Light rail will run nonstop during games

Published Saturday, 03 February, 2018 at 09:00 AM

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Mark Bailey

The Gold Coast’s light rail network will operate 24 hours a day, every day during the 2018 Commonwealth Games, ensuring demand for services is met during the event.

Speaking ahead of the GC2018 public transport timetable launch tomorrow (February 4) Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said trams would run every six minutes during peak event periods.

“This is just one of the ways the Palaszczuk Government is going above and beyond to keep people moving during the games,” Mr Bailey said.

“There is going to be a massive influx of people during the games, but we are confident we have done the planning to make sure this is an incredibly successful event.”

The announcement follows the successful launch of the Gold Coast Light Rail Stage Two in December, which has seamlessly connected the light rail network to the heavy rail network at Helensvale Station.

Mr Bailey said he could also release new patronage figures, which showed a staggering 110,863 trips had been made from stage 2 stations up to January 28.

“The overall increase in patronage across Gold Coast Light Rail since stage 2 opened, when compared with the same period last year, was 27 per cent or an extra 245,259 trips,” Mr Bailey said.

Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones said 14 trams were now being used for standard peak periods, and that would increase to up to 17 trams during GC2018.

“The Gold Coast now has one of the most integrated public transport networks in the state with some of the most frequent services,” she said.

“The Palaszczuk Government has done the work needed to make GC2018 one of the best games ever.”

Further details of the GC2018 transport timetable will be released on Sunday, February 4.


Background: 

Peak periods are between 7-10am and 4-10pm. Six minute frequency timetabling will continue past 10pm every Games day to maximise convenience.

ENDS 

Media enquiries: Chris Vernon – 0416 800 004