Travel plans for Pink at Heritage Stadium amid 24-hour tram strike
A 24-hour tram strike is set to disrupt thousands of commuters and Pink concertgoers on Tuesday. SEE THE DETAILS
Gold Coast
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Trams services will effectively be halved by a driver strike planned to coincide with the highly-anticipated Gold Coast Pink concert as transport authorities scramble to avoid commuter mayhem.
Global superstar Alecia Moore, better known as Pink, performs her Summer Carnival stadium tour to an anticipated Heritage Bank Stadium sellout in Carrara.
Tram drivers will walk off the job from 1pm on Tuesday for a 24-hour strike as part of an ongoing breakdown in negotiations with union members and operators for an enterprise bargaining agreement.
On a normal day, G:Link services run every seven and a half minutes from 7am to 7pm. On Tuesday, tram frequency will slow to every 15 minutes from 1pm to 12.50am Wednesday due to the strike.
Buses will supplement tram operations to help the expected 45,000 concertgoers.
While trams will operate at a reduced rate, about seven buses will run the same route as the tram from Helensvale to Broadbeach South every hour.
GoldLinQ CEO Phil Mumford encouraged commuters to plan their trips early.
“We will have enough capacity for people who want to get down to Broadbeach and get home from Broadbeach, but again it’s going to be a busy night – plan your trip accordingly,” Mr Mumford said.
“The industrial stoppage will have an impact, that’s why I’m encouraging everyone to get there early – the last thing we want is for people to miss the start of the Pink concert.”
More than 100 shuttle buses will run between the stadium and Nerang station, Boowaggan Road park ‘n’ ride and Broadbeach South station before and after the concert.
An additional 18 shuttle buses will run from Marine Pde in Southport to Broadbeach South station; 15 buses will run from Cypress Ave to Broadbeach South station, and 12 buses will run from Parkwood station to Helensvale station. These services will run in reverse after the concert.
On Friday, Mayor Tom Tate said he was “disappointed” the union’s strike would coincide with the gig: “We have been working on this for two years; it leaves a sour taste when you are all enthusiastic and wanting to go and don’t have the public transport to support it.”
The Rail, Tram and Bus Union said the mayor was “insulting” its members.
Gates to the Pink concert will open at 5pm and the show will begin from 7pm.
VIP ticketholders will be able to enter the stadium from 4.30pm.
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