Gold Coast Train & Light Rail Services
Train Services on the Gold Coast
The are six train stations on the Gold Coast - Ormeau, Coomera, Helensvale, Nerang, Robina and Varsity Lakes. The line is linked up to the much larger Queensland Rail network and is part of the South East rail line.
The train line runs down the western side of the coast (closely following the M1 motorway) and each station is a 10-15 min taxi ride from the beach where most of the accommodation is.
Unfortunately there are currently no train lines running into the main beachside accommodation areas such as Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads.
Airtrain is a separately run service but uses the Queensland Rail network to provide express journeys from Gold Coast railway stations to the Brisbane Airport. Visit the Brisbane Airport Transfers page to find out more about this service and book online.
Proposed Gold Coast Rapid Transit System
The Gold Coast is one of Australia's fastest growing cities and the Gold Coast Rapid Transit system project aims to reduce conjestion and improve public transport systems on the Gold Coast.
Funding commitments totalling AUD$949 million have been secured from three levels of government, enough to cover the 13km Stage One of the project - Griffith University to Broadbeach via Southport and Surfers Paradise. Delivery of Stage One is scheduled for 2014. View the Stage One map
Light rail was chosen over the other proposed method of rapid bus transit, for many reasons, a few of them being:
- the volume of passengers able to be carried per day - light rail vehicles can carry 10,000 passengers per hour and 100,000 passengers per day
- the capacity of light rail vehicles can be expanded to reach more areas as demand grows
- light rail vehicles have a long lifespan, up to 30 years
- light rail is better value for money, over time
- passenger comfort levels are higher
To find out more about the Gold Coast Rapid Transit System, please visit the Gold Coast Rapid Transit website.
