Gold Coast railway line, Queensland
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The Gold Coast railway line is an interurban railway line operated by QR Citytrain in Queensland, Australia, connecting Brisbane with the Gold Coast.
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[edit] Overview
The Gold Coast (Robina) railway line continues on from the terminus 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 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.
[edit] History
The original South Coast Line was opened to Southport, Queensland, in 1889 and to Tweed Heads, New South Wales, in 1903. Due to the increasing popularity of the motor car, 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.
[edit] Future plans
The line will be extended and upgraded with new stations over the next decade. Firstly, a 4.1km extension to Varsity Lakes (Reedy Creek) will be built by mid-2009. Track will be duplicated between Ormeau and Coomera and then between Helensvale and Robina, leaving an isolated single track section spanning the Coomera River. Then, the railway will be progressively extended south until it reaches the Tugun Bypass, 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 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 2008 construction is expected to start on the Gold Coast Rapid Transit System which will either be light rail or busway connecting to a new Parkwood railway station and or the Helensvale railway station.
[edit] Service frequency
Typical service frequency on the Gold Coast railway line are two trains per hour, falling to one train per hour in the evening after the peak hour. After the track upgrading is complete, service frequency is expected to improve to four trains per hour in peak hour.
Gold Coast trains operate express between Beenleigh and South Bank stations, stopping only at Loganlea and Coopers Plains in the off-peak.
[edit] Line guide and services
Services generally run express between Beenleigh railway station and South Bank railway station, stopping 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 Central). During weekday peak times, a few services will not stop at Loganlea and Coopers Plains.
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 South Bank, and all other lines at Central.
[edit] External links
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