Brisbane-Gold Coast Railway Line getting closer to Coolangatta Airport

[JohnK]

On the Anzac Day weekend I stayed up in Brisbane and went to Surfers Paradise and then Warwick. It was an interesting weekend and I was impressed with Conrad Jupiters but the front service desk is always very busy even with 3 or 4 staff and Warwick and Toowoomba are interesting places to visit.

Anyway I was driving around the Gold Coast area and stumbled upon Robina railway station and noticed that there is an extension to Varsity Lakes that is getting close to completion.

I have been trying to find out more information on the internet and stumbled upon this Wiki article on the Brisbane-Gold Coast railway expansion plans. The planned stations after Varsity Lakes are Tallebudgera, Elanora and finally Coolangatta. The railway line will go slightly into New South Wales before turning back around to OOL.

I think this is a good move as it opens up a few more options to get to BNE from SYD. Cheap DJ fares SYD-OOL and then train into Central would be ideal but I may not be working in Brisbane by the time this is complete.

 

[Mal]

Re: Brisbane-Gold Coast Airport Line getting closer to Coolangatta Airport

Anyway I was driving around the Gold Coast area and stumbled upon Robina railway station and noticed that there is an extension to Varsity Lakes that is getting close to completion.

Here's a bit more info on QR's site: SEQIPRAIL - Robina to Varsity Lakes Rail Extension - Overview . The train line is creeping along slowly.

The extension to OOL will take many years to occur. The Infrastructure plan for South East Queensland is here: http://www.qr.com.au/SEQIP/Images/SEQIPP_2008_2026_small_tcm30-25315.pdf and explains the major infrastructure projects planned over the next 25 odd years . Note that the airport isn't planned to be connected until 2019 - 2025.

 

[JohnK]

Re: Brisbane-Gold Coast Airport Line getting closer to Coolangatta Airport

Note that the airport isn't planned to be connected until 2019 - 2025.

That long? Hopefully I will be retired by then....

 

[straitman]

Re: Brisbane-Gold Coast Airport Line getting closer to Coolangatta Airport

That long? Hopefully I will be retired by then....

Me too :!: :shock:

 

[samh004]

Re: Brisbane-Gold Coast Airport Line getting closer to Coolangatta Airport

It'd be great if by 2019 you could easily take a train between the airports to catch a connecting flight, but I'd imagine even by then it'll still take about 2 hours.

 

[crazydave98]

Re: Brisbane-Gold Coast Airport Line getting closer to Coolangatta Airport

Skytrain used to offer a service where they would give you a limo transfer from Robina to OOL airport - I used it a few times when I was travelling standby out of BNE and things went pear shaped there while things were still good out of OOL. Just rebooked, hopped on the train (able to get some work done) and then transfer at Robina. I'm assuming they still do that?
CrazyDave98

 

[Mal]

Re: Brisbane-Gold Coast Airport Line getting closer to Coolangatta Airport

Skytrain used to offer a service where they would give you a limo transfer from Robina to OOL airport

Yeah they do - Airtrain Connect Brisbane's Airtrain - AirtrainConnect

 

[NM]

Re: Brisbane-Gold Coast Airport Line getting closer to Coolangatta Airport

While the extension of the Gold Coast line is very much welcomed, I would like to some progress (read actually start) on the Petrie to Redcliffe line that has been an election promise in almost every state government election since the 1950s. The Petrie to Kippa Ring line was originally proposed in 1896 (yes, that is NOT a lysdexic typo for which I am famous).

 

[JohnK]

Re: Brisbane-Gold Coast Airport Line getting closer to Coolangatta Airport

While the extension of the Gold Coast line is very much welcomed, I would like to some progress (read actually start) on the Petrie to Redcliffe line that has been an election promise in almost every state government election since the 1950s.

You can always move back to civilisation.

 

[markis10]

Re: Brisbane-Gold Coast Airport Line getting closer to Coolangatta Airport

While the extension of the Gold Coast line is very much welcomed, I would like to some progress (read actually start) on the Petrie to Redcliffe line that has been an election promise in almost every state government election since the 1950s. The Petrie to Kippa Ring line was originally proposed in 1896 (yes, that is NOT a lysdexic typo for which I am famous).

Given the size of some of the streets in Scarborough and Redcliffe, the massive development at Woody point and the new Houghton highway bridge I would have thought a light rail/tram option down to Deagon might have made sense, then again we are too busy digging a tunnel named after the very man who shut down Brisbane's trams to be worried about thinking outside the square :shock:

As for the Airport Train, maybe by the time it does get to OOL we will have service hours that make sense!

 

[NM]

Re: Brisbane-Gold Coast Airport Line getting closer to Coolangatta Airport

You can always move back to civilisation.

What? Move out of paradise (the peninsular) and back to the hum drum of the hustle bustle? No thanks. Crossing north over the Houghton Highway always gives the feeling of leaving departing the "city" and heading to the "holiday destination". Always a good feeling. This probably also applies to people living along the proposed extension of the Gold Coast line.

 

[Warks]

I see in the Budget there's mention of $365 million for light rail on the Gold Coast but assume this is just along the beaches? Nothing to do with the line to OOL I'd say.

 

[Mal]

I see in the Budget there's mention of $365 million for light rail on the Gold Coast but assume this is just along the beaches? Nothing to do with the line to OOL I'd say.

More details here: TransLink - Gold Coast Rapid Transit

It's basically from the Helensvale train station along the beach, through the touristy areas and ends up near Coolongatta eventually, but not actually at the airport

There's a good map here : http://www.transinfo.qld.gov.au/qt/transLin.nsf/files/gcrt_map_large.gif/$file/gcrt_map_large.gif

 

[Warks]

More details here: TransLink - Gold Coast Rapid Transit

It's basically from the Helensvale train station along the beach, through the touristy areas and ends up near Coolongatta eventually, but not actually at the airport

There's a good map here : http://www.transinfo.qld.gov.au/qt/transLin.nsf/files/gcrt_map_large.gif/$file/gcrt_map_large.gif

Thanks for that. So it would be a pretty slow old trip with all the stops, lights and traffic meaning that it wouldn't serve much purpose as a link from the station to OOL.

Will have to wait... they could send the Robina line south of OOL to Murwillumbah and beyond. NSW rail doesn't serve that part of the country any more - Qld might as well annexe it!

 

[Bundy Bear]

On my recent trip to Melbourne and back "Wheres the plane" I caught a taxi from Gold Coast airport to Robina. The cost of the taxi was $45.00 and travel time was about 15 minutes.

 

[samh004]

On my recent trip to Melbourne and back "Wheres the plane" I caught a taxi from Gold Coast airport to Robina. The cost of the taxi was $45.00 and travel time was about 15 minutes.

Depends on the traffic really and if there's an accident just past Robina as there usually is. That can back things up a fair bit.

 

[medhead]

Re: Brisbane-Gold Coast Airport Line getting closer to Coolangatta Airport

While the extension of the Gold Coast line is very much welcomed, I would like to some progress (read actually start) on the Petrie to Redcliffe line that has been an election promise in almost every state government election since the 1950s. The Petrie to Kippa Ring line was originally proposed in 1896 (yes, that is NOT a lysdexic typo for which I am famous).

Sounds like the Carlingford to Epping line in Sydney

Otherwise this thread threatens to summon the ghost of Mal Colston

 

[brissyflyer]

Getting the rail line all the way to OOL would be great. From Brisbane City to Coolangatta is actually cheaper than travelling to BNE.

Using my go card it is $8.78 from my place to OOL (takes over 2 hours train+bus) compared to $14+ to BNE (45 mins).

 

[docjames]

Getting the rail line all the way to OOL would be great. From Brisbane City to Coolangatta is actually cheaper than travelling to BNE.

Using my go card it is $8.78 from my place to OOL (takes over 2 hours train+bus) compared to $14+ to BNE (45 mins).

you can bet once it connects to OOL it wont stay at 8.78 for long:evil:

 

[JohnK]

Using my go card it is $8.78 from my place to OOL (takes over 2 hours train+bus) compared to $14+ to BNE (45 mins).

Somehow I think it will be more expensive to travel from Brisbane Central-OOL airport once the railway line is complete.