| Varsity Lakes | |||||||||||
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| Station statistics | |||||||||||
| Address | Cnr Scottsdale Drive & Coromandel Lane, Varsity Lakes | ||||||||||
| Lines | |||||||||||
| Platforms | 1 island platform | ||||||||||
| Tracks | 2 | ||||||||||
| Other information | |||||||||||
| Opened | 13 December 2009[1] | ||||||||||
| Accessible | |||||||||||
| Owned by | Queensland Rail | ||||||||||
| Fare zone | 16 | ||||||||||
| go card | Accepted | ||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||
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Varsity Lakes is a railway station on the Gold Coast Line of the Queensland Rail City commuter railway network in the suburb of Varsity Lakes in South East Queensland. It falls within Zone 16 of the TransLink integrated public transport system.
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Varsity Lakes station is located in the Gold Coast suburb of Varsity Lakes, 89.4 km (55.6 mi) south of Brisbane Central station by rail. The station itself is south of Coromandel Lane, about 400 m (1,300 ft) west of the intersection of Coromandel Lane, Casua Drive, Scottsdale Drive, and Varsity Sound Avenue.
The station's location near the residential section of Varsity Lakes and proximity to the Gold Coast has made it a prime target for transit-oriented development. The most ambitious vision of such a development is known as Varsity Station Village, masterminded and planned by the Queensland Government.[2] The plan aims to develop the empty lots between the railway station and the residential sector of the suburb by transforming them into a mixed-use development with the aim of improving local employment and preventing excessive sprawl with the understanding that the area's population is rapidly growing.[3] The 14 ha (35 acres) site is envisioned to be split into five main sections: the Northern Quarter, High Street, Mid Town, Business Quarter, and South End.[3]
Varsity Lakes opened on 13 December 2009 as part of a progressive extension of the Gold Coast Line to the Gold Coast Airport and Coolangatta.[1]
Construction work on the 4.1 kilometre line extension from Robina railway station commenced in late July 2007 with an expected cost of A$324.4 million (US$290.9m, £182.7m), with 300 car park spaces, six bus bays, ten taxi bays and a drop-off area planned as part of the development.[4] The station itself cost A$25 million (US$22.4m, £14.1m), and the 4.1 km (2.5 mi) extension has been named as the most expensive rail link in Queensland.[1]
The opening of Varsity Lakes station has not been without controversy. Rail: Back on Track, a commuter and rail advocacy group, criticised Queensland Rail for apparent overcrowding on the Gold Coast Line, warning that extending the line would only increase crowding on trains.[5]
Varsity Lakes station utilises a simple island platform setup with two tracks; both tracks are used by trains heading northbound to Brisbane Central station. An overpass provides a connection between the platform and the car park, bus bays, and drop-off area.
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