Gold Coast Light Rail - beyond stage 3 & 4 (spur lines)

[timh]

^^It will be good to see Light Rail go to the Spit.  Sure there is going to be disruption like any road works and apartment building in the area. The benefits are clear in regards to Light Rail, as it allows for urban renewal with the prospect of capital gain in surrounding properties. It shouldn't take too long anyway to lay tracks down Tedder Ave. In Victoria they rip up roads and lay new replacement tram tracks over a long weekend.

I agree with the sentiment, I think Light rail down the spit is an excellent idea, especially for tourists. Rail (whether light or heavy, metro etc.) is far easier for tourists to navigate due to the clearly laid out routes and stops. Considering the number of international tourists that go to Seaworld, the Versace, etc. and the success of the rest of the light rail system on the coast for tourists its an obvious choice. The new development will only bring in more tourists too.

Obviously there will be disruption but I don't think it will be as simple as you're saying Verbatim. Yes they can lay tracks quickly, but I think the overhead power wiring and changes to the intersections will be the things that take the longest.

[ozbob]

NSW 2019-20 Budget

https://www.budget.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/budget-2019-06/Budget2019-20_Election%20Commitments_final_0.pdf page 15

" PLANNING FOR TWEED LIGHT RAIL

Provide $1 million to commence strategic
planning for a future light rail between
Tweed Heads and Coolangatta.  "

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Light rail: Tram link to Gold Coast Airport receives $1m funding boost

The light rail link to Gold Coast Airport has received a surprise boost, with $1 million put towards the project today. Business leaders have welcomed the move.

THE light rail link to Gold Coast Airport has received a surprise boost, with $1 million put towards the project in today's NSW state budget.

The Berejiklian Government put the funds towards the Tweed Heads to Coolangatta link, which has long been proposed.

The funds will be used to develop a concept plan for the link which will eventually connect with the Gold Coast light rail.

Queensland Airports chief executive Chris Mills has welcomed news of light rail plans progressing from Tweed Heads to Coolangatta.

Mr Mills said linkages to the airport from both Queensland and NSW would have major benefits for a range of organisations including the airport itself, businesses based in the airport precinct and organisations like Southern Cross University.

"Light rail is a priority project for the Gold Coast and northern NSW, which we want to see delivered as soon as possible," he said.

According to plans revealed in February, two potential routes are being considered:

These include a light rail link from Coolangatta Airport to Tweed Heads, with a second option expanding to Tweed Heads South.

The route would use the former Nerang-Tweed railway and continue through Coolangatta to Bay St, Wharf St and then Minjungbal Drive.

[verbatim9]

Probably see alot of public transport projects coming online by 2024/5 Including this one, Metro, CRR, SCL Duplication. All seems good. Just have to wait a few years. Oh forgot to mention Skygate Starion. I reckon this will be operational by 2024/5 or sooner as well.

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Gold Coast light rail: Council candidate claims tram extension will save koala population

EXTENDING the light rail south to Coolangatta might help save Burleigh's koala population rather than destroy it.

Zac Revere, 23, a Bond University law student and operations manager at the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, has outlined the positive impacts on light rail in a controversial research paper prepared for his Division 12 campaign.'

Mr Revere is calling on voters to "respect his position" aware some outspoken anti-rail residents from Palm Beach are maintaining a fierce campaign on Facebook against the trams being extended first from Broadbeach to Burleigh then Coolangatta.

On his Facebook candidate page, Mr Revere wrote: "Knowing that the second leading cause of koala fatality is car strikes, could this (light rail) be an opportunity to ease private traffic and dramatically lower the number of car strikes plaguing our city roads.

"My understanding is yes. I believe that the light rail must continue the route along the Gold Coast Highway to conclude at the Coolangatta Airport. It must as a matter of environmental conservation, as an element in the fight for koala preservation and as insurance for the most important koala habitat in South East Queensland."

When Stage 1 of light rail was completed in Southport, traffic along Scarborough Street was cut by half with more than 5000 vehicles removed from the road, Mr Revere said.

"The population in our Burleigh neighbourhood remains in poor standard, with a total of 13 to 25 koalas record," Mr Revere wrote.

"This family of koalas is under threat by the second highest cause of koala fatalities in our city — car strike. The Queensland Department of Environment and Science reports an estimated 340 koalas strikes by private vehicles per year on the Gold Coast, which amounts to six koalas a week visiting wildlife hospitals with an 80 per cent fatality rate."

Mr Revere admitted light rail was not the "golden ticket solution" but it was one of many options which could work to save more koalas.

Anti-tram campaign Karen Rowles on his Facebook page returned political fire, warning Mr Revere against supporting light rail "or you will lose votes".

"There are over 100 koalas in the Burleigh Hill-Burleigh ridge area. Lies, lies, lies. Light rail is a fail. Stop Stage 3b," Ms Rowles wrote, in her post.

Mr Revere said he respected Ms Rowles' passion, and he was waiting to see further hard evidence from anti-light rail campaigners about the impact on koalas.

His information was based on research from environmental consultants Biolink, the council and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.

Asked whether he was concerned about taking such a public stand on light rail, Mr Revere said the issue was among the top three in the campaign leading up to the March 20 poll.

"Everyone running in this election needs to talk about it and open up. I've worked as an animal keeper. I've have real passion for koalas," he said.

[aldonius]

And there I was, thinking the Brisbane NIMBYs were bad 

(Ours are more insidious, they just tend to vote for keeping as much land zoned low residential density as possible.)

[SurfRail]

Karen and her mates are hopeless sooks.  They don't represent anything like a majority, they're just the noisy ones.

I expect to see a lot of them claiming a conspiracy when Tom Tate wins the nayoralty again next year.  They live in an intellectual walled garden.

[AnonymouslyBad]

(Ours are more insidious, they just tend to vote for keeping as much land zoned low residential density as possible.)

The classic "low density sprawl everywhere is the environmentally friendly option" argument 

Unsurprisingly, while some are genuinely misguided, many couldn't actually give a damn about the environment and just want a more palatable reason to be against (whatever project).

[Cazza]

light rail spur lines to the city's west must be fast-tracked within a decade to support the Gold Coast's rapidly growing population.

What would be the best east-west link(s) for the light rail to take? Gold Coast Hwy to Elanora via Thrower Dr is an obvious one (once the heavy rail is put through here).

But what else? Broadbeach South-Nerang via Metricon could be a go, however, the sparse population spread and even sparser number of events at Metricon seem like the expenditure wouldn't stack up (that being, nothing BRT can't handle anyway).

A link from Robina to somewhere along the Gold Coast Hwy is inevitable and definitely a must. But where would it come out on the east? Along Christine Ave seems sensible (as the corridor is plenty wide enough except for the last few hundred metres approaching GC Hwy, but that can be solved easily), but then you miss out on Bond Uni. If you were to go via Bond Uni, one of the more direct routes I am envisioning is still quite indirect, with a few property resumptions required, as well as a few sizeable bridges.

And of course, Varsity Lakes-Burleigh is always an option (probably the cheapest at that too). Burleigh Connection Road already has that nice, wide corridor with good speed to be gained along sections of it. However, the large industrial areas surrounding it aren't ideal. Although, it should be noted that both Stockland Burleigh and Treetops Plaza line this corridor and would be great beneficiaries from it (as well as large trip generators in themselves).

I'm interested to hear what others think.

(Bob, move to a GCLR thread if more appropriate there )

[#Metro]

No spurs. It's just part of the 'spread rail everywhere and thinly' model of thinking.

The main priority is to get both heavy rail and light rail to connect to the OOL airport. Quite a bit of planning needs to happen there

before indulging in spurs.

For one, I would like the systems to allow extension beyond the airport into NSW. While a foreign concept in Australia, overseas trains

routinely cross state and international borders. Either that or a re-drawing of the QLD-NSW border should be on the cards.

[Gazza]

You're wrong Metro, LR on the GC is not spread thinly, it runs every 7 min all day.

[JimmyP]

Plus, this thread is talking about spur lines AFTER the main trunk line has been finished.

[Gazza]

No spurs. It's just part of the 'spread rail everywhere and thinly' model of thinking.

You've said in the past QR is inefficient because it always wins the contract, and because the driver and guard model is costly, and because for most of the bus network seemingly avoid stations rather than feeding.

G:Link has none of those problems so why be opposed to expansion of a successful model that has grown patronage strongly compared to the rest of the SEQ failure?

In terms of spur lines.

-I think the strongest candidate is a Robina Spur, the 750 is the busiest route, has a university and major shopping center (The stadium too but that shouldn't be driver) plus the route has a high degree of density.

-Varsity im not convinced of yet until the Varisty urban village actually happens, it still has to battle the fact a lot of it is low density industrial.

-Nerang isn't dense enough either at the moment, and 740 patronage actually dropped after stage 2 light rail, so it's not a preferred E-W corridor anymore, and the stadium isn't enough to make up for it IMO.
Maaayyybe if they close a golf course or two. In the meantime the 735 should be upgraded.

-Olsen ave and Harbour town should happen, its one of the busiest stops on the GC and would allow extensive restructuring. The 713 and 719 still do well.

-One that is not on anyone's Radar is marine parade via Labrador. That has high density and a high level of usage.

-Ellanora pines should happen, a low hanging fruit.

Use this site to see the busiest corridors
https://seqtransit.henrus1.com/

[#Metro]

You're wrong Metro, LR on the GC is not spread thinly, it runs every 7 min all day.

So your saying... I'm "wrong". 

[Gazza]

Yes, you were very wrong.

All you did is wet yourself at another opportunity to have a chance to squeeze in and say "Rail in Qld is expensive and bad", even though G:Link is the exception and is a great system.

[SurfRail]

I think the next priority should be Harbour Town.  This will be relatively easy to do - the main issue for me being where you put the Harbour Town station.  It's also reasonably short and easy to digest budget-wise (both in terms of capital and management/contracting/consulting expertise), so it would be a good way to keep the program rolling while trickier things like Robina are worked out.

I would look at removing the existing bus facility and building a new mini-Broadbeach South in the north-west corner of the Brisbane Rd / Olsen Ave / Oxley Dr intersection, near the Macca's.  Resume part of the car park, run the light rail into the current verge / car park area, and build bus platforms around that.  Putting it here would cement in the option of extending further north, and you could still in future run a line from this terminus to Southport via Frank St / Marine Pde.

Might even be able to push it up the road another 2.5km to the Lae Drive roundabout - this is still only about 5.5km total which is less than Stage 3 to Burleigh.  Once you get there, you have a few possible options for future extensions
- keep going north up Oxley Dr to at least Matthew Flinders Drive
- go east to the Runaway Bay shops and then up Bayview St to at least Falkinder Ave
- have Lae Dr as a spur line (maybe feeding a future Harbour Town to Southport via Labrador connection)
You would then be focusing a lot of density in the area between the Runaway Bay shops and Harbour Town, which is already a corridor which has some medium and high-rise development.

I have absolutely gone off the idea of Harbour Town to Helensvale.  You can't do anything with that corridor since it's a mix of light industry and Ramsar protected wetland, so it should continue to be bus-based.

Robina is the next priority after Harbour Town, and I genuinely don't know what is best there.  The last detailed thinking for Stage 3 involved turnouts at Pacific Avenue from the main coastal route but those faced south (ie towards Burleigh), the thinking apparently being that you would interchange at the station at Miami High to go north.  I think those turnouts have vanished from the current reference design - likewise there was a set of curves at the GC Hwy and West Burleigh Rd which would allow a connection to Varsity Lakes, but not from the main Burleigh stop.

[STB]

I think the next priority should be Harbour Town.  This will be relatively easy to do - the main issue for me being where you put the Harbour Town station.  It's also reasonably short and easy to digest budget-wise (both in terms of capital and management/contracting/consulting expertise), so it would be a good way to keep the program rolling while trickier things like Robina are worked out.

So are you suggesting that it runs north from GCUH (using the current spur coming off the main line at GCUH) to Harbour Town then continuing to Runaway Bay and Paradise Point?

[timh]

I think the next priority should be Harbour Town.  This will be relatively easy to do - the main issue for me being where you put the Harbour Town station.  It's also reasonably short and easy to digest budget-wise (both in terms of capital and management/contracting/consulting expertise), so it would be a good way to keep the program rolling while trickier things like Robina are worked out.

So are you suggesting that it runs north from GCUH (using the current spur coming off the main line at GCUH) to Harbour Town then continuing to Runaway Bay and Paradise Point?

I believe that's what the plan is. I'm 100% for this.
- Harbour Town is a good destination/terminus
- Northern GC needs better PT access.
- Corridor is already wide enough to accommodate, making construction easier/cheaper
- Turnout spur stump already exists at GCUH.

Problem is I couldn't see the spur anywhere on the State Govt. Regional Transport plan for Gold Coast, despite it being on council documents.

[#Metro]

Yes, you were very wrong.

All you did is wet yourself at another opportunity to have a chance to squeeze in and say "Rail in Qld is expensive and bad", even though G:Link is the exception and is a great system.

I didn't wet myself, perhaps you did with your trill of mischaracterisation.

i didn't say anything bad about LRT, i just didn't think spurs were a priority. That's all.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsGoldCoast/status/1418478352080408588

[SteelPan]

The goal should be to capture a modest percentage of property value increases, to help meet funding of fast-tracked infrastructure projects. I don't mind paying some [more] tax, IF I see it specifically targeted to the "pointy-end" of enhanced transport infrastructure!

[Gazza]

Wild opinion:
I think LR to the spit is too indirect for anyone to the north.
Do a sentosa / emriates airline style cableway from Broadwater Parklands / Nerang St,  to Sea World.

About 1km long, under $100m.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emirates_Air_Line_(cable_car)

I dont think the level of development on the spit warrants LR.

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Gold Coast light rail Stage 5: Momentum builds behind unexpected route $

BUSINESS and political leaders want a light rail extension in the city's north to be the next cab off the rank once the border link is completed.

East-West connections are tipped to be the next direct routes, running to Robina and Nerang from the coastal strip, but no concrete plans have been decided.

Frustrated with the five-year delay between Stage 2's completion in 2017 and Stage 3's works beginning last month, city planning boss Councillor Cameron Caldwell called for light rail construction to become "business as usual" and urged for a link connecting the rapidly growth north.

"All the great cities in the world have great public transport and it cannot just stop at the airport but we need to see stage after stage after stage," he said. ...

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/9NewsGoldCoast/status/1595321229623414784

[#Metro]

A LRT branch to the north via Hope Island seems reasonable. Everywhere else should probably look at BRT feeder buses, similar to Brisbane Metro.

There are examples in Australia of one state building railways into another state. The NSW Government for example, granted the Victorian Government permission to construct cross-border railways and operate train services into NSW. Although these were heavy rail, in principle it could be done for light rail too.

Border Railways Act 1922
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Border_Railways_Act_1922#

The 1922 Border Railways Acts, were Acts passed by the Parliaments of both Victoria and New South Wales, which authorised the construction of cross border railways in the Riverina region of Australia. Despite being located in New South Wales, the region was closer economically to Victoria and its railway network, operated by Victorian Railways.

(This is also one of the reasons why I think state or council boundaries might not be the huge barrier as some may think)

One complication though is time zones and timetabling. During the summer, a GC tram crossing into NSW will also be travelling 1 hour forwards in time, and when coming back, travel 1 hour backwards in time. Let's hope that the passengers and tourists don't get confused!

Code Select Expand

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hjcvEwajFE < no long available

[Jonno]

Please do not wish the useless Metro upon the Gold Coast!  The funding is there to do it properly and show Metro up for the failure it will be!!

By all means develop a BRT network that you continual convert to Light Rail

[SurfRail]

Something in the vein of Brisbane Metro (running on bus lanes) would actually be plenty for some corridors on the Gold Coast.  Route 704 jumps out at me as one of the best (just requires introducing bus lanes and better streetside infrastructure) - also Routes 745, 747, 750 and 765.

Trams to Harbour Town absolutely, along with infill development along Olsen Ave.  There would need to be plenty of work to assess what happens north of there though.

[TrainFan12487]

I wouldn't mind seeing a line from GCUH to Runaway Bay shops via Olsen ave & Oxley Dr.

Have a 4 way junction at Brisbnae road with a new line looping back toward helensvale, with a stop at Harbour Town, AB Paterson College then on to Helensvale.

The other section running along Brisbane road to go towards the waterfront at Labrador, and with the new land reclaiming project helping revitalise the waterfront along marine parade, have a segregated LR line running along terminating before Len fox Park.

[Gazza]

Im not sure id bother with trams along Brisbane Rd via AB Paterson college. Too low density.

It should definitely go to harbour town. From there its a debate if you go to Runaway Bay shops, or if you press all the way along Oxley Drive to Hope Island station.

[verbatim9]

A LRT branch to the north via Hope Island seems reasonable. Everywhere else should probably look at BRT feeder buses, similar to Brisbane Metro.

There are examples in Australia of one state building railways into another state. The NSW Government for example, granted the Victorian Government permission to construct cross-border railways and operate train services into NSW. Although these were heavy rail, in principle it could be done for light rail too.

Border Railways Act 1922
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Border_Railways_Act_1922#

The 1922 Border Railways Acts, were Acts passed by the Parliaments of both Victoria and New South Wales, which authorised the construction of cross border railways in the Riverina region of Australia. Despite being located in New South Wales, the region was closer economically to Victoria and its railway network, operated by Victorian Railways.

(This is also one of the reasons why I think state or council boundaries might not be the huge barrier as some may think)

One complication though is time zones and timetabling. During the summer, a GC tram crossing into NSW will also be travelling 1 hour forwards in time, and when coming back, travel 1 hour backwards in time. Let's hope that the passengers and tourists don't get confused!

Code Select Expand

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hjcvEwajFE < no long available

Yes, it would be easier for Qld to build and run the extension to Tweed city rather than the NSW Government building it. I guess the NSW Government would still need to do the planning and get environmental approvals first though.

[SurfRail]

Im not sure id bother with trams along Brisbane Rd via AB Paterson college. Too low density.

It should definitely go to harbour town. From there its a debate if you go to Runaway Bay shops, or if you press all the way along Oxley Drive to Hope Island station.

¿Por qué no los dos?

Station on Oxley Drive near (but south of) the Lae Drive intersection, then to Runaway Bay shops / sports precinct, then further into the future push further north than Lae Drive and make that the junction stop.

Suspect you'd end up with high-frequency buses in the area something like this:

- Current route 713 which would overlap the light rail with closer stop intervals along Olsen Ave / Oxley Dr than the LR stations

- 3 overlapping routes between Southport and Hollywell Road via Frank Street
-- one would be current Route 704
-- one would take the same route as that from Southport to Pine Ridge Road, then Pine Ridge Road and Lae Drive to the Runaway Bay shops and terminate
-- another would be something like the old Route 1 / Route 706 (basically current Route 711 from Southport to Falkinder Avenue, then to the Paradise Point terminus for current route 719)

- re-extend route 710 and/or 714 to Southport via Smith Street to cover route 719 going away

- various services connecting the northern LR terminus, which would be at say Oxley Drive / Matthew Flinders Drive, to points north of Jabiru Island (Hope Island, Boykambil / Sickle Ave area, Sanctuary Cove / Santa Barbara, Hope Island station, the Oxenford shops on the western side of the M1 etc).

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Gold Coast light rail: Support for trams to travel north to Harbour Town Shopping Centre $

Business and political leaders say a light rail spur line north to one of the city's biggest shopping centres should be prioritised within the next decade.

A tramline running from the existing Gold Coast University Hospital station north to Harbour Town has long been in the plans, with initial tracks laid for it in 2013 during the construction of Stage 1. ...

https://x.com/ozbob13/status/1816511909107286355

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Gold Coast light rail: LNP Opposition Leader David Crisafulli backs trams to Harbour Town $

State Opposition leader David Crisafulli has thrown his support behind the extension of the Gold Coast light rail, saying the project is "essential" and "just makes sense".

State Opposition leader David Crisafulli has thrown his support behind extending the light rail north to Harbour Town Shopping Centre, saying the project is "essential" and "just makes sense".

The LNP leader, who has vowed to review the southern extension from Burleigh Heads to the border if elected in October, has supported the spur line which is also backed by local councillors and Harbour Town owner Lewis Land.

Speaking at a Northern Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce lunch at Southport Sharks, Mr Crisafulli said it was a project he hoped to see eventuate. ...

https://x.com/ozbob13/status/1829195920866717758

[Jonno]

deliver infrastructure that it compliments, rather than erode, people's lifestyle.

Politician speak for "not removing traffic lanes or car parking"

Lifestyle my #%*