Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 4

26 June, 2023 By Ian

Planning has begun for the Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 4, a world class public transport system for residents and visitors to the Gold Coast.

Stage 4 is a 13km extension south of the Light Rail Stage 3, linking Burleigh Heads to Coolangatta via the Gold Coast Airport.
The Gold Coast Light Rail system is being designed to be delivered in stages to respond to population growth.

A future southern extension of the light rail will service important cultural and urban attractions including the Burleigh Head National Park, Palm Beach Village Centre, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Southern Cross University, Gold Coast Airport and Coolangatta shopping and business precinct.

Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3A

16 August, 2018 By Ian

The state of Queensland, in partnership with the City of Gold Coast (CoGC), is preparing a detailed business case for Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3A (Broadbeach South light rail station and Burleigh Heads).

The preferred alignment for the proposed Stage 3A extension runs down the centre of the Gold Coast Highway for 6.7 kilometres with planning for up to eight stations. Station locations are indicative and have not been finalised.

The reference design for Stage 3A proposes:

– 6.7 kilometres in length

– Dual track in the centre of the Gold Coast Highway

– Planning for up to eight new stations

– A journey time of about 16 to 17 minutes.

Should the project progress to construction, it would take about two to three years to build Stage 3A. The detailed business case and reference design development will be complete by the end of 2018 for government consideration.

Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 2 Open Day

14 December, 2017 By Ian

Celebrate the launch of Stage 2 at the opening celebrations this Sunday 17 December 2017 from 9am.

From 5am ride the tram for free to the celebration events at Helensvale, Parkwood and Parkwood East stations.

Helensvale station, 9am – 2pm – Free face painting and music, NightQuarter food stalls, Hot Tomato 102.9FM outside broadcast and give aways, free sample bags
Parkwood station – Free sample bags
Parkwood East station, 9am – 12pm – Free face painting and music, NightQuarter food stalls, free sample bags
Gold Coast University Hospital – Free sample bags

Free sample bags will be available for passengers at all Stage 2 stations from 6.30am while stocks last.

Confusing Cavill Avenue Station for Tourists and Visitors

19 November, 2017 By Ian

Strap yourselves in as this is going to be brutally honest.

CAVILL AVENUE STATION SHOULD BE RENAMED “SURFERS PARADISE”.

Tourists visit our beautiful Gold Coast and desire to visit Surfers Paradise. They are alighting at the (current) Surfers Paradise station, walking around thinking there’s not much here. (Q1 building and the immediate surrounding area). They then get back on the tram disappointed and having spent little money in the precinct, and return to their hotel.

How do you I know this? People who work at the Gold Coast Airport have relayed stories like this to me; and mention that they hear this from tourist frequently. The have money to spend at Surfers Paradise; they alight at Surfers Paradise station, and are confused by what they see (or lack thereof); think it’s not what it’s hyped to be and leave disappointed. Little do they know (until it is told to them), that the REAL Surfers Paradise precinct is located north at the next station; ‘Cavill Avenue’; (the station NO tourist or visitor has any clue of.)

This is where the naming of the stations hits a massive hurdle for tourists and visitors, shop owners in the heart of Surfers Paradise, and the local economy in general. All are seriously missing out on that much desired experience.

Cavill Avenue station needs to be renamed Surfers Paradise, to prevent such further confusion in the future. As it currently stands, further loss will occur to many who visit Surfers Paradise, and those who have livelihoods and businesses in the Surfers Paradise area due to this poorly conceived naming during the light rails conception.

The current Surfers Paradise station (at Q1) needs to be renamed Surfers Paradise South, to bring it in line with the current naming conventions.

My guess it will never happen because the people responsibly for the naming originally will not want to concede they have got it devastatingly wrong. Until then Surfers Paradise will miss out on many visitors and their economic boost. The stories that are regularly discussed to Gold Coast Airport staff about the Gold Coast Light Rail station naming confusion will continue.

Timetable Changes

2 November, 2017 By Ian

On Thursday 9 November 2017, the Gold Coast tram timetable will change.

This change is being made as part of Stage 2 testing, in preparation for passenger services in early 2018.

What to expect:

Trams will still run at the same frequency however the time of departure may change slightly.
If you catch a connecting bus service, your transfer time may also change.
Passengers travelling northbound will still need to exit the tram at Gold Coast University Hospital, as trams will switch to ‘out of service’ mode and continue to Helensvale as part of the testing phase.
Southbound services will depart from Gold Coast University Hospital station Platform 2 and will stop all stations to Broadbeach South.

Be sure to plan ahead using translink’s journey planner, checking the tram timetable.

For your safety, please do not attempt to access the Stage 2 platforms or tracks between Helensvale and Gold Coast University Hospital while tram testing occurs. While stations may look complete, these areas are still construction zones.

Trams will not carry passengers north of the Gold Coast University Hospital until passenger operations commence in early 2018.

Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 4

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Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3A

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Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 2 Open Day

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Confusing Cavill Avenue Station for Tourists and Visitors

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Timetable Changes

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