G:link

G:link, also known as the Gold Coast Light Rail and the Gold Coast Tram, is a light rail system serving the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, and is the sole light rail system in Queensland. The system forms part of Translink's South East Queensland public transport network and consists of a single 20 km (12 mi) line of nineteen stations. The Helensvale railway station is the northern terminus of the system, while Broadbeach South is the southern terminus. The line opened on 20 July 2014 and was extended northwest from Gold Coast University Hospital to Helensvale on 17 December 2017.

G:link
A Bombardier Flexity 2 leaving Broadwater Parklands in September 2014
A Bombardier Flexity 2 leaving Broadwater Parklands in September 2014
Overview
OwnerTranslink
LocaleGold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Transit typeLight rail
Number of lines1
Number of stations19 (27 after stage 3 completion)
Annual ridership10.74 million (2018/19)
Chief executivePhil Mumford
HeadquartersSouthport
Websitewww.ridetheg.com.au
Operation
Began operation20 July 2014
Operator(s)Keolis Downer
Number of vehicles18 Bombardier Flexity 2 trams
Train length43.5 m (143 ft)
Headway7-30 minutes
Technical
System length20 km (12 mi) (26 km (16 mi) after stage 3 completion)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification750 V DC overhead catenary
Average speed27 km/h (17 mph)
Top speed70 km/h (43 mph)

Background

The Gold Coast is one of the fastest-growing regions in Australia, with an annual population growth of 2–3%.[1] The project was first proposed in the Gold Coast City Council Transport Plan 1996 after some years of consideration and review. In 2002, the Queensland and Federal Governments each contributed $650,000 to fund the Gold Coast Light Rail Feasibility Study.[2][3] In 2004, the draft summary report was released.[4]

History

Stage 1
View of the line from the Q1 building

In 2009, the Queensland Government committed $464 million to the Gold Coast Rapid Transit (GCRT) project, supplementing $365 million committed by the Federal Government and $120 million provided by Gold Coast City Council.[5]

In June 2011, the GoldLinq consortium comprising Bombardier Transportation, Downer EDI, Keolis, McConnell Dowell and Plenary Group was awarded the contract to build and operate the Gold Coast light rail line for 18 years under a Public Private Partnership.[6][7][8]

In August 2012, the cost of the initial 13 km (8.1 mi) section was estimated at $1.6 billion.[9] Construction began on the Gold Coast University Hospital station shell in July 2010.[10] In late 2010, early roadworks began in Broadbeach and Southport.[11]

By November 2013, much of the work was complete with the southern section at Broadbeach being the only section of trackwork to be completed. Testing commenced on the northern section of the line in October 2013. The line opened on 20 July 2014, with a free travel day, before normal operations began on 21 July.[12][13][14]

The system had a significant impact on property both directly and indirectly in the corridor. A total of $170 million was allocated for property resumptions. The Queens Park Tennis Club and Southport Croquet Club were both relocated.[15]

Stage 2
An underground, side platform station with few passengers visible on the platform.
Gold Coast University Hospital, the original northern terminus and the only underground station in the system.

After the successful opening and operations of Stage 1, the Queensland Government announced in February 2016 plans to extend the light rail line from the University Hospital to the Helensvale railway station, providing a connection with the Gold Coast railway line that connects the city with Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland. Financial commitment from the state and federal governments needed to progress with the extension was finalised in late 2016. The new extension includes 7.3 km (4.5 mi) tracks and 3 new light rail stations, with Helensvale being the new northern terminus for the line. Construction commenced in 2016[16] with plans to be completed in time for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April 2018. Construction finished early, ahead of schedule with passenger services commencing in December 2017.

Stage 3 extension

The Queensland Government, in conjunction with the Gold Coast City Council and the Federal Government, announced the plan to extend the light rail line 6.4 km (4.0 mi) south, from the existing Broadbeach South station to Burleigh Heads back in 2018 with the original completion date to be in 2024. Due to funding disputes among the three levels of government, the COVID-19 pandemic along with rising construction costs in recent years, the project kept getting delayed. In February 2020, three parties were short-listed to build the extension:[17]

It was announced in October 2020 that John Holland had won the contract,[18] with the state government releasing a statement in 2021 saying that the agreement will see the construction consortium undertake detailed construction planning and start establishing a site presence along the 6.7-kilometre (4.2 mi) corridor.[1]

In July 2022 construction formally started with water, sewerage and gas infrastructure upgrades and relocation on the Gold Coast Highway between Broadbeach and Nobby Beach.[3] Major construction including earthworks and construction of the tracks will commence in 2023 with the project expected to be operational by 2025.[4]

Planned stations
Main article: List of G:link stations § Stage 3 extension planned stations

Eight new light rail stations will be constructed with the original cost estimate of the project at $670 million,[19] which has now blown out to $1.2 billion[6] due largely to rising inflation post-pandemic.

Route

The new extension will begin from the current southern terminus, Broadbeach South travelling on the median strip of the Gold Coast Highway for the whole way south to Burleigh Heads. The 6.7 km (4.2 mi) extension will pass through Mermaid Beach, Nobby's Beach, Miami and Burleigh Heads[7] with the hopes of creating better connectivity, reducing congestion and improving travel times.[8]

Stage 4 extension

The Gold Coast City Transport Strategy 2031 supports a future expansion to Coolangatta via the Gold Coast Airport.[20] The 14 km (8.7 mi) extension of the light rail line from Burleigh Heads station would continue south along the Gold Coast Highway, passing through the southern suburbs of Palm Beach and Tugun and connecting the city's international airport with the light rail. A potential light rail corridor has also been identified from the Airport to Coolangatta and will be preserved for possible future expansion.[21] In August 2020, funding was provided to formulate a business case for the extension.[22] Since 2021 community consultation and preliminary works have begun on stage 4.[9]

Route
Main article: List of G:link stations

The single 20-kilometre (12 mi) line runs from Helensvale railway station to Broadbeach South. Beginning at Helensvale railway station, the line runs parallel to the Gold Coast railway line until it meets the Smith Street Motorway, which it then follows, stopping at Parkwood and Parkwood East. The next two stops serve the Gold Coast University Hospital and the Gold Coast campus of Griffith University. The line runs south, passing over the Smith Street Motorway and the depot before reaching Queen Street station and Nerang Street station that services the Southport medical precinct. The next two stops serve the Australia Fair Shopping Centre, and the following stop serves the Broadwater Parklands. The line passes over the Nerang River before reaching the only stop in Main Beach, which serves the Sea World theme park. The next stops are Surfers Paradise North and Cypress Avenue, the latter serving the Chevron Renaissance Shopping Centre and the Funtime amusement park. The next stop, Cavill Avenue serves the heart of Surfers Paradise including the Cavill Avenue pedestrian mall and Paradise Centre shopping centre. The following station services the Q1 residential tower as well as the SkyPoint observation deck. The next stops are Northcliffe, Florida Gardens and Broadbeach North, the latter serving the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre, The Star Gold Coast, the Oasis Shopping Centre and the Oracle Shopping Centre. The line terminates at Broadbeach South which serves Pacific Fair Shopping Centre and provides bus connections to southern suburbs as well as the Gold Coast Airport. It takes around 44 minutes to travel from one end of the line to the other.

There are nineteen stations on the line. One station is located in Helensvale, two are in Parkwood, seven are in Southport, one is in Main Beach, six are in Surfers Paradise, and two are in Broadbeach. All but one of the stations is street-level open-air structures with passenger canopies on the platforms. The Gold Coast University Hospital station is underground. Eleven stations have side platforms and eight have island platforms. Eight of the stations have kiosks on the platforms. Seven stations offer transfers to bus services and Helensvale also offers transfers to train services. Two of the stations have free park-and-ride lots with a total of 1,400 new parking spaces.[23][24] The most heavily trafficked station is Cavill Avenue, with an average of 4,729 daily passengers in February 2016.[25]

Infrastructure

The system uses standard gauge tracks with 750 V DC overhead catenary. It primarily operates in a centre-running configuration.

Rolling stock
Main article: Flexity 2
A Bombardier Flexity 2
Interior

The Gold Coast Rapid Transit fleet consists of 18 Bombardier Flexity 2 trams built in Germany.[26] The trams feature low floors and have dedicated spaces for wheelchairs, prams and surfboards.[27] They have a top speed of 70 km/h (43 mph) and room for 309 passengers with seating for 80.[28] Fourteen trams were ordered to serve the original section of the line. Four additional trams were ordered in November 2015 to service the Helensvale extension.[29] These were delivered in September and October 2017.[30] As at July 2023 a further 5 vehicles are under construction or in commissioning.

Operation

Services are operated by Keolis Downer, a joint venture between Keolis and Downer. Fares are set by Translink with all stations fitted with go card readers.[31] Translink charges fares that increase as passengers travel through eight concentric zones radiating outward from the Brisbane central business district;[32] All G:link stations are located within zone 5.

Service frequencies (in minutes) from 17 December 2017:[33]

WeekdaysWeekends
00:00 to 05:00 Closed 30†
05:00 to 07:00 15 15
07:00 to 19:00 7.5 10
19:00 to 23:30 15 15

† No service between Helensvale station and Gold Coast University Hospital

On Monday to Friday mornings (midnight to 5 am), light rail services are replaced on most of the routes by Kinetic Group route 700.[34] These buses do not service the section between Helensvale station and Gold Coast University Hospital.[33]

Patronage

Over 1.74 million passengers used the Gold Coast Light Rail in its first 100 days after opening. More than five million paid trips were made in the first nine months of operation.[35] 6.6 million passengers were carried on the line in its first year, and total public transport users on the Gold Coast - across buses and trams - increased by 25 per cent.[36][37] In February 2016 the Queensland Government announced the ten million passenger milestone had been reached and noted that Cavill Avenue was the busiest station with 4,729 boardings a day.[38]

The following table lists patronage figures for the network during the corresponding financial year. Australia's financial years start on 1 July and end on 30 June. Major events that affected the number of journeys made or how patronage is measured are included as notes.

G:link patronage by financial year
Year 2014–152015–162016–172017–182018–192019–20
Patronage
(millions)		 6.28
[lower-alpha 1]		 7.68 7.97 9.49
[lower-alpha 2][lower-alpha 3]		 10.74 8.46
[lower-alpha 4]
Reference [39] [40] [41] [42] [43] [44]
2018–19 Transport patronage in Gold Coast by mode
  Bus (46%)
  Light rail (35%)
  Heavy rail (19%)
Bus 14 000 000[45]
Light rail 10 740 000[46]
Heavy rail 5 800 000[47]
  1. G:link system opened in July 2014.
  2. Helensvale extension opened in December 2017.
  3. Commonwealth Games held in April 2018.
  4. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, travel restriction were introduced in March 2020.

Potential extensions
Main article: List of G:link stations § Potential extensions
This section is an excerpt from List of G:link stations § Potential extensions.[edit]

Besides Stages 3 and 4, the Gold Coast City Council envisions an extensive light rail network that would potentially consist of 68 km (42 mi) of track and 4 light rail lines as outlined in the City Transport Strategy 2031. Future extensions however are not expected to take place until after stage 4 is fully completed and further feasibility studies are undertaken.

Main Beach and The Spit

A branch line from Main Beach to The Spit was proposed in the Gold Coast City Council's 2031 transport plan, City Transport Strategy 2031.[48] The council announced a number of potential route options in April 2017 and invited public comment.[49] The line is expected to cost around $200 million and would be paid for by developers and would be around 2.6 km (1.6 mi) long. The time frame for construction remains undecided but is not expected to be completed until after the extension to the Gold Coast Airport.[50]

Biggera Waters

The Gold Coast's council 2031 Transport plan published outlines a possible extension to Biggera Waters.[51] The proposed line would branch off from the existing University Hospital light rail station, travelling north before terminating at Harbour Town Shopping Centre in the suburb of Biggera Waters. It is not expected for the line to be completed until after the extension to the Gold Coast Airport.

Bundall

The Gold Coast's council 2031 Transport plan published outlines a possible extension to Bundall.[52] The proposed line would branch off from Cavill Avenue, travelling west for several kilometres before terminating in the suburb of Bundall. Stations may include Chevron Island, HOTA, Bundall Business District and Gold Coast Turf Club. It is not expected for the line to be completed until after the extension to the Gold Coast Airport.

Nerang

The Gold Coast's council 2031 Transport plan published outlines a possible extension to the Nerang.[53] The proposed line would spur off from Broadbeach, travelling west along Hooker Boulevard and north along Nerang–Broadbeach Road before terminating at the Nerang railway station. Stations would include Mermaid Waters, Carrara Markets and Carrara Stadium.

Robina

A 9 km (5.6 mi) Robina extension is proposed in the Gold Coast City Council's Light Rail southern Gold Coast publication.[54] The proposed extension would branch off from Nobbys Beach and terminate at Robina railway station passing through Bond University, Market Square, Robina Town Centre and Robina Stadium. It is not expected for the line to be completed until after the extension to the Gold Coast Airport.

Varsity Lakes

The Light Rail southern Gold Coast published by the Gold Coast City Council also outline a proposal extension to Varsity Lakes[55] from Burleigh Heads. The extension would branch out from Burleigh Heads and follow Burleigh Connection Road, passing by Stocklands Burleigh Heads Shopping Centre and the light industrial areas of West Burleigh before terminating at Varsity Lakes railway station, providing a heavy rail connection. It is not expected for the line to be completed until after the extension to the Gold Coast Airport

Tweed Heads

On 19 February 2019, Tweed Heads MP Geoff Provest announced $1 million of funding towards strategic planning to extend the Gold Coast light rail system from the Gold Coast Airport to over the New South Wales border into Tweed Heads.[56]

References
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  54. Cross border light rail from Tweed to Coolangatta
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