State Budget 2018: Gold Coast light rail patronage figures exceed expectations with 10 million to ride in 2018-19
MOMENTUM is building to extend the Gold Coast light rail system, with new data released in the State Budget showing how many people actually used the tram this year and what will happen in 2019.
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MORE than 10 million people are expected to ride the Gold Coast’s tram system in the next year, as new data reveals the light rail is more popular than anyone anticipated.
Patronage of the city’s newly expanded tram network beat expectations this year, according to budget documents which show that more than 9.23 million people rode the G in 2017-18, up from an expected 8.72 million.
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And next year’s passenger numbers are expected to be even better, with the figure set to jump by nearly 1 million people.
Crowds of 10.2 million are expected to ride the light rial in 2018-19, a figure Transport Minister Mark Bailey welcomed.
“I have been delighted to see patronage figures consistently above expectations as both Gold Coasters and visitors flock to our light rail network,” he said.
“During the Commonwealth Games, trams carried more than 1.1 million passengers, or close to 100,000 passengers every day. That’s nearly four times the daily average since the opening of stage two of the light rail project.
“We are seeing over 200,000 trips per week on the Light Rail. Clearly, people love riding the G:Link.”
Budget documents note the jump in patronage for this financial year was because the light rial’s second stage began to take passengers in December 2017, several months earlier than expected.
The tram was so successful that it helped significantly increase the overall use of public transport in the state’s southeast, according to the documents, with patronage up 3.9 million people above this year’s estimates.
The strong figures come as no surprise to student Miah Clayton, 26, who uses the tram up to five times a week to get to Griffith University.
“I’m not really surprised,” she said.
“I think when it first opened it was popular so I’m not surprised the trend continued. It’s nice that more people are moving away from driving when they can make the choice.”
Ms Clayton said she would love to see an extension to the tram — especially to the airport.
Michelle Lisulov of Varsity Lakes said she took the tram to Southport every day for work and was also unsurprised that so many more people had used the service.
“Ever since the tram’s come it’s made it 10 times easier (to get around),” she said.
“When I just jump on the tram, I don’t have to wait in traffic.”
It comes as it was also revealed that $2 million of state funding from this year’s budget will go towards the $10 million business case on light rail stage 3A, which will run from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads.
The funds are part of the state’s $5 million contribution to the study which was announced last August.
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The Gold Coast City Council is funding the remaining $5 million and Mayor Tom Tate said the patronage figures backed the case for stage 3A.
“Patrons have voted with their Go Cards as light rail continues to enjoy passenger numbers that exceed the operator’s initial modelling,” he said.
“When it comes to big events, the G:Link is now the No. 1 choice for large scale passenger movement. Just look at the GC600 or New Year’s Eve fireworks.
“Now that we are linked with Brisbane, this gives 1.2 million Brisbane residents, and the capital city tourists, direct access to our beaches, theme parks, shopping malls and restaurants.’’
Council will quarantine the first cash of an expected $60 million contribution to the $600 million tram extension in next week’s council budget.
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