“The G:” open its doors, Gold Coast Tram inaugurated

The awaited and modern system of trams, which has been constructed between Southport and Broadbeach during months in Gold Coast, has been finally inaugurated.

The light rail project is a public private partnership that is funded by three levels of government and packaged together by a private consortium. The Queensland Government contributed $464 million to this project, the Australian Government contributed $365 million and the Gold Coast City Council provided $120 million.

“It is an exciting time for the Gold Coast and I am confident this project will drive new investment and more local jobs. It is important for everybody to get behind the G:link and make public transport a part of everyday life,” Mr Tate said.

Transport Minister Scott Emerson said the light rail would be a bonus to the Gold Coast, which hosts the Commonwealth Games in 2018. “The light rail will give local residents far more than a world-class public transport network,” Mr Emerson said.

Commuter services run from 5am to 11.50pm each night and on Fridays and Saturdays the light rail service will run 24 hours a day. Each of the 14 light rail trams has seven carriages which can carry a total of 309 passengers; 80 seated and 229 standing. The electric-powered trams travel between 16 stations at around 70 kilometres an hour, but given the number of stops they average about 24 km/h over the 13 kilometre journey.

The Queensland Government has begun a planning study into future extensions to light rail project from the Griffith University campus at Parklands across to a new station at Parkwood, connecting to the passenger rail on the northern tip of the Gold Coast.

By Santi Ivar

Sources:

Beaudeserttimes.com.au

Mygc.com.au

Sources: