Gold Coast Light Rail
Encyclopedia
The Gold Coast Rapid Transit project is a proposed light rail
system in Gold Coast, Australia. Stage 1 of the project will link Griffith University
(Gold Coast campus) with Broadbeach, passing through the key activity centres of Southport
and Surfers Paradise. The Government of Queensland
and the Gold Coast City Council are working together to build a light rail system between Helensvale
and Coolangatta.
The two-stage project will generate 6,300 direct and indirect jobs during construction and commissioning. The first stage of the Gold Coast Rapid Transit system will operate on a 13 km line between Griffith University and Broadbeach, passing through the key activity centres of Southport and Surfers Paradise. The system will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with services every 7–8 minutes during peak times, and will move up to 10,000 people an hour. The system is likely to be operational from Griffith University to Broadbeach by early 2014. According to Anna Bligh
, this project will be the first light rail network of any regional Australian city.
Stage One of the Gold Coast Rapid Transit system will generate a number of social, environmental and economic benefits for the city including:
reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 114 000 tonnes over the first 10 years of operation, improving local air quality
reducing the number of vehicle trips by 10 per cent
generating roughly 6300 jobs
providing a frequent and reliable form of transport
establishing an integrated and expanded public transport network on the Gold Coast.
Governments each contributing $650,000 and the Gold Coast City Council also financially committing millions. In 2004 the draft summary report was released.
Bids for roadworks were called for in May 2010. Construction began on the Gold Coast University Hospital station shell in July 2010, after Leighton Holdings was awarded a contract. In late 2010, early roadworks began in Broadbeach and Southport. In May 2011, Goldlinq was awarded a contract to build and operate the rail system. In July 2011, the Gold Coast University Hospital
Station shell was completed with the final fitout to commence just prior to 2014.
It is expected that the early roadworks in Broadbeach and Southport will be completed by the end of 2011 before the construction of the light rail corridor begins in early 2012. By late 2013, the construction of the corridor is expected to be completed with the testing and commissioning of the system to begin. The first passengers are expected to board in 2014.
with Broadbeach, connecting the key activity centres of Southport and Surfers Paradise. It will primarily operate in a centre running configuration. The route has been criticised by the Southport Chamber of Commerce because it may negatively affect traders and customers in the central business district.
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. Corridors heading south from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads, and from Burleigh Heads to Coolangatta are also being looked at.
. This will preclude any future integration with other rail on the Gold Coast which uses a narrow gauge configuration but facilitates connection with the Rail Head at Murwillumbah
in New South Wales.
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
system in Gold Coast, Australia. Stage 1 of the project will link Griffith University
Griffith University
Griffith University is a public, coeducational, research university located in the southeastern region of the Australian state of Queensland. The university has five satellite campuses located in the Gold Coast, Logan City and in the Brisbane suburbs of Mount Gravatt, Nathan and South Bank. Current...
(Gold Coast campus) with Broadbeach, passing through the key activity centres of Southport
Southport, Queensland
-Sport:The Southport Sharks Australian rules football club has a presence in the area, including a club and function centre.-Transport:The Broadwaterway is a foreshoreway that encourages pedestrians and cyclists to travel along the Broadwater foreshores of Southport.A ferry terminal is planned for...
and Surfers Paradise. The Government of Queensland
Government of Queensland
The Government of Queensland is commonly known as the "Queensland Government".The form of the Government of Queensland is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1859, although it has been amended many times since then...
and the Gold Coast City Council are working together to build a light rail system between Helensvale
Helensvale, Queensland
Helensvale is a suburb on the Gold Coast in Queensland , Australia and was named after Helena White.At the 2006 Census, Helensvale had a population of 14,767....
and Coolangatta.
The two-stage project will generate 6,300 direct and indirect jobs during construction and commissioning. The first stage of the Gold Coast Rapid Transit system will operate on a 13 km line between Griffith University and Broadbeach, passing through the key activity centres of Southport and Surfers Paradise. The system will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with services every 7–8 minutes during peak times, and will move up to 10,000 people an hour. The system is likely to be operational from Griffith University to Broadbeach by early 2014. According to Anna Bligh
Anna Bligh
Anna Maria Bligh is an Australian politician and the Premier of Queensland since 2007. The 2009 Queensland state election was the first time a female-led political party won or retained state or federal government in Australia...
, this project will be the first light rail network of any regional Australian city.
Stage One of the Gold Coast Rapid Transit system will generate a number of social, environmental and economic benefits for the city including:
reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 114 000 tonnes over the first 10 years of operation, improving local air quality
reducing the number of vehicle trips by 10 per cent
generating roughly 6300 jobs
providing a frequent and reliable form of transport
establishing an integrated and expanded public transport network on the Gold Coast.
Planning
The Gold Coast is one of the fastest growing cities in Australia. The project was first proposed in the Gold Coast City Council Transport Plan 1996 after some years of consideration and review. Further studies eventually culminated in the Gold Coast Light Rail Feasibility Study. This started in 2001 with the Queensland and CommonwealthGovernment of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a federal constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy. The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901 as a result of an agreement among six self-governing British colonies, which became the six states...
Governments each contributing $650,000 and the Gold Coast City Council also financially committing millions. In 2004 the draft summary report was released.
Construction
In 2009 the Queensland Government has 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. This funding allowed the project to transition from the planning phase into procurement.Bids for roadworks were called for in May 2010. Construction began on the Gold Coast University Hospital station shell in July 2010, after Leighton Holdings was awarded a contract. In late 2010, early roadworks began in Broadbeach and Southport. In May 2011, Goldlinq was awarded a contract to build and operate the rail system. In July 2011, the Gold Coast University Hospital
Gold Coast University Hospital
Gold Coast University Hospital is a proposed major health facility for the Gold Coast, Australia, due for completion in December 2012. It involves building a new tertiary hospital on a greenfields site adjacent to the Griffith University Gold Coast campus at a cost of $1.55 billion.Construction...
Station shell was completed with the final fitout to commence just prior to 2014.
It is expected that the early roadworks in Broadbeach and Southport will be completed by the end of 2011 before the construction of the light rail corridor begins in early 2012. By late 2013, the construction of the corridor is expected to be completed with the testing and commissioning of the system to begin. The first passengers are expected to board in 2014.
Route
Stage 1 comprises a 13 km dedicated light rail corridor that will link Griffith University (Gold Coast campus)with Broadbeach, connecting the key activity centres of Southport and Surfers Paradise. It will primarily operate in a centre running configuration. The route has been criticised by the Southport Chamber of Commerce because it may negatively affect traders and customers in the central business district.
Stations
Proposed stations identified by the Concept Design and Impact Management Plan (CDIMP) are at:- Gold Coast University HospitalGold Coast University HospitalGold Coast University Hospital is a proposed major health facility for the Gold Coast, Australia, due for completion in December 2012. It involves building a new tertiary hospital on a greenfields site adjacent to the Griffith University Gold Coast campus at a cost of $1.55 billion.Construction...
- Griffith UniversityGriffith UniversityGriffith University is a public, coeducational, research university located in the southeastern region of the Australian state of Queensland. The university has five satellite campuses located in the Gold Coast, Logan City and in the Brisbane suburbs of Mount Gravatt, Nathan and South Bank. Current...
- Queen Street
- Gold Coast HospitalGold Coast HospitalGold Coast Hospital, located on the Gold Coast, Queensland is a major teaching and referral hospital and the third largest in Queensland. The Gold Coast Hospital has one of the busiest emergency departments in the state...
- SouthportSouthport, Queensland-Sport:The Southport Sharks Australian rules football club has a presence in the area, including a club and function centre.-Transport:The Broadwaterway is a foreshoreway that encourages pedestrians and cyclists to travel along the Broadwater foreshores of Southport.A ferry terminal is planned for...
- Southport South
- Broadwater ParklandsSouthport Broadwater ParklandsThe Southport Broadwater Parklands is a master-planned project on the Gold Coast, opened by the Premier of Queensland, Anna Bligh, on 23 August 2009.-History:...
- Main BeachMain Beach, QueenslandMain Beach is a suburb on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 Census, Main Beach had a population of 3,324....
- Surfers Paradise North
- Cypress Avenue
- Cavill AvenueCavill AvenueCavill Avenue is a street in Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It is in the heart of the Surfers Paradise shopping and entertainment district. Between the Surfers Paradise Beach and Orchid Avenue it is a pedestrian mall. It was named in honour of the founder of Surfers Paradise,...
- Surfers ParadiseQ1 (building)Q1 is a supertall skyscraper located in Surfers Paradise, on the Gold Coast. It is the world's third tallest residential tower after the 348 metre building The Marina Torch in Dubai won formal recognition as the tallest residential building in the world on 29 April 2011 by the Emporis...
- Northcliffe
- Florida Gardens
- Broadbeach NorthGold Coast Convention and Exhibition CentreThe Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre located on the Gold Coast Highway in Broadbeach, Gold Coast was opened on 29 June 2004 at a cost of $167 million and is linked by a covered walkway to Conrad Jupiters...
- Broadbeach SouthPacific Fair Shopping CentrePacific Fair is a major shopping centre located in Broadbeach on the Gold Coast, Queensland, and was Queensland's largest regional shopping centre until 2006....
Other identified future stations are Helensvale railway station
Helensvale railway station, Queensland
Helensvale Station is a railway station at Helensvale on the Gold Coast Line of South East Queensland, Australia. It is part of the Queensland Rail City network.It is in Zone 12 of the TransLink integrated public transport system...
and Harbour Town. A connection at Helensvale is not expected to be needed until after 2016 at the earliest. Corridors heading south from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads, and from Burleigh Heads to Coolangatta are also being looked at.
The Light Rail option
The government has committed to the use of standard gauge low floor rolling stock powered by 750 volt DC overhead catenaryOverhead lines
Overhead lines or overhead wires are used to transmit electrical energy to trams, trolleybuses or trains at a distance from the energy supply point...
. This will preclude any future integration with other rail on the Gold Coast which uses a narrow gauge configuration but facilitates connection with the Rail Head at Murwillumbah
Murwillumbah, New South Wales
Murwillumbah is a town of approximately 7,500 people in far north-eastern New South Wales, Australia in the Tweed Shire. It lies on the Tweed River, 848 km north-east of Sydney, 13 km south of the Queensland border and 132 km south of Brisbane. At the 2006 census, Murwillumbah had a...
in New South Wales.
Delivery approach
The project will be delivered under a disaggregated delivery method with three core packages: early works, operator franchise and civil assets.Effect on private properties
The proposed system will have significant impact on property both directly and indirectly in the corridor. The government has confirmed that all directly affected property owners have been contacted. In 2009, A$16.5 million was spent on property resumptions. A total of $170 million has been allocated for all resumptions. The Queens Park Tennis Club and Southport Croquet Club will both be relocated. The government has not released the detailed planning for the project on their website, citing that the files are too large.See also
- Transport on the Gold Coast, QueenslandTransport on the Gold Coast, QueenslandThe Gold Coast has a wide range of public and private Transport options from cars and bikes to buses, rail and monorail. The car is the dominant mode of transport for Gold Coast but with the increasing population that leads to more traffic congestion...
- Railways in South East Queensland
- Transportation in Australia