Gold Coast light rail stage 3A: new patronage figures reveal tram system’s popularity in 2018

NEW data has revealed the astonishing growth in patronage on the Gold Coast light rail this year as momentum builds for the third stage to Burleigh Heads.

NEW data has revealed the astonishing growth in patronage on the Gold Coast light rail in just nine months.

Nearly 2 million extra passenger trips have been recorded on the tram system since its second stage launched last December.

These strong figures have put weight behind the push to extend the tram system’s $660 million third stage from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads.

Big crowds at the opening day of the light rail’s second stage Picture: Jerad Williams

The traffic boost has been hailed as a “revolution” by Transport Minister Mark Bailey.

“The Palaszczuk Government is leading a light rail revolution on the Gold Coast, and if patronage data is anything to go by, locals and tourists are absolutely loving it,” he said.

“Since Stage 2 came online in December last year, we have seen a whopping 33 per cent growth in patronage.

“This is an extra 1.9 million trips from December 2017 to September 2018 or more than 7,400 extra trips per day, compared with a similar period last year.”

The tram at Nobbys Beach

The new figures come just five weeks after the Gold Coast Bulletin revealed patronage figures were significantly above expectations set by the State Government.

Between December and June, more than 5.2 million trips were taken on the tram system.

During the Commonwealth Games, around 100,000 passengers a day used the railway.

The tram at Mermaid Beach.

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Broadbeach councillor Paul Taylor said the figures added to the strong momentum building behind stage 3 in the wake of revelations the federal Coalition had signed off on $112 million in funding.

“These figures are really exciting and really put great momentum behind our third stage,” he said.

“We have noticed that the amount of traffic on our highways has dropped since the trams started running.

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Where a western spur line will split off at West Burleigh Road

“It is working and it is going to be even better once stage three starts running down the highway.

“The light rail is here to stay, end of story.”

The State Government and Gold Coast City Council working quickly to complete a $10 million business case into the third stage, which will be released in December.

This study analyses the route and will determine exact costings and station locations.

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The tram station at Burleigh Heads

Both the council and state are expected to fast-track funding announcements before Christmas in the hopes of beginning construction by mid-2019, up to a year earlier than expected.

Acting Mayor Donna Gates said the public was ‘voting with their go-cards’.

‘The Commonwealth Games would have had some impact on it but it proves yet again that people are voting with their go-cards,” she said.

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Momentum is building behind the tram system’s stage 3A.

“They are getting on this public transport because it is easily accessible and it is working for the city.’

“These figures are really encouraging as we contemplate stage 3A and they support what we already know — that people love the light rail.”