G:link Light Rail QLD
The Gold Coast light rail G:link runs the spine of the famous Australian holiday destination coastline. It is also the first piece of public transport infrastructure in Australia with funding contributions from three levels of Government. As well as offering a transport solution for the traffic-congested tourist strip, the light rail has laid the foundations for urban growth and renewal on the Gold Coast.
Since beginning operations in July 2014, G:link’s network has performed highly with results of 97% punctuality and 89% customer satisfaction in 2019. 31,000 trips are made on G:link every day which equates to 930,000 passengers every month. The Gold Coast has seen a 31.8% increase in patronage across bus and tram services, providing a significant boost to the region’s social and economic development.
Gold Coast light rail is an 18-year Public-Private Partnership between the Queensland Government and GoldlinQ Pty Ltd, including operations and maintenance contractor Keolis Downer Gold Coast
More About Keolis Downer
Stage 2 for G:link
Stage 2 for the G:link encompasses a 7.3km extension north from the Gold Coast University Hospital to Helensvale (to connect with the heavy rail network). Stage 2 opened on 17 December 2017, increasing the network’s total length from 13 km to 20.3 km.
Stage 2 features;
- Three new stations
- Four new light rail vehicles
- New park-and-ride facilities at Parkwood
- An expansion of the Helensvale park-and-ride facilities
A long-term vision is for additional stages to connect more people and places to the Gold Coast, including an extension south to Coolangatta Airport.
Shaping the Fabric of the City
The light rail has led to urban renewal along the light rail corridor and the wider Gold Coast, with $6 billion worth of development triggered by the line (Gold Coast Bulletin). One of the key beneficiaries of this renewal is the town of Southport, which has been re-energised for local business and shoppers alike.
Visit the G:link website to learn more about our network
Thinking Local First
G:link is one of the largest infrastructure projects in south-east Queensland. The GoldLinQ consortium has committed to developing short- and long-term employment opportunities for local contractors and industries. In addition, the consortium has been involved in partnering programs with local TAFEs and universities to develop internships, work experience and other placement strategies for students.
Local employment commitments have extended into operations, with the majority of G:link’s 150 full-time staff sourced from the region.
Recognising the value of the project, the Commonwealth, Queensland and Gold Coast City Council governments have confirmed that Stage 3 of the project will proceed. Stage 3A will see a 6.7km extension of the network from Broadbeach South to Burleigh Heads, including eight new stations and five new light rail vehicles.
Fast Facts & Figures
1
year contract, until 2029
1
light rail vehicles
0 %
increase in public transport use
0 %
customer satisfaction
1
stations with direct contact to Helensvale passenger rail Station
Thinking Like a Passenger
Customers are certainly happy with their experience of the network, with satisfaction results averaging 88% since it began operating, according to a survey commissioned by TransLink. Positive engagement with passengers is highlighted via Meet the Manager initiatives twice per year, and TransLink has introduced a popular tourist ticket option to encourage visitors to the Gold Coast to use public transport.
Ensuring Zero Harm
Introducing a light rail system to a new area requires a major education program. Passengers, pedestrians and motorists must know how to behave safely on and around a network that runs largely in local streets. Keolis Downer ran safety campaigns from pre-launch through to the testing and commissioning phases. The campaign included television, cinema, web, billboard, social media, tram wraps and traditional outlets.
The emphasis of the campaigns was on maintaining existing road rules, and liaison with Queensland Police was excellent throughout.
The now-famous Rhino safety icon was brought from Yarra Trams in Melbourne to the Gold Coast in August 2015 to remind drivers of the size and weight of a light rail vehicle. A small number of car and tram collisions have been due mainly to illegal U-turns. Safety campaigns to tackle unsafe behaviour are a regular feature in G:link marketing and communications.
Sustainability was an important element in the design, construction and operation of the network. G:link is proud to be the first railway to receive an as-built certification from the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia. It received an excellent rating, with almost 200 sustainability initiatives identified.
Constant Learning
The Gold Coast staff had never seen a light rail service before, so Keolis Downer sent the first group of operational staff to visit Keolis networks in Le Mans and Dijon in France and Nottingham in the UK to learn in a live environment. This group returned to train the other staff on the Gold Coast.
Awards
Construction Skills Queensland Excellence Awards 2013
Civil Contractors Federation Award for Construction Professional of the Year (Civil Construction Superintendent Jon Lea)
Major Training Group Award for Employer Commitment to Training Excellence
McConnell Dowell – D&C Partner
2015 National Infrastructure Awards
Finalist – Project of the Year
Finalist – Operator and Service Provider Excellence
Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards, June 2015
Trades, Professions and Services Award
KDR Gold Coast – O&M Partner
Queensland Civil Contractors Federation (CCF) Earth Award, August 2015, for Projects over $150 million
Gold Coast Light Rail Project (stage 1) – via McConnell Dowell
Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia, 2014
IS Project/Asset Award
Rating Score: 64.4
Rating level: Excellent
Gold Coast Urban Design Awards 2015
Helen Josephson Award for Urban Design Leadership – Gold Coast Light
2019 Australasian Rail Industry Award
Winner – Customer Service Award – Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games delivery – light rail
Accreditations
ISO9001 – Quality Management Systems
ISO45001 – Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
ISO14001 – Environmental Management Systems
ISO55001 – Asset Management
Registered Electrical Contractor under the QLD Electrical Act