on GetYourGuide →
- Australian War Memorial experiences Memorial and national history focused activities Search on GetYourGuide →
- Parliament & national triangle Parliamentary Zone and lakeside visitor experiences Search on GetYourGuide →
- Day trips from Canberra Regional outings beyond the light rail corridor Search on GetYourGuide →
GetYourGuide partner links. Affiliate disclosure
Travel kit
Handy gear for a capital day out
Lightweight kit ideas for museum days and Northbourne Avenue hops. Search links go to Amazon.com.au — we may earn a commission (no extra cost to you).
- Compact day backpack For museums, City walks and Gungahlin hops Search on Amazon AU →
- Reusable water bottle Northbourne Avenue and lake-edge walks Search on Amazon AU →
Amazon Associates links. Affiliate disclosure
Quick answers
Is Canberra Light Rail running now?
Yes. Stage 1 is open between Gungahlin Place and Alinga Street (Civic), about 12 km with 14 stops. Stage 2A (City toward Commonwealth Park) is under construction and is not yet a passenger service. Stage 2B to Woden is in planning.
What is the Stage 2A completion date?
Public communications have pointed to passenger services around 2028. Treat that as a program target, not a fixed opening day. Only Transport Canberra and the ACT Light Rail to Woden program can confirm when Stage 2A is open for passengers. Construction of new tracks and City works is underway now.
What is the difference between Stage 2, Stage 2A and Stage 2B?
Stage 2 is the overall City-to-Woden extension program. Stage 2A is the first package under construction (City area toward Commonwealth Park, about 1.7 km, new stops). Stage 2B is the longer planning package from Commonwealth Park toward Woden. Neither 2A nor 2B is a rideable passenger line yet.
Is there a Canberra Light Rail Stage 3?
Stage 3 is not an open passenger service and is not the current construction focus. Autocomplete and media sometimes mention further stages; for riders today the only line you can board is Stage 1. Follow official ACT network planning for anything beyond Stage 2B.
How do I pay for Canberra Light Rail?
Use MyWay+ (ACT public transport) or a single-use ticket where available. It is not Sydney Opal. Light rail and buses share a transfer window (commonly about 90 minutes when MyWay+ is used correctly). Check current fares on official Transport Canberra MyWay+ pages — this site does not publish dollar amounts.
Do I need to pay again when I change from bus to light rail?
Usually not within the MyWay+ transfer window, if your products and journey qualify. The window is commonly described as about 90 minutes across Transport Canberra buses and light rail — confirm current rules on official MyWay+ pages. Validate as required at each boarding.
Where is the Canberra Light Rail map and timetable?
This guide has a Stage 1 schematic map and stop list on the Map & stops page. For live next-service times, use Transport Canberra journey tools and CMET — we do not publish a frozen clock timetable because it goes out of date. The Timetable page explains how to get real times in three steps.
Is this the official Transport Canberra site?
No. canberralightrail.com.au is an independent Farming Domains guide for locals and visitors. For live times, disruptions, MyWay+ fares and official maps, use Transport Canberra and Canberra Metro Operations (CMET).