G:link

G:link

A Flexity 2 leaving Broadwater Parklands
Overview
Locale Gold Coast, Australia
Transit type Light rail
Number of lines 1
Number of stations 16
Daily ridership 21,000[1]
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)
Average speed 23 km/h (14 mph)
Top speed 70 km/h (43 mph)
System map
Legend
(Up arrow Gold Coast line)
Helensvale (opens 2018)
(Down arrow Gold Coast line)
Parkwood (opens 2018)
Parkwood East (opens 2018)
Gold Coast University Hospital
Griffith University
Smith Street Motorway
Depot
Queen Street
Nerang Street
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 forms part of the TransLink's South East Queensland public transport network and consists of a single 13-kilometre (8.1 mi) line of sixteen stations. Gold Coast University Hospital is the northern terminus of the system, while Broadbeach South is the southern terminus. The line opened on 20 July 2014.

In preparation for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, a 7.3-kilometre (4.5 mi) northern extension that will terminate at Helensvale railway station is scheduled to open in 2018.

History

Background

The Gold Coast is one of the fastest growing regions in Australia, with an annual population growth of 2 - 3%.[2] 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 Australian Governments each contributed $650,000 to fund the Gold Coast Light Rail Feasibility Study.[3][4] In 2004 the draft summary report was released.[5]

Initial stretch

View of the line from the Q1 building

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.[6]

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.[7][8][9]

In August 2012 the cost of the initial 13-kilometre (8.1 mi) section was estimated at $1.6 billion.[10]

Construction began on the Gold Coast University Hospital station shell in July 2010.[11] In late 2010, early roadworks began in Broadbeach and Southport.[12]

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.[13][14][15]

The system had 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.[16]

Northern extension

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

A planned 7.3-kilometre extension will run from the current northern terminus at Gold Coast University Hospital to Helensvale railway station, where interchange would be provided with Queensland Rail services to and from Brisbane. Intermediate stops would be constructed at Parkwood East and Parkwood. Additional car parking would be provided at Helensvale and a new car park would be included at Parkwood. Four new trams have been ordered to service the extension. The end-to-end journey time on the extension would be 11 min.[17][18][19]

In March 2015, the Queensland Government indicated its support for a northern extension to meet the Gold Coast railway line, subject to the Australian Government and Gold Coast City Council agreeing to help fund the extension. The Gold Coast City Council was supportive and proposed a route from Griffith University to Parkwood and Helensvale.[20] Despite no funding from the Australian Government being forthcoming, Expressions of Interest to construct a northern extension were called in August 2015.[21] Six submissions were received.[18] The potential for the Australian Government to make a contribution towards funding the project increased following a leadership spill in September that saw Malcolm Turnbull replace Tony Abbott as Australian Prime Minister. Resulting discussions between the state and federal governments led the Queensland Government to believe they were "very close" to securing a federal contribution. In October, the Queensland Government requested GoldLinQ proceed to the Request for Tender stage of the procurement process.[22][23] The three parties invited to tender were John Holland Group, Leighton Contractors and GamesLinQ - a joint venture between Downer EDI Works and BMD Constructions.[18]

Later in October it was announced that funding agreements had been reached with the Australian Government and Gold Coast City Council. The federal contribution is $95 million and the council contribution $55 million.[24][25] The total cost of the project is $420 million.[26] Bids to construct the extension closed in late December 2015 with the contract awarded to CPB Contractors (formerly Leighton Contractors) in March 2016. Major construction began in July 2016 and the extension is expected to be operational in time for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games - to be held in April 2018.[22][26][27][28]

The Queensland Government is also funding a separate project to duplicate the Gold Coast railway line between Helensvale and Coomera - the last single track section of the line. The second track is expected to be finished in late 2017 and will allow more frequent train services between Helensvale and Brisbane.[29]

Route

The single 13-kilometre (8.1 mi) line runs from Southport to Broadbeach. The two northernmost 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 the Nerang Street 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 later serving the Chevron Renaissance Shopping Centre and the Funtime amusement park. The next stop serves the Cavill Avenue pedestrian mall and Paradise Centre. The next stop in Surfers Paradise also serves the Paradise Centre as well as the SkyPoint observation deck. The next stops are Northcliffe, Florida Gardens and Broadbeach North, the later serving the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Jupiters Casino, the Oasis Shopping Centre and the Oracle Shopping Centre. The line terminates at Broadbeach South which serves Dracula's Cabaret Restaurant and Pacific Fair Shopping Centre.

A 7.3-kilometre (4.5 mi) northern extension is scheduled to open in 2018. It will travel north from Gold Coast University Hospital along the Smith Street Motorway, with stops at Parkwood East and Parkwood. Helensvale railway station will become the new northern terminus of the system. The station precinct will offer interchange between trains, trams and buses. The tram and train services will combine to offer a one-transfer journey between the central areas of Gold Coast and Brisbane.

Plans

Gold Coast City Council is planning for a third stage of the line. The council released a list of potential routes for stage three in November 2015 and invited public comment.[30] Ideas included a southern extension from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads, two options from Nobby Beach to Robina station, from Varsity Lakes station to Burleigh Heads, from Varsity Lakes station to Gold Coast Airport and two options from Burleigh Heads to Gold Coast Airport.[31] 3606 people responded to the survey. Nearly 80 percent supported an extension to Burleigh Heads and 70 percent also supported a further extension to the airport.[32] Citing the “overwhelming” support for an airport connection, in March 2016 Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate announced a $600,000 feasibility study into a southern extension from Broadbeach to the Gold Coast Airport as part of his successful campaign to retain the mayoralty at that month's local government election. The extension is estimated to cost $1.54 billion. The council would contribute around $160 million but the remainder of the cost would require funding from the higher tiers of government. Tate suggested the link would open by March 2020 although some other councillors feel this date is unrealistic.[32][33]

A coastal extension had previously attracted some support from the council and state government.[34][35] Both levels of government have released maps that show plans for the trams to eventually connect with the airport.[30][36] However a coastal route from Burleigh to the New South Wales border is understood to be fraught with engineering challenges, including how to get around Burleigh headland and across both Tallebudgera and Currumbin Creeks.[30]

Further extension plans involve numerous proposed spurlines. Proposals from Griffith University to Harbour Town,[37] from Main Beach to The Spit,[37] from Surfers Paradise to Bundall,[37] from Nobby Beach to Robina,[37][38] from Broadbeach to Nerang railway station,[39] and from Burleigh Heads to Varsity Lakes railway station have been made.[38]

Infrastructure

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

Rolling stock

Interior of Flexity 2 tram
Main article: Flexity 2

The Gold Coast Rapid Transit fleet consists of 14 Flexity 2 trams built by Bombardier Transportation in Germany.[40] The trams feature low floors and have dedicated spaces for wheelchairs, prams and surfboards.[41] They have a top speed of 70 km/h and room for 309 passengers with seating for 80.[42] Four additional trams of the same design were ordered in November 2015 to service the second stage.[19] Delivery of these trams is due to begin in August 2017.[43]

Operation

System map

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. Fares are set by TransLink with all stations fitted with go card readers.[44]

Service frequencies (in minutes) from 21 July 2014:[45]

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.[46]

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.[47] 6.6 million passengers were carried on the line in its first year, and total public transport usage on the Gold Coast - across buses and trams - increased by 25 percent.[48][49] 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.[50]

The following table lists patronage figures for the network (in millions of journeys) 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.

2014-15[51] 2015-16[52]
6.28[note 1] 7.68
  1. ↑ System opened in July 2014

Stations

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

The line opened with sixteen initial stations. Seven stations are located in Southport, one is in Main Beach, six are in Surfers Paradise, and two are in Broadbeach. TransLink charges fares that increase as passengers travel through twenty-three concentric zones radiating outward from the Brisbane central business district;[53] all of the stations are located within four of these zones. Fifteen of the stations are street-level open-air structures featuring passenger canopies, and one is underground. Ten stations have side platforms and six have an island platform. It takes 33 minutes to travel from one end of the line to the other. Eight of the stations have kiosks, six stations offer transfers to TransLink bus services and none have park and ride lots.[54] Gold Coast University Hospital is the northern terminus of the system, while Broadbeach South is the southern terminus. The most heavily trafficked station is Cavill Avenue, with an average 4,729 daily passengers in February 2016.[1]

Three new stations are planned. Two will be located in Parkwood and one will be in Helensvale. The northern terminus of the system will become a stop at Helensvale railway station that will offer transfers to TransLink bus services and to the Gold Coast railway line. All of the new stations will be at street-level. One new station will have side platforms and two will have an island platform. The new extension will add 11 minutes to the total travel time. Two of the new stations will have free park and ride lots with a total of 1,400 new parking spaces.[55][56]

References

  1. 1 2 Skene, Kathleen (5 February 2016). "Gold Coast light rail hits 10 million tram passenger mark as tender announcement nears for stage two". The Gold Coast Bulletin. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  2. ↑ Estimated Resident Population Profile.id
  3. ↑ "Gold Coast Rapid Transit Corridor Study". City of Gold Coast. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  4. ↑ "Gold Coast Light Rail Feasibility". Department of Infrastructure & Regional Development. 14 May 2002.
  5. ↑ "Gold Coast Light Rail Feasibility Study" (PDF). Parsons Brinckerhoff. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 February 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  6. ↑ Chambers, Geoff (14 February 2010). "Chinese in Gold Coast's rapid transit mix". Gold Coast Bulletin. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  7. ↑ "GoldLinQ Selected for Gold Coast Light Rail". Plenary Group (Press release). 5 May 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  8. ↑ "GoldlinQ selected to build Gold Coast light rail". Railway Gazette International. 6 May 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  9. ↑ "GoldLinQ wins £657M Australian rail project". New Civil Engineer. 9 May 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  10. ↑ Stolz, Greg; Vogler, Sarah (8 August 2012). "Court bid to halt $1.6 billion Gold Coast light rail project". Herald Sun. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  11. ↑ "Light rail work starts this month". Gold Coast Bulletin. 4 July 2010. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  12. ↑ Gold Coast Rapid Transit. Queensland Government. June 2011.
  13. ↑ "First test tram run in Southport". GoldLinQ. 1 October 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  14. ↑ "Works updates". GoldLinQ. 4 December 2013.
  15. ↑ All aboard: Gold Coast light rail officially launches with full tram cars for day of free travel Gold Coast Bulletin 20 July 2014
  16. ↑ Chambers, Geoff (24 December 2009). "Flurry of Coast rapid transit resumptions". Gold Coast Bulletin. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  17. ↑ "Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 2". Department of Transport and Main Roads. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  18. 1 2 3 "Stage Two - General Information". GoldLinQ. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  19. 1 2 "Record of Proceedings (proof) First Session of the Fifty-fifth Parliament Thursday, 12 November 2015" (PDF). Queensland Parliament. 12 November 2015. p. 2826.
  20. ↑ Moore, Tony (4 March 2015). "Gold Coast light rail gets support from Queensland Government". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  21. ↑ "Interest sought in Gold Coast light rail stage two". Railway Gazette. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  22. 1 2 "Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 2 moves forward to next stage". Queensland Government. 1 October 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
  23. ↑ Kane, Charmaine (1 October 2015). "Gold Coast light rail: Queensland Government to call for tenders for stage two despite no federal funding commitment". ABC Online. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  24. ↑ Hurst, Daniel (11 October 2015). "Malcolm Turnbull backs public transport with $95m for Gold Coast light rail". The Guardian Australia.
  25. ↑ "Stage two of Gold Coast light rail on track for Commonwealth Games". Queensland Government. 11 October 2015.
  26. 1 2 "Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 2 on track with contracted [sic] appointed". Queensland Government. 18 March 2016.
  27. ↑ "Gold Coast light rail stage two building to start in April". Brisbane Times. 19 March 2016.
  28. ↑ Potts, Andrew (20 June 2016). "Significant construction of the Gold Coast light rail to begin in early July". Gold Coast Bulletin.
  29. ↑ "Gold Coast double-tracking contract awarded". railwaygazette.com. 18 December 2015.
  30. 1 2 3 Potts, Andrew (17 November 2015). "You'll decide light rail stage 3: Southern Coast residents to have their say on route". Gold Coast Bulletin.
  31. ↑ "Light rail southern Gold Coast - Have your say on the light rail extension". City of Gold Coast. Retrieved 19 December 2015.
  32. 1 2 Potts, Andrew (12 May 2016). "Gold Coast Council community consultation backs southern coastal light rail airport link". Gold Coast Bulletin.
  33. ↑ Potts, Andrew (4 March 2016). "Gold Coast council election 2016: Tom Tate commits to light rail stage III to airport". Gold Coast Bulletin.
  34. ↑ Potts, Andrew (7 November 2015). "Trams to Burleigh 'will happen': Council officers are already planning". Gold Coast Bulletin.
  35. ↑ Potts, Andrew (5 October 2015). "Communities to be connected to light rail says Trad as next light rail link heads south". Gold Coast Bulletin.
  36. ↑ "Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 2 Fact Sheet November 2015" (PDF). Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads.
  37. 1 2 3 4 "Draft Gold Coast City Transport Strategy 2031" (PDF). City of Gold Coast. 2012. pp. 6, 7. Retrieved 5 January 2013.
  38. 1 2 "Gold Coast City Council spent $325,000 investigating a Nobby Beach-Robina light rail link". Gold Coast Bulletin. 14 September 2015.
  39. ↑ "Western light rail link connecting Nerang and Broadbeach is back on track". Gold Coast Bulletin. 27 March 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
  40. ↑ "GoldLinQ CEO Phil Mumford inspects construction of first tram in Germany". GoldLinkQ. 14 September 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  41. ↑ "The tram". GoldLinkQ. 14 November 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  42. ↑ Silva, Kristian (20 September 2013). "Gold Coast trams unveiled". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
  43. ↑ "Gold Coast tram option exercised". railwaygazette.com. 25 November 2015.
  44. ↑ "Gold Coast Light Rail Fare Cost". Gold Coast Light Rail. Retrieved 16 July 2014.
  45. ↑ "The G: is coming - Monday 21 July 2014". Translink. Queensland Government. 9 July 2014. Retrieved 14 July 2014.
  46. ↑ Route 700 timetable Translink
  47. ↑ Tony Moore (6 May 2015). "Five million people jump on board Gold Coast Light Rail since July 2014". brisbane times. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  48. ↑ "Short list named for Gold Coast light rail Stage 2". GoldLinQ. 1 October 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  49. ↑ "Key statistics". gclrstage2.com. Goldlinq. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  50. ↑ Skene, Kathleen (6 February 2016). "Gold Coast light rail hits 10 million tram passenger mark as tender announcement nears for stage two". Gold Coast Bulletin.
  51. ↑ "TMR Annual Report 2014-15 Appendix 2 – Performance statements 2014-15 Appendix 2 – Performance statements 2014-15". Department of Transport and Main Roads. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  52. ↑ "TMR Annual Report – Appendix 2 – Performance statements 2015–16" (PDF). Department of Transport and Main Roads. p. 255. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  53. ↑ "Zones". TransLink. Queensland Government. 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  54. ↑ Elder, Jessica (18 January 2014). "Gold Coast Light rail passengers will have no where to park and ride". The Gold Coast Bulletin. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  55. ↑ Moore, Tony (7 August 2015). "Gold Coast light rail stage two and Brisbane link unveiled". Brisbane Times. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  56. ↑ "Gold Coast light rail Stage 2 contractor selected". Railway Gazette International. 21 March 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
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