Helensvale Bus Station upgrade

[SurfRail]

https://translink.com.au/about-translink/projects-and-initiatives/helensvale-bus-station-upgrade

Consistent with the information we received a while ago.  The northernmost bus bays will be the temporary Games shuttle area and ultimately the kiss-n-ride and taxi area, while the southernmost bus bays and existing pedestrian walkway to the shops will form the new interchange.

The fare gates will be removed from their current location and reinstalled a la Nerang to secure the lift and stairs to the rail platform only, so you can circulate freely from both sides of the rail corridor on foot.  (There will be stand-alone readers on the tram platform downstairs on the east side.)

[LRV 018]

Thanks SurfRail, I was at Helensvale the other day wondering when construction for the bus station upgrades would begin

[City Designer]

The new bus station is now open.

[ozbob]

^ thanks!   

[SurfRail]

In typical TransLink fashion the website doesn't reflect this, and the new station map doesn't show which bus leaves from which stand.  Numbskulls.

[City Designer]

I'm told the new bus platforms opened on Sunday. Stops letters are anticlockwise. The stops are available in the MyTransLink app and the online mapping.

Stop A: 723 and 725
Stop B: 710 and 718
Stop C: TX7
Stop D: 704
Stop E: 714 and 715
Stop F: 3052, 716, 717, and 727

There are 6 passenger bays and 10 layover bays.

The station map is updated:

https://translink.com.au/sites/default/files/assets/resources/plan-your-journey/maps/180108-helensvale-station-locality-map.pdf

[Moriosi]

^ Where's Platform 3 on the Helensvale station map?

[SurfRail]

It's a phantom (future allocation for a third heavy rail platform in between, which would presumably be at ground level on the eastern side and connect to the tram platforms without the overbridge).  Various long range work QR and DTMR have done previously indicates that Helensvale has been or still is being considered as a terminating location for certain services, whether in peak hour or full time, which would make a third platform useful.  It would also make a better cross-platform interchange if all southbound or terminating trains used that platform.

[ozbob]

15th March 2018

Media Release
Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Mark Bailey

Helensvale Bus station upgrade boosts seamless travel for games

Stage 1 of the $14 million Helensvale bus station revamp has been completed, ensuring the transport hub will allow seamless travel for visitors and locals during the upcoming Commonwealth Games.

It follows the successful launch of the Games Journey Planner last month, ensuring attendees will be able to plan their travel to and from events easily.

Member for Gaven Meaghan Scanlon said the station would be a key travel interchange during the Commonwealth Games for ticket holders.

"It will make it so much easier to transport spectators to competition venues including the Hockey and Aquatic Centres via Games shuttle buses," she said.

"You can also transfer seamlessly to light rail to access games venues at Labrador, Southport and Broadbeach.

"Helensvale is now a state of the art transport hub – with light rail, heavy rail and buses all integrated and available to travellers. Public transport has never been better on the Gold Coast due to Palaszczuk Government infrastructure investments."

"This upgrade is not just a significant investment in public transport infrastructure for the Commonwealth Games, but is a long term legacy for Gold Coast residents.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said Helensvale was a major hub for the Northern Gold Coast region, serviced by 11 urban bus routes.

"More than 3000 passengers catch a bus to and from Helensvale station every day, including on the popular TX7 theme park service and high frequency route 704 to Main Beach and Sea World," he said.

"A comprehensive package of works has been completed, providing new bus shelters, improved pedestrian safety, increase to accessible parking spaces, improved signage, bus driver facilities and upgraded park 'n' ride spaces.

"We've installed over 200m of new sheltered walkways including the centre pathway from Town Centre Drive into the station.

"Helensvale is the key transfer point for passengers travelling between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and making the connection between rail, tram and bus seamless was a priority."

Stage 2 upgrades starting after the Commonwealth Games include:

• Upgrade of taxi rank and kiss 'n' ride facilities, including sheltered waiting areas.

• Improvements to short-term parking, lighting and CCTV facilities.

• Space for 50 additional bicycles including sheltered parking racks.

• Completion of landscaping and fencing.

ENDS

[verbatim9]

Helensvale's $14 million bus station upgrade is now open making it a vital transport hub during and after the Games. https://t.co/LNWyXEdUi5 #7News #7CommGames

https://twitter.com/7NewsGoldCoast/status/974189212554559489

[verbatim9]

This bus interchange really needs a clean. I hope it has been cleaned since I was last there a couple of weeks ago. The shelters were full of cobwebbs the concrete stained  and sticky from spilt drinks and food scraps. I really hope this interchange is better maintained in the future. I am also curious to know why there weren't any PIDS installed at the stops for such a new and busy facility?

[SurfRail]

^ There were meant to be.  Not sure why these were dropped.

There is a bus display on the western side near the tram platform entrance but not in the actual interchange where one thinks it would make sense.

The Gold Coast station interchanges (apart from Ormeau) are all busy enough to have dedicated PIDs, but the only station that has them is Varsity.  The one at the bus stop is basically illegible but there is one at the exit to the train platforms.