G:link
G:link, also known as the Gold Coast Light Rail, the Gold Coast tram or simply the
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.History
Stage 1
In 2009, the Queensland Government committed $464 million to the Gold Coast Rapid Transit project, supplementing $365 million committed by the Federal 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.
In August 2012, the cost of the initial section 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.
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.
Stage 2
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 tracks and 3 new light rail stations, with Helensvale being the new northern terminus for the line. Construction commenced in 2016 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
The Queensland Government, in conjunction with the Gold Coast City Council and the federal government, announced the plan to extend the light rail line 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:- a CPB Contractors / Seymour Whyte joint venture
- a Fulton Hogan / UGL Rail joint venture
- John Holland
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. Major construction including earthworks and construction of the tracks commenced in 2023, with the project now expected to be operational by mid-2026.
Planned stations
There will be 8 new stations, all built with the same design as the first two stages, however, there are no park'n'ride facilities like there were in stage 2. All stations on the extension configured as a central platform station, meaning that both north and southbound platforms are located in the middle, with tracks on either side. With signalised pedestrian crossing and all exits are wheelchair accessible. As of late 2022, construction has started on stage 3 and is expected to be completed by 2030.Mermaid Beach station is located in the suburb of the same name near the intersection of the Gold Coast Highway and Crescent Avenue and Montana Road. A number dining and retail options are located near the station along with parks and a medical centre.
Located slightly south of Markeri Street, Mermaid Beach South station provides direct access to a number of holiday accommodations, a small retail precinct and residential dwellings are located only a short walk from the station.
Nobby Beach station will be situated between Albicore Street and Dolphin Avenue on the Gold Coast Highway. It will serve the Nobby Beach retail precinct, and the beach is only a short walk away.
Miami North station will be on the corner of Paradise Avenue and the Gold Coast Highway, and will serve northern Miami and the Miami State High School.
Miami station will be on the corner of Hythe Street and the Gold Coast Highway, serving Miami Beach and a number of holiday resorts.
Christine Avenue station will be located on the corner of Christine Avenue and the Gold Coast Highway, on the southern side of Miami. Christine Avenue will serve a number of retail and dining venues, as well as the North Burleigh Surf Beach.
Second Avenue Burleigh station will be on the corner of Second Avenue and the Gold Coast Highway, just north of Burleigh Heads. A number of holidays resorts are a short walk away, as well as Burleigh Heads State School.
The southern terminus of Burleigh Heads will be located at the junction of Goodwin Terrace and the Gold Coast Highway. It will serve the James Street retail and dining precinct, as well as Memorial Park, Justins Park, Burleigh Head National Park and Burleigh Heads Surf Beach. The station will offer bus connections to Varsity Lakes railway station and southern suburbs, including the Gold Coast Airport.
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 extension will pass through Mermaid Beach, Nobby's Beach, Miami and Burleigh Heads with the hopes of creating better connectivity, reducing congestion and improving travel times.Route
The single 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 and the Funtime amusement park. The next stop, Cavill Avenue serves the heart of Surfers Paradise including Cavill Avenue and Paradise 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 & ride lots with a total of 1,400 new parking spaces. The most heavily trafficked station is Cavill Avenue, with an average of 4,729 daily passengers in February 2016.