Gold Coast railway line, Queensland
Encyclopedia
The Gold Coast railway line is an interurban railway line operated by QR
Citytrain
in Queensland
, Australia
, connecting Brisbane
with the Gold Coast
.
of the Beenleigh line at Beenleigh. From Brisbane the route follows the Beenleigh railway line to Beenleigh, running express between South Bank
and Beenleigh stations, with limited stops (currently at Park Road, Coopers Plains and Loganlea) on the Beenleigh railway line during the off peak period. Most trains to and from the Gold Coast connect with Brisbane Airport
, allowing tourists and locals access to more international destinations than from the Gold Coast's own airport
.
, in January 1889 and to Tweed Heads, New South Wales
, in 1903. Due to the increasing popularity of the motor car, and political interests in road transport, the line was closed in 1964. The new line and alignment from Beenleigh to Helensvale opened in 1996, Nerang in 1997, and the Robina terminus in 1998. In 2009, the line was extended to Varsity Lakes.
Recent line duplication shortcomings which was exposed by unexpectedly high passenger take-up during the construction of the Gold Coast-Brisbane M1 Motorway were exacerbated by the extension of the service to Brisbane Airport while failing to provide for the additional passengers' baggage. Further seating and baggage capacity was lost due to refitting of carriages under disabled access requirements. Before a recent upgrade in peak-services, previously many peak-hour commuters had to stand for much of the 70 minute journey.
, which it will run alongside before passing under the threshold of runway 32 at the Gold Coast Airport and looping around to the terminus near the airport carpark. In this last stage, the railway will cross the border into New South Wales
. Also, under the South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program
, reservations are to be made for possible new infill stations between Beenleigh and Ormeau (Yatala is a prime candidate) and at Pimpama, Coomera North, Helensvale North, Parkwood and Merrimac on the existing line. Services will also be upgraded with higher frequencies and capacity, made possible by the track duplication south (and triplication north) of Beenleigh.
In 2010 construction is expected to start on the Gold Coast Rapid Transit System which will be a light rail
system connecting Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise and Southport to Helensvale railway station.
). During weekday peak times, a few services will not stop at Loganlea, Coopers Plains and Park Road.
Most services generally continue as the Airtrain
service to Brisbane Airport
, stopping at the International
and Domestic
terminals.
Passengers for/from the Beenleigh line change at either Beenleigh, Loganlea or Coopers Plains, Cleveland
line at Park Road, Ipswich/Rosewood lines at Roma Street and all other lines at Central.
Queensland Rail
Queensland Rail, also known as QR, is a government-owned railway operator in the state of Queensland. Under the control of the Queensland Government, Queensland Rail operates the inner-city and long-distance passenger services, as well as some freight operations and gives railway access to other...
Citytrain
CityTrain
Citytrain is the brand name of urban, suburban and inter-urban electric passenger railway services in South East Queensland, Australia. Its network, centering in Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, is approximately in route length...
in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, connecting Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
with the Gold Coast
Gold Coast, Queensland
Gold Coast is a coastal city of Australia located in South East Queensland, 94km south of the state capital Brisbane. With a population approximately 540,000 in 2010, it is the second most populous city in the state, the sixth most populous city in the country, and also the most populous...
.
Overview
The Gold Coast (Varsity Lakes) railway line continues on from the terminusTerminal Station
Terminal Station is a 1953 film by Italian director Vittorio De Sica. It tells the story of the love affair between an Italian man and an American woman. The film was entered into the 1953 Cannes Film Festival.-Production:...
of the Beenleigh line at Beenleigh. From Brisbane the route follows the Beenleigh railway line to Beenleigh, running express between South Bank
South Bank railway station, Brisbane
South Bank railway station is a railway station in Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. It is part of the Queensland Rail City network, located in Zone 1 of the TransLink integrated public transport system....
and Beenleigh stations, with limited stops (currently at Park Road, Coopers Plains and Loganlea) on the Beenleigh railway line during the off peak period. Most trains to and from the Gold Coast connect with Brisbane Airport
Brisbane Airport
Brisbane Airport is the sole passenger airport serving Brisbane and the third busiest in Australia, after Melbourne and Sydney Airports. Brisbane Airport has won many awards. Located in the suburb with the same name, the airport serves the city of Brisbane and the surrounding metropolitan area...
, allowing tourists and locals access to more international destinations than from the Gold Coast's own airport
Gold Coast Airport
Gold Coast Airport, or Coolangatta Airport, is an Australian domestic and international airport on the Gold Coast and is located some south of Brisbane and 25 km south of Surfers Paradise. The entrance to the airport is situated in the suburb of Bilinga on the Gold Coast...
.
History
The original South Coast Line was opened to Southport, QueenslandSouthport, Queensland
-Sport:The Southport Sharks Australian rules football club has a presence in the area, including a club and function centre.-Transport:The Broadwaterway is a foreshoreway that encourages pedestrians and cyclists to travel along the Broadwater foreshores of Southport.A ferry terminal is planned for...
, in January 1889 and to Tweed Heads, New South Wales
Tweed Heads, New South Wales
Tweed Heads is a town located on the Tweed River in north-eastern New South Wales, Australia in Tweed Shire. Tweed Heads is located next to the border with Queensland, adjacent to the "Twin Town" of Coolangatta, a suburb of the Gold Coast...
, in 1903. Due to the increasing popularity of the motor car, and political interests in road transport, the line was closed in 1964. The new line and alignment from Beenleigh to Helensvale opened in 1996, Nerang in 1997, and the Robina terminus in 1998. In 2009, the line was extended to Varsity Lakes.
Recent line duplication shortcomings which was exposed by unexpectedly high passenger take-up during the construction of the Gold Coast-Brisbane M1 Motorway were exacerbated by the extension of the service to Brisbane Airport while failing to provide for the additional passengers' baggage. Further seating and baggage capacity was lost due to refitting of carriages under disabled access requirements. Before a recent upgrade in peak-services, previously many peak-hour commuters had to stand for much of the 70 minute journey.
Future plans
The line will be extended and upgraded with new stations over the next decade. The railway is being progressively extended south until it reaches the Tugun BypassTugun Bypass
The Tugun Bypass is 7.5 km long, bypassing through the suburb of Tugun on the Gold Coast, Australia. The speed limit on the Tugun bypass is 100 km/h and provides a high-speed motorway link between the Gold Coast and northern New South Wales, separating interstate vehicles from local...
, which it will run alongside before passing under the threshold of runway 32 at the Gold Coast Airport and looping around to the terminus near the airport carpark. In this last stage, the railway will cross the border into New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. Also, under the South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program
South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program
The South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program 2010–2031 is produced by the Queensland Department of Infrastructure and Planning and outlines estimated infrastructure investment across South East Queensland Australia to 2031. It represents a long-term commitment to infrastructure...
, reservations are to be made for possible new infill stations between Beenleigh and Ormeau (Yatala is a prime candidate) and at Pimpama, Coomera North, Helensvale North, Parkwood and Merrimac on the existing line. Services will also be upgraded with higher frequencies and capacity, made possible by the track duplication south (and triplication north) of Beenleigh.
In 2010 construction is expected to start on the Gold Coast Rapid Transit System which will be a light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
system connecting Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise and Southport to Helensvale railway station.
Line guide, frequency and services
Typical service frequency on the Gold Coast railway line are two trains per hour, increasing to four trains per hour in peak periods, and reduces to one train per hour after 8pm. Gold Coast services generally run express between Beenleigh railway station and Park Road railway station, with stops at Loganlea Station and Coopers Plains Station in the off peak. The typical travel time between Robina and Brisbane City is approximately 76 minutes (to CentralCentral railway station, Brisbane
Central railway station is, as the name suggests, the central railway station for the Queensland Rail City network in the Brisbane central business district, the state capital of Queensland, Australia...
). During weekday peak times, a few services will not stop at Loganlea, Coopers Plains and Park Road.
Most services generally continue as the Airtrain
AirTrain (Brisbane)
Airtrain is the privately owned commuter railway line that extends 13.0 km northeast from Brisbane , the state capital of Queensland, Australia, to the Brisbane Airport at both its separate International and Domestic terminals.The line is carried on an elevated prestressed concrete viaduct...
service to Brisbane Airport
Brisbane Airport
Brisbane Airport is the sole passenger airport serving Brisbane and the third busiest in Australia, after Melbourne and Sydney Airports. Brisbane Airport has won many awards. Located in the suburb with the same name, the airport serves the city of Brisbane and the surrounding metropolitan area...
, stopping at the International
International Terminal railway station, Brisbane
International Terminal railway station is a privately owned railway station on the Airtrain airport line at the Brisbane Airport International terminal, northeast Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia....
and Domestic
Domestic Terminal railway station, Brisbane
Domestic Terminal railway station is a privately owned railway station on, and terminus of, the Airtrain Airport line at the Brisbane Airport domestic terminal, northeast of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia....
terminals.
Passengers for/from the Beenleigh line change at either Beenleigh, Loganlea or Coopers Plains, Cleveland
Cleveland railway line, Brisbane
The Cleveland railway line is a suburban railway line extending 24.2 km east-southeast from Brisbane , the state capital of Queensland, Australia. It is part of the QR Citytrain network.-History:...
line at Park Road, Ipswich/Rosewood lines at Roma Street and all other lines at Central.