20 Jul 2014: Ring-a-ding-ding! Gold Coast joins the transit age

[ozbob]

Media release 20th July 2014

Ring-a-ding-ding!  Gold Coast joins the transit age

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers hails the commencement of light rail services on the Gold Coast.

After a decade of hard work in scoping the project, securing funding, designing and procuring the system and testing it extensively, Gold Coast commuters will now have a much more reliable and capacious public transport service than ever before with the G: now open from today.

Steven Jamieson, Gold Coast spokesperson for RAIL Back on Track, said:

"The G: represents a step-change in the way we travel around the Gold Coast.  The core of our public transport network – the Gold Coast Highway – is also one of the most congested and busy parts of our road network.  The G: completely sidesteps this by offering frequent service at all times of the day with its own dedicated corridor, allowing passengers to avoid congestion.  The Gold Coast has finally joined an elite club of cities which recognise the transformational benefit of placing light rail at the core of their transit network (1)."

RAIL Back on Track also congratulates TransLink on the implementation of additional high-frequency bus services on Route 740 (Nerang to Surfers Paradise) and on new Route 709 (Helensvale to Griffith University), amongst other changes coming into effect on 21 July 2014 (2)."

"The network has been designed in accordance with world's best practice, allowing passengers to transfer between buses and trams at key locations with minimum fuss.  Further investment should continue to be made into the bus network over time to extend the "reach" of the G: far beyond the actual tracks the trams run on, with service headways improved and operating hours extended.  We are also pleased to see that scoping work is already being carried out in relation to Stage 2 of the project (3)."

RAIL Back on Track is proud to have supported the project since its inception and looks forward to the next chapter in the Gold Coast's transport future unfolding.  We congratulate the GoldlinQ consortium and its members, consultants and staff.  Congratulations are also due to the Commonwealth Government, the Queensland Government and the City of Gold Coast (administrations past and present) for each ensuring the fruition of this great enterprise.

"We look forward to seeing the Gold Coast's public transport network continue to grow with the city, and become a meaningful choice for more and more people from all walks of life."

Contacts:

Steven Jamieson
Gold Coast Region Spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

References:

1. NextCity - When Car-Loving Cities Start to Embrace Light Rail - http://nextcity.org/daily/entry/light-rail-city-traffic-congestion-la-salt-lake-city-phoenix

2. TransLink – The G: is coming - http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/17051/details?utm_source=translink&utm_medium=primary-tile&utm_content=gold-coast&utm_campaign=twenty-one-july

3. Department of Transport and Main Roads – Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 2 – http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Projects/Name/G/Gold-Coast-Light-Rail-Stage-2.aspx

[ozbob]

Discussion --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=546.msg144351#msg144351

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow

. @gclightrail All the best for a great day! Best wishes from RAIL Back On Track.
Media release > http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10830.0 ... ... #qldpol #LRT

[ozbob]

 

[SurfRail]

I'll be talking to Nicole Dyer on ABC Coast FM around 8:30.

[ozbob]

I'll be talking to Nicole Dyer on ABC Coast FM around 8:30.

:bi :bi :bi

[ozbob]

^ excellent interview SR!  Listened in onboard IMU 162 as we train to the GC.

Well done, thanks ABC FM Gold Coast and Nicole for the interest   

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

22nd July 2014

Re: Ring-a-ding-ding! Gold Coast joins the transit age

Greetings,

A number of RAIL Back On Track members spent the day on the Gold Coast yesterday, on the trams and buses of the Gold Coast Public Transport Network.

The light rail system can only be described as brilliant!  Some pax, despite the best efforts of TransLink were still not fully across the bus network changes but that will quickly be sorted.

Patronage on the light rail was heavy for the first day of normal operations.  There is little doubt that the commencement of the light rail services marks a significant positive turning point for public transport in Queensland.

A record of the day including photographs can be found here -->  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10831.0

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

Media release 20th July 2014

Ring-a-ding-ding!  Gold Coast joins the transit age

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers hails the commencement of light rail services on the Gold Coast.

After a decade of hard work in scoping the project, securing funding, designing and procuring the system and testing it extensively, Gold Coast commuters will now have a much more reliable and capacious public transport service than ever before with the G: now open from today.

Steven Jamieson, Gold Coast spokesperson for RAIL Back on Track, said:

"The G: represents a step-change in the way we travel around the Gold Coast.  The core of our public transport network – the Gold Coast Highway – is also one of the most congested and busy parts of our road network.  The G: completely sidesteps this by offering frequent service at all times of the day with its own dedicated corridor, allowing passengers to avoid congestion.  The Gold Coast has finally joined an elite club of cities which recognise the transformational benefit of placing light rail at the core of their transit network (1)."

RAIL Back on Track also congratulates TransLink on the implementation of additional high-frequency bus services on Route 740 (Nerang to Surfers Paradise) and on new Route 709 (Helensvale to Griffith University), amongst other changes coming into effect on 21 July 2014 (2)."

"The network has been designed in accordance with world's best practice, allowing passengers to transfer between buses and trams at key locations with minimum fuss.  Further investment should continue to be made into the bus network over time to extend the "reach" of the G: far beyond the actual tracks the trams run on, with service headways improved and operating hours extended.  We are also pleased to see that scoping work is already being carried out in relation to Stage 2 of the project (3)."

RAIL Back on Track is proud to have supported the project since its inception and looks forward to the next chapter in the Gold Coast's transport future unfolding.  We congratulate the GoldlinQ consortium and its members, consultants and staff.  Congratulations are also due to the Commonwealth Government, the Queensland Government and the City of Gold Coast (administrations past and present) for each ensuring the fruition of this great enterprise.

"We look forward to seeing the Gold Coast's public transport network continue to grow with the city, and become a meaningful choice for more and more people from all walks of life."

Contacts:

Steven Jamieson
Gold Coast Region Spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

References:

1. NextCity - When Car-Loving Cities Start to Embrace Light Rail - http://nextcity.org/daily/entry/light-rail-city-traffic-congestion-la-salt-lake-city-phoenix

2. TransLink – The G: is coming - http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/17051/details?utm_source=translink&utm_medium=primary-tile&utm_content=gold-coast&utm_campaign=twenty-one-july

3. Department of Transport and Main Roads – Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 2 – http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Projects/Name/G/Gold-Coast-Light-Rail-Stage-2.aspx