Light Rail

Fast, comfortable and clean, light rail plays a transformative role in modern cities. Beyond moving people efficiently, it reshapes streetscapes, supports the extension of pedestrian zones, revitalises city centres and unlocks growth in emerging precincts.

With more than 40 years of global light rail expertise, Keolis partners with governments and public transport authorities to deliver systems that enhance mobility while strengthening the social and economic fabric of urban environments.

Keolis operates and maintains light rail networks across eight countries, including Australia, Canada, China, Denmark, France, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. Over the past 15 years alone, Keolis has delivered 20 new or extended light rail projects worldwide.

This depth of experience spans the full lifecycle of light rail systems — from mobilisation and operational readiness through to long-term operations, maintenance and continuous improvement.

Our international footprint allows us to apply proven best practice in safety, performance optimisation, energy efficiency and customer experience to each local network we operate.

In Australia, Keolis brings extensive local experience operating light rail within complex and evolving transport environments.

We understand the unique challenges of introducing or expanding light rail in established cities — including stakeholder engagement, safety education, network redesign and community integration.

Our capability extends beyond standalone tram operations. We have demonstrated success delivering light rail within broader multimodal networks under a variety of contractual models, including:

• Public–Private Partnerships (Gold Coast, QLD)

• Franchise operations (Melbourne, VIC)

• Integrated multimodal networks (Newcastle, NSW)

This experience enables us to tailor solutions that align with government objectives, contractual frameworks and long-term urban development strategies.

Introducing light rail requires more than infrastructure delivery. It demands careful integration with existing transport services and thoughtful community transition.

Keolis brings practical insight into how cities adapt to light rail — from safety campaigns that educate motorists, pedestrians and passengers, to network optimisation strategies that reduce duplication and enhance connectivity.

For example, on the Gold Coast, we worked collaboratively with Translink and local bus operators to redesign the broader network, extending bus operating hours and increasing service frequency to complement light rail. This integrated approach maximised accessibility, improved service coverage and strengthened overall network performance.