THE NZ Transport Agency (NZTA), which is leading the procurement and delivery of the Auckland Light Rail programme, has announced will conduct market engagement with interested suppliers and industry participants in August.

New Zealand’s transport minister, Mr Phil Twyford, and finance minister, Mr Grant Robertson, announced the launch of a procurement process on May 9 for a two-line light rail network in Auckland after a sovereign wealth fund offered to evaluate the potential for private sector investment in the project.

The engagement will start with an industry briefing in Auckland July 31, which will be followed by market engagement meetings in Auckland and Sydney with selected participants.

The NZTA says the industry briefing is open to local and international suppliers with delivery expertise and capability relevant to light rail including:

• professional services providers
• civil works and infrastructure contractors
• rolling stock, systems, operations and maintenance providers, and
• infrastructure investors and financiers.

The briefing will include information on the overall project, the project’s anticipated timelines and major milestones, and the market engagement process.