Gold Coast Light Rail
A Light Rail Solution for the Gold Coast
If there is anywhere in the world which is an ideal location for an ultra modern Light Rail System to enhance its transport system, then it has to be the Gold Coast.
The City is a narrow corridor of land with a high population density, an economy dependent upon tourism and four distinct transport market segments.
The present population is approximately 500,000 and is expected to grow to over 700,000 in the next 15 years. The people who live on the Gold Coast have largely made a life style choice. This lifestyle choice would be enhanced by better access to services, easier travel to work and a reduction in traffic congestion. Additionally the Gold Coast is the most popular Queensland tourism location and one of Australia's most significant global attractions.
Gold Coast residents want to go shopping, access services or commute to their place of work without the hassles of cars and parking, tourists want to visit the attractions spread the length of the strip, commuters to Brisbane want easy access to the train, weekend visitors from Brisbane want a near seamless trip from city to beaches.
Light Rail is the fastest growing segment of the public transport in the world and has a proven record of shifting people out of cars and encouraging development. Additionally it has the potential to enhance the image of the City. With careful design a light rail system can become a Gold Coast icon in its own right. A World Class public transport system must offer convenience, comfort, capacity, coverage, connectivity and cost effectiveness. Light Rail can deliver such a system to the Gold Coast.
