Gold Coast heavy rail upgrade ramps up with community information sessions

Gold Coast residents are invited to community information sessions next week to learn more about the $163 million Coomera to Helensvale heavy rail duplication project, which will help transform the region’s public transport network ahead of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Minister for Transport and Commonwealth Games Stirling Hinchliffe said the state-funded project would support 200 construction jobs and improve train service capacity and reliability on the Gold Coast line into the future.

“This upgrade is a gold medal project for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and will deliver 8.2 kilometres of new rail track between Coomera and Helensvale stations, new overhead power lines and signalling systems, and eight new rail bridges,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“Next month crews will be building civil structures required to duplicate the rail line including eight bridges, one of which will span 860 metres across the Coomera River, Hope Island Road and Saltwater Creek.

“With civil construction scheduled to kick off in March the information sessions will ensure the community and local residents who live near the rail corridor are well-informed about the scope of the project.”

The sessions will be held at Helensvale Plaza between 23-27 February at the following times: 

• 10am-2pm on Tuesday 23 February
• 4pm-7pm on Thursday 25 February
• 10am-2pm on Saturday 27 February

Minister Hinchliffe said the project was part of the Palaszczuk Government’s plan to invest in public transport ahead of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

“Public transport will play a large role in the success of the Commonwealth Games and this duplication will deliver the additional track capacity required to increase peak hour services on the Gold Coast line by more than 33 per cent,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“This project is a permanent investment in public transport for the rapidly expanding Gold Coast region and will deliver the capacity needed to double the number trains travelling to the Gold Coast in morning peak and back to Brisbane in afternoon peak.”

The Coomera to Helensvale project is expected to be finished in late 2017.

For more information about the project, residents can visit queenslandrail.com.au/C2H or contact the project team at C2H@qr.com.au or 1800 664 484 (free call).

Media contact: Jessica Hill 0475 950 772