Gold Coast - 21st July 2014

[ozbob]

Plan to head down to the GC tomorrow.

Will probably travel on  either the 8.25am or 8.55am GC rail service ex Fortitude Valley.

New 709 bus Helensvale to Griffth Univesity, thence light rail.

[ozbob]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/17056/details#709

Route 709

Helensvale station to Griffith University
   
This new route will provide a high frequency connection from the Helensvale station to the Gold Coast University Hospital, every 15 minutes, 7 days a week.
   
To accommodate an extra stop at Helensvale station, Route 709 will now stop at Helensvale station stop D.

[ozbob]

My G: App

IOS: > https://itunes.apple.com/app/id863018534

Android: > https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kdr.glink&hl=en

[ozbob]

Plenty of trams out on the network, both north and southbound.

App is very neat!

[James]

Intending on heading down on a later service as I have things to do earlier in the morning. Will be catching the 9:59am ex Central (10:12am ex Park Road) GC train, and then going from there (via 709, the G:, 745, and then back to Brisbane). Do have to be back in Brisbane by 3pm, so will not be stopping for too long at any point on the trip. Don't come with James if you want a leisurely lunch and to go for a shop at Pacific Fair!

[SurfRail]

Bob - send me a text with which train you are on and I will duck out my front door and onto a train at Robina to meet you.

You will be very pleased with what you see down here. 

[ozbob]

Will do.  Looking forward to the day! 

[STB]

Heading down today myself.  Leaving here at 9am, should arrive at Helensvale by 11:10am.

[ozbob]

Having breaky at FV ... two paid journeys completed ...       

Plan to catch the 8.25am GC ex FV  car 1

Fare gates main Central ... 



Photograph R Dow 21st July 2014

[ozbob]

Heading down today myself.  Leaving here at 9am, should arrive at Helensvale by 11:10am.

[STB]

Intending on heading down on a later service as I have things to do earlier in the morning. Will be catching the 9:59am ex Central (10:12am ex Park Road) GC train, and then going from there (via 709, the G:, 745, and then back to Brisbane). Do have to be back in Brisbane by 3pm, so will not be stopping for too long at any point on the trip. Don't come with James if you want a leisurely lunch and to go for a shop at Pacific Fair!

James, I think I'll be on the same train as you (departure from Park Road at 10:12am).  Might see you on board!

[ozbob]

Go forth!  I missed the free travel yesterday, no problem .. 

21 Jul 2014
06:28 AM    Goodna    06:43 AM    Darra    $ 2.07         
07:07 AM    Central    07:13 AM    Fortitude Valley    $ 1.77    

Secondary go card  used for Darra > Central trip.  Queenslander!

Two paid journeys completed, enjoyed breaky here at FV. 

   

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow

On board IMU 162 .. @gclightrail next Helensvale .. 709 bus > light rail #LRT

Arrival at FV



Photograph R Dow 21st July 2014

[James]

James, I think I'll be on the same train as you (departure from Park Road at 10:12am).  Might see you on board!

Yes, that's my service! James will be in the lead carriage for the trip down.

[ozbob]

Give me a call when you on the LR, might be able to meet up somewhere ..  no worries if not.

Loganlea  one minute early ...

[ozbob]

Few random pics

709 at Helensvale


Souvenirs courtesy of SurfRail


New tram smell!


Josh and guide dog Tip. Tip loved the trams!


Southport


Main Beach - approach


The G:


DDA requirements done well!


Cavill Avenue


Tram 01 Broadbeach South


End of the line at Broadbeach South


700 at Broadbeach South


Pax loads good all trips


V/Line onboard a GC tram ... 


Gold Coast University Hospital bus platform 4


Photographs R Dow 21st July 2014

[red dragin]

Bob,

To the cameras right of Tram 01, is that the other line buried under a temporary/permanent (government dependant) platform?

[ozbob]

Bob,

To the cameras right of Tram 01, is that the other line buried under a temporary/permanent (government dependant) platform?

Yes it is. Both present terminal stations viz. Broadbeach South and GCUH have been done with a view to eventual expansions.  Platform cover is temporary over the other track pair.  When extended temporary platform over track removed.  Excellent forward thinking by GoldLinQ ...

[James]

Yes it is. Both present terminal stations viz. Broadbeach South and GCUH have been done with a view to eventual expansions.  Platform cover is temporary over the other track pair.  When extended temporary platform over track removed.  Excellent forward thinking by GoldLinQ ...

Forward thinking, but a dumb idea covering the tracks, as James and STB experienced today first hand (we were on the 709/G: between Helensvale and Southport) - when a tram gets delayed to the point that it forms the next service (in this case, the 11:37 service formed the 11:45 service), pax on the following service (in this case, the one arriving at 11:40am) are forced to wait outside the station for the previous service to clear.

Overall very impressed with the LRT system - fast and frequent. New frequent 709 and 740 are very welcome!

[ozbob]

It will be a while until the line is extended so I guess they just decided that at the two terminals having both sides for getting off and on was convenient for the time being.  Certainly is an advantage at GCUH.

[ozbob]

I was particularly struck by the upbeat positive vibe that seemed to be around the light rail.  Lot of retail activity ramping up as well, particularly at Southport.

[SurfRail]

The lack of scissor crossovers is a more significant problem than the single terminus track.  The latter can be fixed easily because the temporary slab just has to be lifted out and some additional OHW strung up.  The former will require the existing spring loaded turnout to be replaced, which means cutting up the concrete.  (That shouldn't be too difficult a job but it would involve a weekend shutdown.)

[ozbob]

Some more photographs ... 


















GoldLinQ staff on hand to assist when necessary. Excellent support for everyone.






































Note the 'Add Pass' option on the AVVM (for the go explorer)
















Back in Brisbane - view from Merivale Bridge



Photographs R Dow 21st July 2014

[ozbob]

Take a bow GoldLinQ  brilliant system!

[STB]

Ended up taking a southbound trip with James (he got off at Southport, I continued onwards), got off at Cavill Avenue (Surfers Paradise) to get something to eat, before continuing southbound to Broadbeach South, and then doing a full northbound trip back to GCUH.  See below.

11:35 AM    Gold Coast University Hospital Station    12:11 PM    Cavill Avenue
12:31 PM    Cavill Avenue    12:52 PM    Broadbeach South
01:01 PM    Broadbeach South    01:40 PM    Gold Coast University Hospital Station

Overall I'm super impressed by it, from excellent infrastructure design that strongly supports smooth transfers between bus and tram, and that includes having a high frequency bus service from the railway station to the tram and then high frequency trams which basically keep you moving.  Through to impressive traffic light synchronization to keep the trams moving as much as possible despite having to cross several intersections.  There was also plenty of staff on hand (I've never seen so many TOs checking tickets in one space like I did yesterday  on the trams).  Only complaints I overheard was the fares and the fare system (no surprises there).  There was some late running occurring when I got down there, but nothing too major and not really that noticeable given the frequency.

The stations themselves reminded me of the super stops Melbourne have built in recent years in the inner city area.  In some ways, I felt that this network (albeit only one 13km line), seemed to be in many ways more well designed and more functional than Melbourne's tram system, mainly due to the design of the infrastructure, separating the trams from the general traffic as much as possible, and the high quality passenger information systems available.

Overall I'm super impressed - I might do another trip down there next week just to have another go of it!

[ozbob]

^ 

My go card history ... travelling free after two paid journeys on the Seniors go card ...

21 Jul 2014
06:28 AM    Goodna    06:43 AM    Darra    $ 2.07         $ 32.77
07:07 AM    Central    07:13 AM    Fortitude Valley    $ 1.77         $ 31.00
08:18 AM    Fortitude Valley    09:38 AM    Helensvale    $ 0.00         $ 31.00
09:39 AM    Helensvale station stop D    10:00 AM    GCUH platform 4    $ 0.00         $ 31.00
10:03 AM    Gold Coast University Hospital Station    10:49 AM    Broadbeach South    $ 0.00         $ 31.00
11:00 AM    Broadbeach South    11:29 AM    Southport    $ 0.00         $ 31.00
12:09 PM    Southport    12:20 PM    Gold Coast University Hospital Station    $ 0.00         $ 31.00
12:38 PM    Gold Coast University Hospital Station    01:04 PM    Cavill Avenue    $ 0.00         $ 31.00
01:42 PM    Cavill Avenue    01:55 PM    Southport    $ 0.00         $ 31.00
02:19 PM    Southport    02:33 PM    Gold Coast University Hospital Station    $ 0.00         $ 31.00
02:39 PM    Gold Coast University Hospital Station    02:40 PM    Cancel Touch On    $ 0.00         $ 31.00
02:47 PM    Griffith University    03:04 PM    Helensvale station stop C    $ 0.00         $ 31.00
03:09 PM    Helensvale    05:08 PM    Goodna    $ 0.00         $ 31.00