G:link

G:link

A Flexity 2 leaving the Broadwater Parklands stop
Overview
Locale	Gold Coast, Australia
Transit type	Light rail
Number of lines	1
Number of stations	16
Chief executive	Phil Mumford
Headquarters	Southport
Operation
Began operation	20 July 2014
Operator(s)	Keolis Downer
Number of vehicles	14 Flexity 2 trams
Train length	43.5 m (143 ft)
Headway	7-30 minutes
Technical
System length	13 km (8.1 mi)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Average speed	23 km/h (14 mph)
Top speed	70 km/h (43 mph)
System map Gold Coast University Hospital Griffith University Smith Street Motorway Depot Queen Street Gold Coast Hospital Southport Southport South Broadwater Parklands Nerang River Main Beach Surfers Paradise North Cypress Avenue Cavill Avenue Surfers Paradise Northcliffe Florida Gardens Broadbeach North Broadbeach South

G:link, also known as the Gold Coast Light Rail, is a light rail system serving the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. The system consists of a single 13-kilometre (8.1 mi), 16-station standard gauge line between Griffith University and Broadbeach.

Construction began in July 2010. On 20 July 2014 the line was open to the public.

History

Central reservation of Gold Coast Highway at Broadbeach in February 2014 with completed light rail line

Interior of Flexity 2 tram

Background

The Gold Coast is one of the fastest growing regions in Australia, with an annual population growth of 2 - 3%. 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. In 2004 the draft summary report was released.

Political process

The proposed system had significant impact on property both directly and indirectly in the corridor. In 2009 $16.5 million was spent on property resumptions. A total of $170 million was allocated for all resumptions. The Queens Park Tennis Club and Southport Croquet Club were both relocated.

In 2009 the Queensland Government committed $464 million to the Gold Coast Rapid Transit project, supplementing $365 million committed by the Australian Government and $120 million provided by Gold Coast City Council.

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.

Construction

In August 2012 the cost of the 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) light rail was estimated at $1.6 billion.

Construction began on the Gold Coast University Hospital station shell in July 2010. In late 2010, early roadworks began in Broadbeach and Southport.

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.

Operation

Services are operated by Keolis Downer, a joint venture between Keolis and Downer Rail. Keolis Downer has operated Yarra Trams in Melbourne since November 2009. It is claimed that the system can move up to 10,000 people an hour. The system forms part of the South East Queensland public transport network. Fares are set by TransLink with all stations fitted with go card readers.

Service frequencies (in minutes) from 21 July 2014:

	Weekdays	Weekends
23:30 to 05:00	-	30
05:00 to 07:00	15	15
07:00 to 19:00	7.5	10
19:00 to 23:30	15	15

On Monday to Friday mornings (midnight to 5am), the light rail is replaced by Surfside Buslines route 700.

The system uses standard gauge tracks with 750 V DC overhead catenary. It primarily operates in a centre running configuration. The depot is located in Southport, between Griffith University and Queen Street stations.

Rolling stock

The Gold Coast Rapid Transit fleet consists of 14 Flexity 2 trams built by Bombardier Transportation in Bautzen, Germany. The trams feature low floors and have dedicated spaces for wheelchairs, prams and surfboards. They have a top speed of 70 km/h and room for 309 passengers with seating for 80. By November 2013 five had been delivered.

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 nine months of operation, that is an average 17,800 commuters each day.

Stations

The first stage of the system comprises a 13-kilometre (8.1 mi) line along a corridor between Griffith University with Broadbeach connecting the key activity centres of Southport and Surfers Paradise. The line has 16 stations:

Image	Station	Station code	Translink Zone	Distance (km)	Location	Locations served
	Gold Coast University Hospital	UNH	13	0	27°57′38″S 153°22′50″E	Underground station to service the Gold Coast University Hospital and the western end of Griffith University's Gold Coast campus, GCUH bus station, bus connection available to Harbour Town and Helensvale railway station
	Griffith University	GRU	13	0.40	27°57′47″S 153°23′04″E	Griffith University's Gold Coast campus and the 2018 Commonwealth Games Athletes Village at Parklands, bus interchange available
	Depot Platform	DSP	N/A	1.60	27°58′05″S 153°23′29″E	Staff use only - not publicly accessible
	Queen Street	QUS	13	1.85	27°58′13″S 153°23′39″E	Services the residential area.
	Nerang Street	NES	13	3.30	27°58′14″S 153°24′31″E	Allamanda and Pacific Private Hospitals
	Southport	SOU	13	3.85	27°58′04″S 153°24′49″E	Australia Fair Shopping Centre, Southport Mall, Gold Coast Court House, northern end of Southport Broadwater Parklands, Central Queensland University Gold Coast campus, Southport Library, Gold Coast Institute of TAFE Southport campus and Southport bus station
	Southport South	SPS	13	4.50	27°58′22″S 153°24′56″E	Marine Parade, Queens Park Tennis Centre, services residential area
	Broadwater Parklands	BRP	13	4.85	27°58′25″S 153°25′07″E	Southern end of Southport Broadwater Parklands
	Main Beach	MAB	13	5.55	27°58′55″S 153°25′24″E	Tedder Avenue, McIntosh Island, Paradise Waters, The Spit
	Surfers Paradise North	SPN	14	7.35	27°59′35″S 153°25′45″E	Budds Beach, Narrowneck
	Cypress Avenue	CYP	14	7.80	27°59′48″S 153°25′45″E	Adrenalin Park, Chevron Island, bus connections available
	Cavill Avenue	CAA	14	8.32	28°00′05″S 153°25′42″E	Cavill Avenue shopping and nightclub area of Surfers Paradise, Nerang River Terminal, Surfers Paradise Transit Centre, Hilton Hotel, Surfers Paradise beach
	Surfers Paradise	SUP	14	8.85	28°00′22″S 153°25′45″E	Q1, Paradise Island
	Northcliffe	NOR	14	9.31	28°00′38″S 153°25′46″E	Northcliffe Surf Club, Isle of Capri
	Florida Gardens	FLG	14	10.05	28°01′03″S 153°25′46″E	Cascade Gardens
	Broadbeach North	BRN	14	11.30	28°01′43″S 153°25′47″E	Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Broadbeach Mall, Jupiters Casino, Kurrawa Park, Oasis Shopping Centre
	Broadbeach South	BBS	14/15	12.18	28°02′08″S 153°25′52″E	Pacific Fair Shopping Centre, Broadbeach Library, Broadbeach South bus station, Broadbeach beach

Future Proposals and Extensions

Extension to the existing line have been proposed, they include extending the line north to Helensvale railway station, west to Nerang railway station, and south to Coolangatta.

Northern Options

Ramp built to service GCUH station and as a provision for future extension along Olsen Avenue toward Helensvale

In late 2012, the Gold Coast City Council released a draft of their Transport Strategy 2031. The document outlined the original line would be extended west to Parkwood and south to the Gold Coast Airport. Additional branches would be added from Griffith University to Harbour Town, from Main Beach to The Spit, from Surfers Paradise to Bundall, and from Nobby Beach to Robina.

Other identified future stations are Helensvale railway station and Harbour Town. A connection at Helensvale is not expected to be needed until after 2016 at the earliest.

In March 2015, the Queensland Government indicated its support for a northern extension to meet the Gold Coast railway line, subject to the Gold Coast City Council and Australian Government agreeing to help fund the extension. The Gold Coast City Council supports a route from Griffith University to Parkwood and Helensvale.

Extend to Heavy Rail at Parkwood

Legend Light Rail continues to Helensvale Heavy Rail continues North to Beenleigh Parkwood (Proposed) Gold Coast University Hospital Heavy Rail continues South to Varsity Lakes Griffith University Campus Smith Street Motorway Molendinar (Proposed) Depot Extend North to Biggera Waters Biggera Waters to Helensvale to Parkwood Western Options In March 2014, it was suggested that an 11-kilometre (6.8 mi) east-west spur line from Broadbeach to Nerang railway station take the place of other suggested extensions as stage 2 of the light rail line. The Broadbeach-Nerang route would connect to the Carrara Stadium, the main stadium that will be used during the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Heavy rail at Nerang Surfers Paradise to Bundall Legend Continues to Cypress Avenue Cavill Avenue North Bundall (Proposed) Surfers Paradise Northcliffe Bundall (Proposed) Florida Gardens Continues to Broadbeach North Southern (Coolangatta via Gold Coast Highway) Corridors heading south from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads and Coolangatta are also being looked at. This would likely be delivered in 2 stages including a segment from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads, followed by a segment from Burleigh Heads to Coolangatta. Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads Legend Continue to Florida Gardens Broadbeach North Oasis Monorail Hooker Blvd/Nerang Connection Broadbeach South Nobby's Beach (Proposed) Proposed Robina Connection Miami (Proposed) Burleigh Heads (Proposed) Burleigh Heads to Coolangatta Airport to Coolangatta Legend Continue to Main Beach Burleigh Heads (Proposed) Tallebudgera Creek Continues to Varsity Lakes Station M1 Pacific Mtrwy Elanora (Proposed) M1 Pacific Mtrwy Tugun (Proposed) Coolangatta Airport (Proposed) Gold Coast Highway Coolangatta (Proposed) Greenmount (Proposed) See also Rail transport in Queensland Trams in Australia References External links Media related to Light rail on the Gold Coast at Wikimedia Commons G:link (RideTheG) – official site G:link FAQ (Translink) G:link Service Information (Translink) GoldLinQ – consortium that built the line