Gold Coast heavy rail duplication on track for Commonwealth Games

Preparation works are ramping-up and a tenderer has been selected for the duplication of heavy rail tracks between Coomera and Helensvale stations, to significantly improve train service capacity and reliability ahead of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Treasurer Curtis Pitt and Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games Stirling Hinchliffe today announced civil construction works for the $163 million project had been awarded to Golding Contractors Pty Ltd, which would support approximately 200 local jobs once construction commenced in March 2016.

“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to investing in public transport infrastructure in the Gold Coast region, particularly ahead of the Commonwealth Games – an event that will inject $2 billion into the Queensland economy and generate around 30,000 jobs,” Mr Pitt said.

“This project will not only support the Gold Coast region to host one of the world’s largest sporting events, but will also cater for the region’s growing number of residents and visitors.”

Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games Stirling Hinchliffe said the project would involve duplicating 8.2 kilometres of track between Coomera and Helensvale stations.

“The Gold Coast heavy rail line is a key gateway from Brisbane to the Gold Coast region and records around 4.5 million passenger journeys per year, but is currently at capacity during peak times,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“This project will involve duplicating the only remaining section of single track on the Gold Coast rail line, and is crucial to ensuring more frequent train services can be introduced.

“The works will also involve constructing eight new rail bridges, one of which will span 860 metres across the Coomera River, Hope Island Road and Saltwater Creek.

“Through duplicating heavy rail tracks between Coomera and Helensvale stations, we will be able to further improve public transport in the region ahead of the Games, by introducing extra peak hour services and extra capacity from Brisbane to the Gold Coast.”

Following this work, Queensland Rail will install the duplicated line’s new rail infrastructure including track, overhead power lines and signalling systems.
The project is expected to be finished in late 2017.

Media Contact: 0419 945 546 (Treasurer) and 0475 950 772 (Minister Hinchliffe)

Video overlay Coomera to Helensvale

Time-lapse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIuQt6dnV0M
Normal speed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSGp_C0R24U