Below Rail Infrastructure, Engineering, Passenger Rail

G:Link Stage 2 in place

Tram leaving Broadwater Parklands on the Gold Coast Light Rail

With the final piece of track now laid for Stage 2 of the Gold Coast Light Rail network, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has turned attentions to the business case for the third stage of the project, which already has $5 million in funding.

Palaszczuk said the final weld of Stage 2 track was an exciting milestone in the countdown to the commencement of passenger services early next year.

“Light Rail has fundamentally changed public transport on the Gold Coast and once Stage 2 opens people will be able to travel seamlessly across the Coast and to Brisbane,” Palaszczuk said.

“The improved rail connectivity between Queensland’s two largest cities has been embraced by the people of the Gold Coast and will help drive future growth and opportunity.”

The Palaszczuk Government will now prepare a business case for the next phase of the Gold Coast Light Rail project, Stage 3A, in collaboration with the Gold Coast City Council.

$5 million has been committed to the business case.

“Stage 2 is well on track to be ready before the Commonwealth Games and in coming weeks the wires carrying power to the trams will be energised and the community will start seeing us testing trams,” public transport minister Jackie Trad said.

“We are delivering world-class public transport infrastructure for the Gold Coast and with the capacity improvements on the Gold Coast Line that will be delivered by Cross River Rail and Stage 2 of the Light Rail set to open the future is looking good.

“With that in mind, the time is right to start planning for a third light rail extension from Broadbeach South to Burleigh Heads and it is great news that we are getting the business case process underway.”

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the Gold Coast is one of the fastest growing cities, describing it as “Australia’s holiday playground”.

“We know that the Gold Coast is growing and extending the G:Link will help to make sure we’re ready for that growth and connect our community like never before,” Tate said.

“Besides underpinning a truly world class integrated public transport system, the light rail is assisting council in meeting our objectives of increasing accessibility to key activity centres, and reducing congestion on the roads.”