Gold Coast Light Rail

[SurfRail]

- No original research
- Misread figures from DTMR
- Misinterpreted the figures without seeking clarification
- No mention of 20% patronage growth in the second year

I don't consider the author is trying to be dishonest, just that his paper is a fairly general restatement of some already known information about recent light rail projects.  It doesn't contribute anything useful to the debate, and is factually incorrect in material ways.

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> GoldLinQ chairman John Witheriff: Light rail is proving popular with Gold Coast residents

IN last weekend's edition of the Gold Coast Bulletin an article was published under the headline 'Just a new set of wheels.'

The article cited a comparison of bus trips and first-year tram patronage to demonstrate light rail has "only switched regular public transport users from buses to trams" and "has failed to deliver the key outcome of increased regional public transport use".

In fact overall public transport use on the Gold Coast increased more than 32.4 per cent in two years following the introduction of light rail with G:link recording 21 million trips in under three years.

TransLink figures show Gold Coasters made 21.8 million combined bus and tram trips in 2015-16. Prior to the introduction of the light rail network the total number of journeys in 2013-2014 was 16.5 million.

In 2015-16, the light rail alone carried 7.68 million passengers and, as reported by the Gold Coast Bulletin on Wednesday June 14, that figure is estimated to increased to 8.03 million trips in 2016-17 and is expected to grow to 8.72 million in the coming year.

Our city is one that continues to grow and having an effective public transport network capable of growing with our ever increasing population is absolutely critical to maintaining the lifestyle we all enjoy.

Light rail already carried an average of 640,000 passengers a month for the 2015-16 financial year, well above the city's population on census night of 555,721 with capacity to cater for additional passengers in years to come.

It is also important to understand that these patronage figures are only based on G:link specific go card /paper ticket data and do not account for passengers transferring from a connecting bus service who purchased their paper ticket with another public transport operator.

Indeed buses and light rail are complementary and it is no surprise that bus patronage initially fell when light rail was launched between Gold Coast University Hospital and Broadbeach. Buses were redistributed from the busy coastal spine to allow higher frequency east-west integrated bus routes to be established.

In a city with more kilometres of waterways than Venice there is certainly no single silver bullet transport solution however we must continue to take bold steps to keep our city moving.

Redistributing buses to feed into the light rail has created an increasingly connected and convenient public transport network as evidenced by the patronage growth in 2015-16.

Further stages of the light rail including future southern connections as identified in both the Queensland Government and City of Gold Coast's 2031 transport strategies will further enhance overall connectivity.

Finally, another misconception is that light rail is only used by tourists. While each year approximately 1.5 million passenger trips are made from the heart of Surfers Paradise via Cavill Avenue station alone, passenger surveys have shown that 76 per cent of users are local residents which highlights that Gold Coasters have embraced light rail for the success it is, and will continue to be.

[LRV 018]

https://twitter.com/DarcyReynolds36/status/887992818395787264

It's been 3 years, and what a great 3 years it's been for public transport on the Gold Coast as a result of having trams

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/yarratrams/status/888295347226681344

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/gclightrail/status/888213964479373312

[verbatim9]

I remember I took the free trip on the day it opened from Cavill Ave to Broadbeach South.

[SurfRail]

The one bright star for public transport in this state.  Long may it shine.

[ozbob]

The one bright star for public transport in this state.  Long may it shine.

[SurfRail]

The platform kiosks at Cavill Avenue and Broadbeach South are re-opening on 31 July 2017, this time as manned information/ticket sales booths - apparently run by TransLink but not 100% clear.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/TransLinkSEQ/status/891787959690645505

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/gclightrail/status/897576713374228480

[SurfRail]

http://ridetheg.com.au/love-our-city/

Highlights what is happening at or around each station, and things you can get to by bus at either end.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/904385106772615168

[verbatim9]

Will services start prior to New Year to Helensvale or still on track for January February 2018?

[ozbob]

Will services start prior to New Year to Helensvale or still on track for January February 2018?

Not sure, but I think more likely to be early 2018.

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Police crackdown on petty crime at popular tram stop ahead of Schoolies, GC600

GOLD Coast police are cracking down on petty crime and anti-social behaviour at one of the city's most popular tram stations.

Fed up with what local businesses described as teenage "wannabe gangsters" causing trouble around the Broadbeach South light rail station police conducted a blitz of the area overnight.

Queensland Police data reveals there have been 177 offences in the area surrounding the station in the past 12 months which included drug, theft and good order offences.

"We have noticed there are quite a few teenagers who try to be gangsters near the tram station, which obviously isn't a good thing," said a local shop keeper who didn't want to be identified.

"You see them selling drugs across the road, and this is just in the afternoons.

"Businesses in the area make sure they watch them very closely."

Broadbeach Acting Senior Sargent Dan Wicks said extra police would be working with transport officers and security guards to take a zero tolerance response to offences.

"We have identified a number of persons causing trouble in the area," Sgt Wicks said.

"Members of the community deserve to be able to travel and go about their business in a safe environment.

"The objective of the operation is to address criminal offences and anti-social behaviour around this particular tram station following a number of complaints from members of the public and instances of offences being committed.

"We want to send a strong message to the community."

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/926000944323510272

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/TransLinkSEQ/status/928145535948677120

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/gclightrail/status/946969167927894016

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/9NewsGoldCoast/status/948385593930801152

[ozbob]

^

Appears car has turned into tram path ... looks relatively minor fortunately

https://twitter.com/mackenzieravn/status/948386379947417600

[SurfRail]

This is a pedestrian only crossing too.

[ozbob]

 

https://twitter.com/9NewsGoldCoast/status/958249355437260800

[ozbob]

3rd February 2018

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

Light rail will run nonstop during games

The Gold Coast's light rail network will operate 24 hours a day, every day during the 2018 Commonwealth Games, ensuring demand for services is met during the event.

Speaking ahead of the GC2018 public transport timetable launch tomorrow (February 4) Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said trams would run every six minutes during peak event periods.

"This is just one of the ways the Palaszczuk Government is going above and beyond to keep people moving during the games," Mr Bailey said.

"There is going to be a massive influx of people during the games, but we are confident we have done the planning to make sure this is an incredibly successful event."

The announcement follows the successful launch of the Gold Coast Light Rail Stage Two in December, which has seamlessly connected the light rail network to the heavy rail network at Helensvale Station.

Mr Bailey said he could also release new patronage figures, which showed a staggering 110,863 trips had been made from stage 2 stations up to January 28.

"The overall increase in patronage across Gold Coast Light Rail since stage 2 opened, when compared with the same period last year, was 27 per cent or an extra 245,259 trips," Mr Bailey said.

Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones said 14 trams were now being used for standard peak periods, and that would increase to up to 17 trams during GC2018.

"The Gold Coast now has one of the most integrated public transport networks in the state with some of the most frequent services," she said.

"The Palaszczuk Government has done the work needed to make GC2018 one of the best games ever."

Further details of the GC2018 transport timetable will be released on Sunday, February 4.


Background:

Peak periods are between 7-10am and 4-10pm. Six minute frequency timetabling will continue past 10pm every Games day to maximise convenience.

ENDS

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/gclightrail/status/960384230520848384

[verbatim9]

Are the trams running all the way to Helensvale 24 hours during the games or just running between Gold Coast University Hospital and Broadbeach South as they do now on Friday and Saturday nights after midnight?

[SurfRail]

^ Journey planner says yes.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/AbrahamLeung/status/970657464583532544

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> New data reveals Gold Coast Light Rail patronage figures much higher than expected

THE case for the Gold Coast light rail's third stage is gaining momentum, with figures showing support from locals has exceeded expectations.

New Department of Transport figures show the rapid transit system has recorded an extra 510,000 passenger trips since its second stage was opened in December.

The 11km second stage, which tomorrow marks three months since its launch, has helped deliver a 27 per cent boost in patronage, bringing total passenger journeys to 2.3 million in just 12 weeks.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey welcomed the result and said it reflected Gold Coasters' support for public transport.

"Stage two of the Gold Coast light rail was delivered on budget and early nearly three months ago and Gold Coast locals and visitors have overwhelmingly shown their support," he said.

"Light rail patronage has increased by 510,000 trips, or 27 per cent compared to last year's figures since stage 2 launched on December 18.

"Stage 2 is a fantastic legacy for all Gold Coast residents."

According to data to be published this weekend to mark the anniversary, the three new stations — Helensvale, Parkwood and Parkwood East — are fast becoming commuter favourites, recording 3036 boardings a day or 255,000 in total across the three months.

As the key public transport hub between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, the Helensvale station — where heavy rail and light rail meet — receives the highest patronage.

The week beginning February 26 was the busiest recorded, with 224,000 trips taken.

The spike in users was the result of classes resuming at Griffith University.

Stephen Harrison, who heads the Gold Coast light rail business advisory board, said the strong figures boosted the case for stage 3 and beyond.

He said taking the trams to Coolangatta and west into the suburbs of Robina and Nerang made sense.

"These figures show people will support public transport and that the young people are the ones who are the biggest adaptors," he said.

"It is time for the naysayers to admit the light rail has been a success and that it makes sense to continue rolling it out.

"It must be taken down to Coolangatta and out to the suburbs to provide an overall integrated public transport network."

Light rail stage 3A, which would run between Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads, is in the planning stages, with a $10 million feasibility study underway.

Stage 3B would run to Coolangatta and the airport, with other future stages proposed to travel west.

GoldLinQ chairman John Witheriff said the trams were performing "better than ever anticipated''.

"The Gold Coast has really bought into public transport for the first time in my lifetime," he said.

"I was born in Southport and grew up here but before the light trail, had caught public transport just a few times.

"The trams are changing all of that and our big hope is that over the next decade public transport will become the preferred mode of moving around the city."

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/974692429109510145

^

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/974693454004469760

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/975639986899861504

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/gclightrail/status/979825823279714309

[SteelPan]

Suggestion to State Govt and GC Council

Commencing 2019 - State/Council to bite the bullet and fund TEN Years of "FREE" G Light Rail System Use. Not a magic cure, but a practical start to giving GC tourism a much needed shot in the arm. Frankly, the GC looked a little "ill" a few days ago when I visited......and that was, supposedly....after the big tart-up for the Games!   

[SurfRail]

No, just no.  We're doing fine without that.  $20m + in annual fare revenue is something we can't afford to just let go of.

[SteelPan]

I suspect many small/medium businesses on the GC would strongly disagree with you!

[SurfRail]

I suspect I have a better idea of what it's like down here than you.

People are using trams and are not being deterred by paying a fare.

[verbatim9]

^^Be good when Next generation ticketing is active. Then non smart card holders can touch on and off with debit or credit cards being Visa, Mastercard and American Express. Hopefully extended to JCB card, Union pay and Diners Club cards?

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/gclightrail/status/987106574165426176

[SurfRail]

I've been a bit remiss in not passing on our congratulations directly.  I have sent off a note to our contact.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/gclightrail/status/999791947794427904