$1.2 billion project to deliver 6.7km track extension, eight new stations and five new light rail vehicles
Amber Infrastructure Group (‘Amber’), the specialist international investment manager, has reached financial close on Stage 3 of its managed investment in Gold Coast Light Rail.
The $1.2 billion project extends the existing Gold Coast Light Rail network (known as G:link) a further 6.7 kilometres south from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads. It will include eight new stations, five additional light rail trams, new bus and light rail connections at Burleigh and Miami, and an upgrade of existing depot and stabling facilities.
At completion of Stage 3 in 2025, Queensland’s only light rail system will have a route 27 kilometres long from Helensvale to Burleigh Heads, stopping at 27 stations and serviced by 23 trams.
Gold Coast Light Rail is a public-private-partnership (PPP) between the Queensland Government and GoldlinQ - a consortium that includes the Amber-advised International Public Partnerships Limited (‘INPP’), the FTSE 250 listed investment company. The consortium has successfully designed, constructed, financed, operated, and maintained the project since 2011. In addition to private financing, the project received funding from the Federal and Queensland Governments and the City of Gold Coast.
The project is one of Amber Australia’s managed investments in A$7 billion of infrastructure assets across transport, healthcare, public, energy, and digital sectors. Managed investments include Reliance Rail, a majority stake in leading Australian data centre platform iseek, the Royal Children’s Hospital, and a portfolio of schools in NSW and Victoria.
Amber’s Head of Asia-Pacific, Vaughan Wallace, said: "Public transport infrastructure is essential for supporting the growth and urbanisation of the Gold Coast - one of Australia’s fastest growing cities. This next stage of the Gold Coast Light Rail will significantly improve coastal accessibility from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads, further reducing congestion on roads and improving mobility for residents and tourists. Since its first journey in 2014, the Gold Coast Light Rail has provided more than 60 million passengers with an alternative way to move around the city and this extension will support even greater adoption of public transport."
“A substantial investor for more than a decade, Gold Coast Light Rail aligns with our long-term investment focus on sustainable assets that create value for stakeholders and communities.”
For further information:
Erica Sibree
Erica.Sibree@amberinfrastructure.com
+44 (0) 7557 646 499
Jasmine Walters
Jasmine.Walters@marketeye.com.au
+61 466 322 325
About Amber Infrastructure Group
Amber Infrastructure (‘Amber’) is a specialist international investment manager, focused on investment origination, asset management and fund management. With approximately €5 billion in funds under management, Amber invests across eight funds and a number of managed accounts.
Amber’s core business focuses on sourcing, developing, advising, investing in and managing infrastructure assets across the public, transport, energy, digital and demographic infrastructure sectors that support the lives of people, homes and businesses internationally.
Amber is headquartered in London with offices in Europe, North America and Australia and manages over 150 investments. Amber employs over 150 infrastructure professionals globally.