Gold Coast Light Rail

[James]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> How light rail has helped Gold Coast's traffic problem

However, Burleigh MP Michael Hart said light rail would not have the same positive impact on his electorate as it had in the north.

"Light rail may have taken some cars off the northern end, which is why I support getting light rail to the airport. If light rail goes down from Burleigh to Palm Beach there absolutely will be a cut in traffic, but that is only because it will cut traffic on the road down to a single lane," he said.

"Less cars being able to get through at once wouldn't mean less traffic, it would have an impact and ultimately add to the traffic."

Mr Hart said he believed the increase at Burleigh over the five-year period was due to continued road works on the M1 pushing traffic on to the Gold Coast Highway.

"I am not surprised by the numbers and the Gold Coast is growing. Public transport is only reducing traffic on the road by the number of people using public transport."

Not sure what he's going on about, they'll just remove the on-street parking along the GC Highway through Palm Beach to keep two lanes in each direction. Some resumptions may be required, but that's life.

The construction traffic arrangements probably won't be ideal (I can see the potential for temporary single lane sections), but this sort of talk is just unhelpful nonsense.

[SurfRail]

^ No, there will be single laning in places.  It's intentional.

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Gold Coast light rail: GoFundMe launched to fund anti-light rail billboard

A Gold Coast resident fed up with plans for light rail and overdevelopment has launched a GoFundMe campaign to send a unique message to council.

A DISGRUNTLED Gold Coast resident fed up with plans for light rail and overdevelopment in her suburb now plans to fund a billboard to air the community's grievances.

Well known Palm Beach resident Karen Rowles has launched a GoFundMe campaign in order to raise cash for to help residents fight back against construction they may be concerned about in the neighbourhood.

Titled the, 'Stop Light Rail Stop the Overdevelopment Fund', the funds will be spent on hiring a billboard on the Gold Coast Highway and the production of other campaign materials.

Within a week the fund had raised $2200 of its $50,000 target.

Ms Rowles, who has a reputation as a vocal campaigner against development in the suburb, said this is the first time she has asks for money to help the community cause.

"I have never asked for money ever, previously I would put my own money into a fight but because of COVID I am not able to do that any more," she said.

"People do still want to ramp up on the light rail so this is one way we can get together on these issues."

Ms Rowles said she was initially planning a protest but due social distancing it was decided a billboard and defence fund would be a highly visible option.

Her main concerns included the impact of the proposed route of the light rail and "high density high rise developments" she said affect the local lifestyle.

"People have already been amazingly generous, what we want to do it also fund large stickers and even a lawyer to fight council and state government decisions at some point if we can raise enough."

When asked if the campaign was focused on the light rail path or high-rises in the area, Ms Rowles said they went hand-in-hand.

"The light rail is marking the way for over development, they are one and the same. You have one you get the other," she said.

Billboards can cost anywhere between $1,500 to $14,000 to rent in the southeast Queensland region depending on the location and the duration of the lease period. ...

[timh]

Oh my god her name is actually Karen. Amazing.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[kram0]

F&*ken NIMBY's.......The Council Elections have been and gone, and the people of the GC have spoken. Except the result and stop whinging. 

[Andrew]

...

Schrödinger's Bus: Early, on-time and late, simultaneously, until you see it...

[ozbob]

SNC - Lavalin

Gold Coast Rapid Transit Operations Advisor

https://www.snclavalin.com/en/projects/gold-coast-rapid-transit-operations-advisor

"SNC-Lavalin's Atkins business was the Operations Advisor for Stages 1, 2 and 3 of the Gold Coast Rapid Transit (GCRT) system."

[ozbob]

SNC - Lavalin

Gold Coast Rapid Transit Operations Advisor

https://www.snclavalin.com/en/projects/gold-coast-rapid-transit-operations-advisor

"SNC-Lavalin's Atkins business was the Operations Advisor for Stages 1, 2 and 3 of the Gold Coast Rapid Transit (GCRT) system."

This has been removed from SNC - L website ..

[SurfRail]

Neil's probably fired a rocket up them.  The temerity of them engaging with the public...

[achiruel]

Does anyone know if there are publicly-available figures anywhere regarding cost recover of the GCLR i.e. fare revenue vs operational (not capital) costs?

[SurfRail]

You can deduce it from the DTMR annual reports - there is a service contract payment and you can compare that with the financial inflows where it talks about the finance lease arrangements.  It looked like around 50% pre Covid.

If you compare annual patronage against the service contract payments, last time I ran the numbers it was cheaper per passenger than Surfside (not by much but LR patronage is growing faster).

[kram0]

Bailey could not organise a p%ss up at a brewery......

https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/gold-coast/gold-coast-light-rail-burleigh-tram-extension-faces-delays-and-cost-blowout/news-story/c16cc0b0b46baa34dd4ce15e27604d81

[ozbob]

^

This article is in the stage 3 thread > https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11692.msg245629#msg245629

[achiruel]

You can deduce it from the DTMR annual reports - there is a service contract payment and you can compare that with the financial inflows where it talks about the finance lease arrangements.  It looked like around 50% pre Covid.

If you compare annual patronage against the service contract payments, last time I ran the numbers it was cheaper per passenger than Surfside (not by much but LR patronage is growing faster).

50% is pretty good. Pre-COVID admittedly, but I think that would have to be close to the best if not the best in the entire TL network. Certainly better than QR which IIRC is around 20%?

I just can't believe all the people moaning about how expensive LR is when in reality, it's incredibly efficient.

[Gazza]

Which is why I've come around to the view that Brisbane should roll it out on certain corridors, but the response you get is that it could never possibly work up here.

[SurfRail]

I'm less sanguine about it in Brisbane because the inner city is already saturated by buses and while I doubt it's impossible, it would be expensive - more so than in places like Southport or Surfers.

I've come to view the better approach for Brisbane as getting more artics in the CBD, and moving to Calgary style light rail on the busway (high-floor platforms, multiple unit operation, not necessarily 100% grade separated but at least in its own ROW).  The idea is to only have buses in the CBD or near-CBD which actually need to be there - so not from places further out where we should be putting people on the rails.

My light rail corridors would be from the busway core (RBWH to the Gabba) to

- Chermside, Aspley, Carseldine and Bracken Ridge.  Possible extension to Sandgate, and possible branch from Aspley to Albany Creek.
- Capalaba.  Possible extensions to Cleveland and/or Victoria Point.
- Springwood, Loganholme and Loganlea
- UQ Lakes
- Calamvale (Mains Rd)

This would also involve converting the Gabba to an on-line station instead of a branch.

This would give you something like the following 3 routes.
- Bracken Ridge to Loganlea.  This would be the core route.
- RBWH to Calamvale.  This would be timetabled to provide clockface service with the Bracken Ridge - Loganlea trips, between RBWH and Griffith Uni Mt Gravatt.
- UQ Lakes to Capalaba.  This would need to slot in between the other 2 services between the 2 junctions on either side of Buranda, and you could possibly run shorter consists.

This simplifies the network and enables the branches to run at higher headways. 

This would mean no direct service to the city from Mains Rd or Old Cleveland Rd, but frankly - bite me.  It's easy enough to interchange - you would encourage people who need the Gabba or South Bank to change at Buranda, and who need the City to change to a train at Boggo Road.

You can set it up to run special events services as needed (eg Gabba to Capalaba if the cricket is on).

4 car Calgary trains have a crush capacity of like 800 pax.  Even if we were constrained with shorter lengths to say 75% of max Calgary length, that gives us 600pax x something like 40tph = 24,000pphpd, which (pardon me) sh%ts on the current busway and Brisbane Metro, and is in 100% 6-car train QR territory.  QR pulls away again if we go to 9 car trains at 24tph for CRR (36,000pphpd), but if we go all Calgary and have 100m lengths we get 32,000pphpd.

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Ann Wason Moore: Burleigh MP Michael Hart speaks out on light rail, heavy rail and JobKeeper $

.. "We have a perfectly good rail corridor available down the M1, let's head west from Burleigh and use that. We don't need to have heavy rail to the airport, we just need light rail in the heavy rail tracks and a connecting station at Varsity.

"It makes sense to take the tourists round the back from the airport to Burleigh, they're not coming here to stay in Tugun or Currumbin. There aren't even any accommodation towers for them.

"I just want some straight answers. If (Transport Minister) Mark Bailey can show me the maps and the studies and explain why and how light rail will work down the Gold Coast Hwy, I'll happily be convinced. But I just can't see it working from an engineering, financial or common sense perspective and I think he knows that — that's why he's not coming clean."

Mr Hart insists his preference for the M1 route has nothing to do with the fact that the light rail would then pass by his place of business, saying the Gold Coast Hwy route would pass by his personal residence — thereby raising its value.

While that argument makes sense, less understandable is Mr Hart's stance against higher-density developments in Palm Beach, given he lives in one himself.

"I'm a hypocrite," he says. ...

... While he continues to champion an alternative route for Stage 4 of the light rail, he also believes we may not need it at all.

"Public transportation will be obsolete in five to 10 years anyway, people already prefer Ubers," he says. ...

Mr Hart is in the world of double think ...   

[JimmyP]

Wow. Just wow.. My brain hurts from reading that!

[kram0]

Just a dumb article. Do we have any smart politicians at 1 William? 

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1383206893619847171

[Gazza]

Bob why are we supporting and retweeting Hart?

the guy is an idiot and doesn't understand light rail, putting light rail on the M1 will be slower and longer and will prevent Coolangatta from having a fast single seat heavy rail service to Brisbane.

[ozbob]

I am drawing attention to the article.  I am not supporting Mr Hart.  It is my twitter account.

I will tweet what I choose to do thanks.

[achiruel]

Bob why are we supporting and retweeting Hart?

the guy is an idiot and doesn't understand light rail, putting light rail on the M1 will be slower and longer and will prevent Coolangatta from having a fast single seat heavy rail service to Brisbane.

Perhaps you're not familiar with the term "jumping the shark"?

I think Bob made it pretty clear that Hart is way out of his depth.

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Gold Coast MP Michael Hart slammed for 'ludicrous' take on Burleigh light rail

BURLEIGH MP Michael Hart has come under fire for a "bizarre rant" claiming public transport would be "obsolete in five to 10 years".

Mr Hart in an interview with the Bulletin on Saturday also claimed coal and carbon emissions were "not bad for the environment".

His comments have been labelled "ludicrous" by Labor's State Transport Minister Mark Bailey, who accused him of being out of touch.

"It's one of the most ludicrous things I've ever heard in six years in government," Mr Bailey said.

"Public transport is going to be more important than ever.

"It just shows Michael Hart and the LNP do not understand the first thing about public transport.

"He's so far out of touch, he has got no idea what it's like (for the general public)."

The clash is only the latest time the pair have come to verbal blows, previously arguing over light rail, planned M1 upgrades and even how to pronounce "Worongary".

Mr Hart responded to Mr Bailey's comments: "[It's] purely an attempt at retribution because I have exposed his incompetence on light rail"
  ...

Yes, good to see the Minister call out Mr Hart's nonsensical comments ...

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1383854365149057026

[ozbob]

A ditty for Mr Hart ... 

[Gazza]

Ah I thought it was suggested Bailey had jumped the shark due to the cost blowout.

[ozbob]

Ah I thought it was suggested Bailey had jumped the shark due to the cost blowout.

No worries Gazza.  I think Mr Hart not only ' jumped the shark ' he jumped a blue whale as well ..   

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament Hansard

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2021/2021_04_21_DAILY.pdf

Questions Without Notice

Public Transport

Ms RICHARDS: My question is for the Minister for Transport and Main Roads. Will the minister
confirm whether the government's planning on future transport links is accounting for public transport
becoming obsolete in five to 10 years, as has been suggested by the member for Burleigh?

Mr BAILEY: I thank the honourable member for the question. The member is a very strong
supporter of public transport and roads, particularly in the Redlands. I can inform the chamber that this
government is not planning for public transport to be obsolete in the next five or 10 years, as those
opposite appear to be. We saw a full-length interview on Saturday in the Gold Coast Bulletin with the
member for Burleigh. The journalist described it as a three-hour marathon, which I suspect was a
generous interpretation of the event.

The only thing that is obsolete here is the opposition's view on public transport. Interestingly,
since that opus by the member for Burleigh on Saturday we have heard absolutely nothing from the
Leader of the Opposition to dispute it. The Leader of the Opposition has not sought to correct it. He has
let it stay out there. He obviously agrees with it, because here they are still attacking public transport—
left, right and centre. A senior member of the LNP—

Mr Hart interjected.

Mr SPEAKER: Pause the clock! Member for Burleigh, I understand that you are the subject of
some of the minister's statements; however, it does not excuse you from putting your comments through
the chair. You will cease your interjections in that manner.

Mr BAILEY: The Leader of the Opposition has not sought to correct or dispute the views of the
member for Burleigh, a senior member of the LNP, when he says that public transportation will be
obsolete in five to 10 years. That is very revealing. The member for Burleigh gave us—

Dr Robinson interjected.

Mr SPEAKER: The member for Oodgeroo is warned under the standing orders.

Mr BAILEY: The member for Burleigh gave us the benefit of a helicopter view over things. One
thinks of Bronwyn Bishop perhaps, but we have the member for Burleigh's helicopter view. Let me
quote directly from the article in the Gold Coast Bulletin. He says—

Public transportation will be obsolete in five to 10 years anyway ... so we need to really take that helicopter view of the situation.

This is the best bit—

Don't take a train, take a plane. Why not? Get an A320, it fits as many people as a train, get rid of security checks and check-in
times and it works just like a train.

There is more. He says—

You could use your Translink card just like on a train. The plane goes at a set time just like a train and if your not on it, you miss
it and have to catch the next plane at the next set time ... just like a train.

It is not just ludicrous policy; it is actually a very bizarre form of poetry. He even got it to rhyme.
He is consistent with the member of Chatsworth, who loves to rhyme things. The rhyming is catching
on in public transport policy with those opposite.

We know that the member for Burleigh opposes light rail. He wants it to go past his brewery on
the Gold Coast. We will do public transport for public benefit in this state, not for personal interest.

Mr HART: Mr Speaker, I rise to a point of order. I find the minister's comments unparliamentary.
I take personal offence at them and ask that they be withdrawn.

Mr SPEAKER: Will you withdraw, Minister?

Mr BAILEY: I withdraw

[timh]

HA! Nice. For once Bailey said something in parliament I actually agree with. Glad he absolutely tore Hart to bits. His opinions were ludicrous. ESPECIALLY the stuff about planes replacing trains between GC and Bris

Sent from my SM-G780F using Tapatalk

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Gold Coast light rail: Calls for Burleigh to border trams to be dumped for hydrogen-powered buses $

A GOLD Coast community group says we should ditch any thought of extending the light rail and replace it with these — "world-class" hydrogen-powered electric trackless trams.

S.T.A.R. (Southern Transport Alternative Routes) says there would be no digging or track laying.

Similar systems are already under construction in Korea and Germany while China has trackless trams. ...

[verbatim9]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Gold Coast light rail: Calls for Burleigh to border trams to be dumped for hydrogen-powered buses $

A GOLD Coast community group says we should ditch any thought of extending the light rail and replace it with these — "world-class" hydrogen-powered electric trackless trams.

S.T.A.R. (Southern Transport Alternative Routes) says there would be no digging or track laying.

Similar systems are already under construction in Korea and Germany while China has trackless trams. ...

Trams have a better patronage uptake to what buses do. I agree on the technology but it doesn't necessarily translate into necessary urban renewal for the proposed areas. Some of the Gold Coast Hwy stretches and also straight over the border at Tweed Heads are in need of desperate repair and traffic calming. LRT investment address these concerns.

[JimmyP]

Yep, definitely LRT for the trunk N-S line through to Cooly/Tweed. Preferably some of the future branches (Robina etc) would be LRT also, while other branches could utilise "trackless tram" tech.
Breaking the trunk N-S corridor up so half is LRT and half "trackless trams" would be absolute madness IMO, and definitely would not encourage peope to use the PT system.

[achiruel]

I think what's really apparent from a lot of these GCB articles is that the people spruiking ideas like trackless trams and whinging about loss of parking in Palm Beach have never travelled on route public transport a single day in their lives, and therefore their views should be entirely dismissed.

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> LNP leader David Crisafulli backs light rail despite MP Michael Hart's comments $

LNP Leader David Crisafulli vows anything preventing light rail's next stages is "just wrong", forcing his Burleigh teammate Michael Hart to reject they're on a collision course.

The Broadwater MP has declared he won't take part in any talks which stop the next phase of the $709m project. His vow comes less than a week after a Bulletin report revealed the state government was yet to sign a contract with the firm selected to build it.

His comments also follow widespread backlash towards Burleigh LNP Michael Hart, who told a Bulletin reporter he believed public transport would be obsolete "in five to 10 years". ...

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Gold Coast Light rail: True story of tram network's beginning from 1997-2001 $

... Cr Baildon and council transport boss Ken Deutscher unveiled the $450m state-of-the-art "supertrams", said to be capable of 100km/h with a target start date of 2001.

The proposal, along with a ferry system, formed part of a long-term transport master plan developed by the council to "establish the Gold Coast as a world leader in transportation".

The world-class, ultra-low-floor supertrams were to be modelled on a similar Sydney proposal and would be fitted with rubberised noise controls on the wheels. ...

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Gold Coast Light rail: True story of tram network's beginning from 1997-2011 $

Light rail is one of the city's most talked-about topics. Now, in the second of a three-part Light Years series, we reveal the truth behind why trams beat out buses.

CONVINCING a city to make the switch to trams was a long and difficult process.

Today the Gold Coast light rail is hailed as a major success, carrying millions of passengers in the seven years since its launch, but it was a different story in the first decade of the new century.

In part two of a three-part series into how the light rail came to be on the Gold Coast, the Bulletin today looks at the critical decisions that turned it from a dream into being funded and built. ...

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Gold Coast Light rail: True story of tram network's beginning from 1997-2021  $

Light rail is one of the city's most talked-about topics. Now, in the third and final part of Light Years series, we reveal the truth behind why trams opponents failed to stop the trams

FOR many Gold Coasters, light rail only became real to them when fences went up and construction began.

By 2011, trams had been in the works for 14 years, yet the first serious objections only began the same year the first sod was turned.

In the finale of a three-part series on how the light rail came to be on the Gold Coast, the Bulletin today looks at the difficult construction of Stage 1 through the inner city and whether it has been worth it. ...

[ozbob]

Rail Express --> GC light rail milestone celebrated

GOLD Coast Light Rail developer GoldlinQ has celebrated 10 years of "successful delivery and operations" of Gold Coast light rail having been awarded the contract to design, build, operate and maintain Stage 1 of the Gold Coast light rail in June 2011.

Gold Coast light rail is an 18-year Public-Private-Partnership between the Queensland Government and GoldlinQ Pty Ltd with Stage One opening to passengers in July 2014.

Since that time, the system has seemingly proven successful having carried more than 55 million passengers with patronage increasing 33 percent when the Stage 2 extension to Helensvale opened in December 2017.

GoldlinQ's Chairman since foundation, John Witheriff, said the G:link trams were now synonymous with the Gold Coast. ...