Gold Coast Light Rail

[SurfRail]

^ Questions you need to answer before making such an argument:

1. What are the current infrastructure charges?

2. What are they used for?

3. Will they pay for a tram?

4. If not, how much more is needed?

5. Will developers wear that commercially?

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Think Tank: Goldlinq CEO Phil Mumford has big dreams for the Gold Coast

[ozbob]

[SurfRail]

Can't accuse them of thinking small can we?

Gold Coast City Council spent $325,000 investigating a Nobby Beach-Robina light rail link

[colinw]

Getting a bit ahead of themselves, but still thinking the right way.

Leaving the comments on that article alone 'though, except: why are some people so hung up on a line via Metricon, which will get utilised fully only when there's a big crowd at Metricon for a Suns game?

[SurfRail]

^ Because understanding this stuff requires some knowledge of the theoretical underpinnings about why we have public transport at all, let alone expensive fixed infrastructure like a tramway.

Most people on the Gold Coast probably only interact with the public transport system when the football's on so the mindset is kind of understandable.

What isn't understandable is the people who claim it's a shorter and/or cheaper route, which is demonstrably wrong.

In any event I'm very happy the Council is spending money on this stuff and apparently has more in the kitty for the Helensvale link.  Let's not forget the current line started with a feaso study in 2004 (which the Howard government helped fund of course...)

[#Metro]

I think they need to think about complimentary BRT corridors feeding LRT, possibly with dedicated lane or class B ROW. LRT could continue to proceed down the GC Hwy corridor.

[achiruel]

I agree with LD Transit, Class B ROW along the Spit would probably make more sense than LRT at this point in time, when there are many higher priorities for LRT expansion.

[SurfRail]

I think they need to think about complimentary BRT corridors feeding LRT, possibly with dedicated lane or class B ROW. LRT could continue to proceed down the GC Hwy corridor.

You could basically go from bus lanes to tramways for the most part.  Unless they've come up with something really novel for the Robina alignment the only tight spots where you would be off road conpletely would probably be around Robina Town Centre itself and you would just keep it on road there. 

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Popular nightspot The Jolly Chinaman closes as Tedder Ave struggles with "malaise" exodus

[#Metro]

I don't think the LRT has anything to do with the downturn in that area.

[ozbob]

[colinw]

Just love headline writers.  "Popular" night spot closes.  If it was that popular it'd still be open then, wouldn't it?

The average life of restaurants/cafes/entertainment venues in this country is about 2 years.  Tastes change, this year's "hot spot" is dismissed with an eye-roll as "that is soooo last year" by next year.

The tram haters will continue to hate.  BOo ****ing hoo, it'll still be there when most of the detractors are long gone and pushing up daisies.

[SurfRail]

Makes literally no sense to me at all.  The buses stopped in virtually the same spot, and even though I certainly did from time to time I doubt most people were going to Domanis or the other eateries by catching the 700.  On top of that the 704 still runs the entire length of Tedder Ave!

[colinw]

Seems to me to be nothing at all to do with the tram, and everything to do with failure to keep up with the times.  In entertainment & hospitality, particularly somewhere like the coast, clinging to an outdated image or business model is fairly rapid commercial death.

Just look at the rate of turnover of venues in Brisbane's Southbank precinct for another example.

[hU0N]

Makes literally no sense to me at all.  The buses stopped in virtually the same spot, and even though I certainly did from time to time I doubt most people were going to Domanis or the other eateries by catching the 700.  On top of that the 704 still runs the entire length of Tedder Ave!

I don't think this is about how people got to Tedder Ave before and after G:Link.  To the extent that potential customers already knew about Tedder avenue, they will have known how to get there, regardless of mode.

However, these businesses could very well, because of the tram, be less better off than other businesses in other parts of the Broadbeach to Main Beach strip.  This would happen if the presence of the tram has changed the way that people (especially tourists) discover new shops and restaurants.  Places within sight of the tram (specifically the strip between Chevron Renaissance and Q1) will now be discovered by on-the-tram explorers from the entire length of the tram route, giving these businesses a boost.  Places not within sight of the tram at best will only be discovered by the same on-foot explorers as they always have.  And indeed, the number of on-foot explorers might have declined somewhat as some have converted to on-the-tram explorers since the advent of G:Link.

I struggle to see how this factor on it's own would be killing a whole district, but perhaps it's a worthwhile point to raise.  Tedder Ave is not "tram-discoverable" at the moment, but there is really no reason why it couldn't be.  It's close enough to a station that it could be made more visible and thus more discoverable.  And this sort of consideration should be kept in mind for the whole route.  It's a bit hard to tell from google earth if there are other nearby, but tram-invisible, destinations along the G:Link route, but if there are, improving their visibility should be a common sense high priority.  And future extension projects should include works to improve the visibility of destinations along the route as part of the construction.

[colinw]

Heh ... if there's ever an extension of G:Link to the spit as GCCC has proposed, stick it down Tedder Ave.  Problem solved. 

[SurfRail]

If it's going to Seaworld, it's going to be via Waterways Drive, so they can get doubly shafted!

[SurfRail]

I don't think this is about how people got to Tedder Ave before and after G:Link.  To the extent that potential customers already knew about Tedder avenue, they will have known how to get there, regardless of mode.

However, these businesses could very well, because of the tram, be less better off than other businesses in other parts of the Broadbeach to Main Beach strip.  This would happen if the presence of the tram has changed the way that people (especially tourists) discover new shops and restaurants.  Places within sight of the tram (specifically the strip between Chevron Renaissance and Q1) will now be discovered by on-the-tram explorers from the entire length of the tram route, giving these businesses a boost.  Places not within sight of the tram at best will only be discovered by the same on-foot explorers as they always have.  And indeed, the number of on-foot explorers might have declined somewhat as some have converted to on-the-tram explorers since the advent of G:Link.

I struggle to see how this factor on it's own would be killing a whole district, but perhaps it's a worthwhile point to raise.  Tedder Ave is not "tram-discoverable" at the moment, but there is really no reason why it couldn't be.  It's close enough to a station that it could be made more visible and thus more discoverable.  And this sort of consideration should be kept in mind for the whole route.  It's a bit hard to tell from google earth if there are other nearby, but tram-invisible, destinations along the G:Link route, but if there are, improving their visibility should be a common sense high priority.  And future extension projects should include works to improve the visibility of destinations along the route as part of the construction.

The consensus seems to be that rentseeking has killed off Tedder more than anything else.  Light rail aside, Broadbeach is simply much more of a dining precinct than Main Beach nowadays, and the quality of dining all over town has improved out of sight in the last decade.  There isn't any particular reason to go there anymore, and landlords haven't caught up.

There aren't many spots in the same particular situation as Main Beach elsewhere along the ultimate Helensvale-Coolangatta coastal route.  Possibly Currumbin, but that is and always has been very much "off-line", moreso even than Main Beach.  It also depends how they want to go between the airport and Coolangatta - running via the old rail reservation in Coolangatta Road would be a bad move given all the activity in Kirra is along the beachfront (although I would be looking at the old rail culvert to get around Kirra Hill itself).

[red dragin]

There are restaurants up there - learn something every day 

[ozbob]

News.com.au --> Concerns raised whether Sydney's $2bn new tram is the answer to congestion

FIFTEEN years ago, if you'd asked most Australians to turn their thoughts to trams, Melbourne would immediately come to mind. Fast forward to 2015, and tram networks have sprung up or been extended in Adelaide, Sydney and the Gold Coast while Canberra is thinking of sinking $1 billion into a new system.

But as Sydneysiders grapple with four years of bus diversions and roadworks to create a 12 kilometre line from the CBD to the south eastern suburbs, critics have questioned whether light rail really can cut congestion.

Supporters are having none of it, arguing trams are the only solution to Australia's rush hour crush.

Yesterday, as Sydney commuters coped surprisingly well with the start of light rail works, NSW opposition leader Luke Foley said trams were great — for Melbourne.
"Building a light rail system down the central spine of the city is the wrong transport project for Sydney," said Mr Foley who backs truncating the line just short of the CBD at Central station.

"Melbourne has the width in its city streets for trams, Sydney doesn't. We're building a congestion nightmare for the CBD."

While Mr Foley acknowledged there was little Labor could do to halt the project, he said the $2 billion price tag would be better spent on new railway stations and boosting bus services.

It's a sentiment shared by a vocal band of residents in Surry Hills, a leafy neighbourhood which the trams will plough through. Shops have already closed down in anticipation of disruption, said David Siebert of campaign group People Unite Surry Hills, and the 70 metre trams would cause serious problems on narrow streets.

"They're the size of a jumbo jets, shy of three meters. It's totally inappropriate to be combined with people and bikes."

Mr Siebert said if the government really cared about jams it would axe the tolls on the cross-city tunnel to encourage cars to avoid the CBD.

Professor David Hensher of the University of Sydney's Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies, said the light rail debate had become clouded by emotion. Tram fans were pitted against bus lovers when the discussion should be about the most effective way to increase movement around the CBD.

"The real test of success shouldn't be do we love light rail, but what are the benefits to travelling public?"

Prof Hensher said commuters wouldn't take kindly to being forced off buses onto trams, the new system would not have the capacity of the buses it replaced, journey times would be longer and other solutions — such as a bus-only tunnel beneath the city — had been dismissed out of hand.

If only Sydneysiders could experience Brisbane's busways, he said, they might not be so enthralled by trams.

"It acts like a railway, it has stations, but it carries more people in the peak than Sydney's Western Line."

Transport for NSW, the body planning the project, said numerous tram alternatives were considered including a CBD bus tunnel. But coming in at a cool $2 billion, it didn't stack up financially and wouldn't increase access for the trainless south east.

"Light rail will have substantially more capacity than the buses it will replace," said a spokesman. "Each set will carry the equivalent of nine buses and operate at four minute intervals in the CBD during peak times."

City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore, who has been a vocal supporter of light rail for many years, told news.com.au "until last week, George St was clogged up with a conga line of 6000 slow moving buses each day".

While she had concerns about some aspects of the project, including its route through Surry Hills, trams would be more reliable, quicker and take up less road space than buses.

"Light rail is the solution to the gridlock. That's what years of research showed, it's what gave the business community the confidence to get behind this project, and it's why the state government is now building light rail."

Dr Matthew Burke, an expert in transport planning at Griffith University, said he sees parallels between Sydney's squabbles and the arguments on the Gold Coast prior to the opening of its new tram line in 2014.

"There were doubters that the whole project would fail, no one would use the trams, it would be a complete waste of money and none of that came to fruition."

In fact, 20,000 passengers were using the G:link system daily, the Queensland Government has confirmed a seven kilometre extension while vehicle traffic in some areas was down five per cent. Sydney's new light rail would be even more successful, he predicted.

"Sydney CBD is at crush load at the moment, so if you want to increase the movement of people, you have to look to high occupancy transport and light rail is more efficient than buses."

Dr Burke said suggestions the new light rail wouldn't be able to pack in the passengers currently using the buses were off the mark.

"You carry a lot of air in the buses. Sure, they're full in the morning when they're going into the city but they're empty coming out."

The new system would provide "two way movement", he said, by connecting not just the CBD but also a major university, hospital and sporting precincts at its tail end.

[James]

I was in Sydney just last week. Can confirm that the bus conga line down George St is something to behold, and it is slower moving and more congested than Adelaide St (in Brisbane). LRT is definitely needed there, and has taken off in the parts of Sydney where the trains can't access. Sydney is another place where bus network reform is dearly needed though...

[ozbob]

The light rail in Sydney was very well patronised when I was there last.  There will be pain but the gains will be very impressive once it is rolled out as planned.   

[ozbob]

Twitter

Gold Coast Business ‏@GCBN 36m

The @gclightrail was named a 'catalyst' for #GoldCoast revival at the Urban Design Awards http://www.businessnewsaus.com.au/articles/trams-rated--catalyst--for-gold-coast-revival.html ...

[Stillwater]

   Sunshine Coast Light Rail wins a prestigious urban design award without even being built or carrying one passenger.  The Sunshine Coast is the Gold Coast in a parallel universe.

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/light-rail-plan-wins-national-urban-design-award/2790086

[ozbob]

Twitter

TEN News Queensland ‏@tennewsqld 20s

A car has crashed on to the Gold Coast tram tracks at Main Beach. http://bit.ly/1LH7nVP  #TenNews 5pm

[ozbob]

^
Gold Coast Bulletin --> Police investigate if alcohol was factor in woman crashing on tram tracks at Surfers Paradise

[ozbob]

^^
Brisbanetimes --> Car gets stuck on Gold Coast tram tracks

... A search of the car allegedly found drug utensils and a knife and police later arrested a 24-year-old Labrador woman, who allegedly had drugs in her possession.

She was charged with driving under the influence, unlicensed driving, drug and weapons possession and possession of drug utensils.

She is due to appear in Southport Magistrates Court on November 2 ...

[ozbob]

G:link --> Extra Services for GC600

[ozbob]

Twitter

TWEGoldCoast ‏@TWEGoldCoast 17h

The GC Light Rail, Capri on Via Roma & Chinatown have been recognised at this year's Gold Coast Urban Design Awards
http://ow.ly/THOME

[ozbob]

Twitter

GoldLinQ ‏@gclightrail 18m

Have you seen the #Mos on board our #trams? Visit #GlinkMos #MovemberAU http://ow.ly/TSsC3 

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Stoush over tram booze advertising: Councillor Dawn Crichlow demands a complete ban

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Gold Coast tram operators refuse request to hold the silly No Pants Tram Ride due to "potential disruptions"

[SurfRail]

 

They did this last year as I recall.

In practice, they aren't going to stop what would still be a fairly limited turnout rate from riding, especially seeing the amount of bare flesh you would already run into on a daily basis here (it isn't exactly the TTC Subway or something located somewhere similarly un-tropical).

[ozbob]

Railway Gazette --> Gold Coast tram option exercised

AUSTRALIA: Bombardier Transportation is to supply four additional Flexity trams to the Gold Coast under a A$25m contract announced on November 25.

The order forms an option that was part of the original contract signed in 2011 between the Queensland government and the GoldlinQ consortium of KDR Gold Coast, McConnell Dowell Constructors, Bombardier Transportation and Plenary Group. This included the supply of 14 trams.

The additional trams are to be used on the Stage 2 extension to Helensvale. The 7·3 km northern extension is scheduled to be completed in time for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, which the city is hosting. Federal funding for the construction of Phase 2 was confirmed in October.

The trams will be manufactured at Bombardier's sites in Bautzen and Vienna. Deliveries are due to begin in August 2017. Like the existing fleet, the seven-section vehicles will be 43·4 m long and 2 650 mm wide, equipped with Bombardier's Mitrac propulsion system, Flexx bogies and surfboard racks.

[ozbob]

Bopmbardier --> Bombardier to Supply Four Additional FLEXITY 2 Trams to Australia's Gold Coast

Rail technology leader Bombardier Transportation will supply four additional BOMBARDIER FLEXITY 2 trams to Australia's Gold Coast Light Rail Transit system (GCLRT). This order is valued at approximately $25 million AUD (17 million euro, $18 million US) and is an exercise of an option included in a contract signed in 2011

The new vehicles will be used on the northern extension of the Gold Coast Light Rail to Helensvale (referred to as Stage 2) which will be delivered and operational in preparation for to the 2018 Commonwealth Games held in Gold Coast.

GoldLinQ CEO Phil Mumford said "Bombardier Transport will provide four additional trams and this is another important step towards connecting the light rail to heavy rail ahead of the Commonwealth Games."

Mr Mumford went on to say, "The yellow and blue trams have become synonymous with the Gold Coast and the new light rail vehicles required for Stage 2 are due to arrive from August 2017. These trams are designed specifically for the Gold Coast and will ensure the same high quality passenger experience and service frequency is maintained as the system expands."

Carsten Bopp, Head of Light Rail Vehicles, Bombardier Transportation said, "In their first year, the 14 trams already in passenger service have demonstrated their reliability by completing a total of 6.5 million trips on the line connecting Gold Coast University Hospital and Broadbeach South. This fact is proof of our strong commitment to providing high-quality, eco-friendly mobility solutions to the people of Gold Coast.''

Based on Bombardier's family of highly successful FLEXITY light rail vehicles, Gold Coast's trams feature Gold Coast's signature blue and gold colours and a wave motif on the cab front. Designed by Bombardier's Industrial Design team in Brisbane, the award-winning tram is also the first tram in the world to be built with specially designed surfboard racks.

The trams are 43.4 m long and 2.65 m wide with seven modules for higher capacity and better passenger flow. The vehicles are installed with the energy efficient BOMBARDIER MITRAC propulsion system and its BOMBARDIER FLEXX bogies provide a smooth, comfortable ride. The trams will be manufactured at Bombardier sites in Bautzen, Germany and Vienna, Austria. To date approximately 3,500 FLEXITY vehicles have been ordered or in successful revenue service in cities around the globe.

The GCLRT project is part of an 18-year public private partnership between the Queensland State Government and GoldLinQ. As operator franchisee of stage one of the GCLRT, GoldLinQ, a consortium that includes Bombardier Transportation, is responsible for the design, construction, operations and maintenance of the fleet.

Bombardier has been active in Australia for more than 60 years. Today, it has a workforce of more than 1,000 employees across 21 locations and is a complete provider of rail solutions and services. Bombardier's projects include Gold Coast Tram System, Melbourne FLEXITY E-Class trams, VLocity diesel trains, electric and diesel multiple units for Perth and Adelaide's 25kV electric train fleet, as well as new generation of commuter trains for Queensland.

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Trams just the ticket as the G clocks up 1.5 million kilometres on the odometer

GOLD Coast tram passenger numbers are skyrocketing, with an extra 640,000 fares last quarter compared to the same time the previous year, as the G clocks up 1.5 million kilometres on the odometer.

Figures released in the quarterly TransLink Tracker report this week show during July to September 2014 there were 1.24 million trips compared to a whopping 1.88 million in the same period this year.

Meanwhile tenders for the 7.3km stage 2 of the project closed yesterday (Wednesday Dec. 23) with all three invited consortia – Leighton Contractors, John Holland Queensland and the Downer EDI Works and BMD Construction joint venture known as GamesLinQ – putting in their bids ahead of the 4pm deadline.

The intensive 12-week competitive tender phase involved more than 80 meetings and 260 formal answers and 3000 project documents supplied to the tenderers.

Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the team going through the bids would work right through the Christmas break so the contract could be awarded in late March or early April and construction begin almost immediately after.

He confirmed the project was still on track for completion in late 2017 or early 2018 – just in time for the Commonwealth Games.

"Light rail has become the spine of public transport on the Coast," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"Good quality public transport doesn't just change the journey, it changes the whole city and that's what the G has done for the Gold Coast.

"We're very confident stage 2 will continue that pattern of growth."

GoldLinQ CEO Phil Mumford said the increase in passenger numbers was great news.

"It is fantastic to see Gold Coasters continuing to embrace the G as demonstrated by this latest passenger data and the record number of passengers using the system during the GC600," he said.

"We will continue to provide a high-quality, reliable service and expect this trend to continue as the average number of passengers riding the tram each month has increased in the second year of services."

The new track will run adjacent to the Smith Street Motorway and link to the heavy rail at Helensvale Station.

[ozbob]

Southport: Driver does a runner after her car collided with a tram. https://t.co/lAgvJIiASa #7News https://t.co/AaIx4U7wui

— 7 News Queensland (@7NewsQueensland) January 14, 2016

[verbatim9]

Why are all these people crashing into trams all the time. Do you reckon this one was a DUI incident?

[#Metro]

Maybe its Ice related? The lady in the video said that they were under the influence of drugs. It would have to be pretty profound to be obvious to a random person to say something like that.