No Light Rail to Gold Coast Airport

[kyle]

Gold Coast airport management isn't keen on public transport - for example the taxis have been thrown out and have to line up outside a nearby hotel because Uber bribed Gold Coast airport to remove the taxi rank from in front of the terminal.

What OOL really needs is a railway station - for what you and I call trains but opponents call "heavy" rail. That would not only ease transport from the airport, but a fast train to Brisbane would attract commuters to the southern Gold Coast and ease the housing crisis in the city.

At the moment the southern part of the GC appears to be the best part, less commercialised and not many tall buildings. The residents there wouldn't want to change it to be like Surfers.

 

[justinbrett]

At the moment the southern part of the GC appears to be the best part, less commercialised and not many tall buildings. The residents there wouldn't want to change it to be like Surfers.

We call them NIMBYs.

 

[kyle]

We call them NIMBYs.

Thing is, most would be NIMBYs if it affects them

 

[dajop]

Who needs dedicated luggage storage on airport transit services? Globally, that is more the exception rather than the rule. Most of the public transport I’ve taken to/from airports do not have such facilities. This includes heavy and metro rail as well as trams/light rail and even buses.

 

[justinbrett]

Who needs dedicated luggage storage on airport transit services? Globally, that is more the exception rather than the rule. Most of the public transport I’ve taken to/from airports do not have such facilities. This includes heavy and metro rail as well as trams/light rail and even buses.

Perhaps not dedicated, but some ability to have luggage and sit down. Examples I can think of is the Piccadilly line or NY subway. No dedicated area but they have the side bench seats that you can have your bag in front of you. Similar to SYD trains by the doors.

GC Trams don’t have these, they actually don’t have much seating at all and most are either reserved for accessibility or groups of four seats facing each other, with barely enough room for legs let alone bags. There are usually two seats by the doors which are suitable but it’s a gamble to get a seat at all, let alone these ones.

Thing is, most would be NIMBYs if it affects them

The apartments are going up (it’s now the leading spot for new development in the city) and the traffic will continue to get worse and worse. I live on the existing tram line and I’m lucky to use my car once a fortnight. The trams have been demonised.

 

[jastel]

It should be expected that a Tram going to the Airport will have luggage taken on it.

Its not only airport luggage, many locals go shopping as well. Each granny has a little trolley or a few bags, mothers with kids in prams, disabled in wheelchairs or scooters.

They are just too small...maybe make them longer at peak hours?

 

[justinbrett]

They are just too small...maybe make them longer at peak hours?

Probably easier to increase frequency. During events like SeaFire they can run every couple of minutes so there’s capacity on the tracks.

I’d be surprised if when stage 3 launches they don’t increase frequency. Perhaps one train does Helensvale to Burleigh and every other train does University Hospital or Southport to Broadbeach South.

 

[Melburnian1]

It is not often that public opinion helps a government with a budget in trouble...

True, but that's all the more reason why governments ought reduce public sector employee numbers ('back of office' - not nurses etc.)

However I assume the LNP has the memory of the Newman govt only lasting one term in their political memories.

It's a very shortsighted decision to not extend the tram to OOL airport, or for that matter not to have a train all the way south. I haven't been to the Gold Coast for years but am aware its population has significantly risen in the last 20 years.

 

[tgh]

My perception is that in general , 'lympics are nett negative for the populace , but great for national "esteem"
The incumbent guvmn't has a tight row to hoe and pleasing everyone or even most...is problematic

 

[anat0l]

This isn't surprising. The mandate of the government was to cut costs and capital projects were always going to be on the cards, save for the Olympics where they just had to be savage and force a decision rather than more feasibility studies.

The consultation report (yes, NIMBYs) was likely an easy settler to can the project. Why risk a cost blow-out and ****ing off a bunch of residents (significant or otherwise) when a bandaid solution is easier, cheaper and quicker (not on the ground, but you get what I mean)?

Personally I think extending the train service to the airport is a better idea than the tram, as the latter will not serve people well who patronise up the line due to the mass of traffic converging around especially Surfers Paradise. The trams will just be too crowded and there will be much annoyance when baggage-toting passengers start occupying valuable space (and seats). Travel time will be pretty wanting, too, even from Broadbeach South. The problem with the train idea is that the line is far away from the main action on the coast, and sure a bus links the two but then that gets coughbersome and undermines the (expensive) line extension.

Besides, until OOL actually starts pulling in some serious traffic, there really isn't an incentive to change the status quo now, especially when fraught with issues. People will put up and deal - just depends on which crowd you prefer to annoy (or risk their next vote for your party).