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Transport for New South Wales has invited the three international shortlisted consortia to participate in the request for proposals (RFP) to finance, design, construction, operation and maintenance of a new light rail system for the CBD and south east Sydney and the operation and maintenance of the Inner West Light Rail.

The shortlisted consortia are the following:

• SydneyConnect: Serco, John Holland and Plenary Group,
• iLinQ: Keolis Downer, Balfour Beatty, McConnell Dowell, Bombardier and Macquarie Capital; and
• Connecting Sydney: Transdev, Acciona, Alstom Transport Australia and Capella Capital.

The contract will cover design, construction, services relocations, operation and maintenance of the 12-kilometre project, as well as the operation and maintenance of the Inner West Light Rail network.

The project is estimated to cost approximately A$1.6 billion. Construction is expected to commence this year 2014 and is expected to take five or six years to complete. From mid-2015, the successful tenderer will also operate and maintain the existing light rail network.

NSW transport minister, Gladys Berejiklian, said:

"I am pleased at the level of interest and high quality of firms tendering for this vital transport project, which I am confident will translate into high quality outcomes and value for money to NSW taxpayers."

Tendering for this highly complex project is an intensive process and the public private partnership contract requires significant investment by the shortlisted consortia. We expect innovative thinking and detailed planning to be done over the coming months, before they submit their tenders later in the year.