Pimpama railway station: When construction begins on Gold Coast’s new train station
A Gold Coast MP says the state government is treating residents of the city’s north as “fools” after an announcement about a new train station. SEE THE PLANS
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A Gold Coast MP says the state government is treating residents of the city’s north as “fools” after it announced a new train station would not be open until 2025.
The Bulletin revealed on Monday that works on a railway station at Pimpama would begin by Christmas, as the first of three new Gold Coast stations.
The stations are part of the $5.4bn Cross River Rail project.
But the station will not be open until 2025, when Cross River Rail (CRR) services start.
Coomera MP Michael Crandon says he is furious with the delay: “What are they going to build in 2022 that’s going to take three years?
“It’s absolute nonsense. They are treating the people of the northern Gold Coast as fools.
“This station should not be tied up with CRR, it deserves to be built and fast-tracked on its own, and not have to wait until CRR in 2025.
“That’s the kind of arrogant attitude (the state) is dealing (the north.) I am absolutely furious.”
Cross River Rail is a 10.2km rail line from Dutton Park in Brisbane’s south to Bowen Hills that will include twin tunnels under the Brisbane River.
Transport officials say it will fix a bottleneck for Coast trains heading into the Brisbane CBD, allowing more services and a 15-minute reduction in travel times.
Community consultation launched on Monday and will run until August 7.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey said feedback would be used to shape the future design of the precincts.
“Some design features for Pimpama include a new signalised intersection at the station entry of the Old Pacific Highway, improved pedestrian access, upgraded lifts to improve passenger movement, and provision for future car park expansion,” he said.
“Feedback from the detailed design will be used to inform final design for construction.”
PREVIOUSLY: WHEN WORK WILL BEGIN ON NEW STATION
EARLY construction works on the Gold Coast’s newest train station will start by Christmas.
The Pimpama railway station will be the first of three new stops built on the Gold Coast line as part of the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project.
Major construction will begin in 2022 and it is expected to open in 2025. The state government has released a new image of the station ahead of launching community consultation on the two-storey station on Monday.
The design has changed significantly since the original concept was released in March.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Cross River Rail would have significant benefits for Gold Coast travellers, including increasing speed of travel: “In the future, this new station will ensure that locals benefit from Cross River Rail – being able to catch a train within minutes of arriving during peak times.”
Consultation runs until August 7.
Pimpama is one of the city’s fastest-growing suburbs, with its population increasing 13.7 per cent in 2020.
There will be a staggered consultation process for each of the three stations – Pimpama, Helensvale North and Merrimac, with all three to be built in the next four years.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey said feedback would be used to shape the future design of the precincts.
“Some design features for Pimpama include a new signalised intersection at the station entry off the Old Pacific Highway, improved pedestrian access, upgraded lifts to improve passenger movement, and provision for future carpark expansion. Feedback from the detailed design will be used to inform final design for construction.”
Ms Palaszczuk first announced Labor’s commitment to the three stations in the lead-up to the 2017 election.
Cross River Rail is 10.2km rail line from Dutton Park in Brisbane’s south to Bowen Hills, which will include twin tunnels under the Brisbane River. It will fix a huge bottleneck for Coast trains heading into the CBD, allowing more services and a 15-minute reduction in travel time.
Bureaucrats have argued the congestion has prevented the city building more stations.
Originally published as Pimpama railway station: When construction begins on Gold Coast’s new train station
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