G:link Light Rail Queensland

G:link or locally known as the G: operates down the spine of the Gold Coast, connecting communities, businesses and tourists. 

The Gold Coast light rail G:link runs the spine of the famous Australian holiday destination coastline. It is also the first piece of public transport infrastructure in Australia with funding contributions from three levels of Government. As well as offering a transport solution for the traffic-congested tourist strip, the light rail has laid the foundations for urban growth and renewal on the Gold Coast.

Since beginning operations in July 2014, G:link’s network has performed highly with average results of 96% punctuality and 88.5% customer satisfaction. 40,500 trips are made on the G: every day which equates to approximately 1,200,000 passengers every month. 

Gold Coast light rail is an 18-year Public-Private Partnership between the Queensland Government and GoldlinQ Pty Ltd, with Keolis Gold Coast holding the Operations and Maintenance contract.

Stage 1 for the G:link commenced construction in 2012, with operations going live on 20 July 2014. This stage included 13km of track from Gold Coast University Hospital in the north to Broadbeach South Station in the south.  

Stage 1 features:

•           Sixteen stations

•           Fourteen light rail vehicles

•           One underground station connecting to the Gold Coast University Hospital

Stage 2 for the G:link encompasses a 7.3km extension north from the Gold Coast University Hospital to Helensvale (to connect with the heavy rail network). Stage 2 opened on 17 December 2017, increasing the network’s total length from 13 km to 20.3 km.

Stage 2 features:

•           Three new stations

•           Four new light rail vehicles

•           New park-and-ride facilities at Parkwood

•           An expansion of the Helensvale park-and-ride facilities

Stage 3 is expected to go live in mid-2026 and will extend the tram network from Broadbeach South Station to Burleigh Heads, increasing the network’s total length to 27km, and further reducing congestion on roads and improve the liveability and urban amenity of the city.

Stage 3 features:

•           Eight new stations

•           Five new light rail vehicles

•           6.7 kilometres of dual track 

•           Upgraded precincts, infrastructure and transport hubs., 

The long-term vision is for additional stages to connect more people and places around the Gold Coast.

The light rail has led to urban renewal along the light rail corridor and the wider Gold Coast, with key precincts being re-energised for local business and shoppers alike.

With the G:link being one of the largest infrastructure projects in south-east Queensland. The GoldlinQ consortium has committed to developing short- and long-term employment opportunities for local contractors and industries. In addition, the consortium has been involved in partnering programs with local TAFEs and universities to develop internships, work experience and other placement strategies for students.

Local employment commitments have extended into operations, with the majority of G:link’s 200 full-time staff sourced from the region.

Customers are certainly happy with their experience of the network, with satisfaction results averaging 88.5% since it began operating, according to a survey commissioned by GoldlinQ.

Positive engagement with passengers is highlighted via community events, and with the introduction of 50cent fares in late 2024, patronage has increased significantly.

Introducing a light rail system to a new area requires a major education program. Passengers, pedestrians and motorists must know how to behave safely on and around a network that runs largely in local streets.

Keolis Gold Coast ran safety campaigns from pre-launch through to the testing and commissioning phases and continues this now in the operational phase. Campaigns included television, cinema, web, billboard, social media, tram wraps and traditional outlets.

The emphasis of the campaigns was on maintaining existing road rules, and liaison with Queensland Police was excellent throughout.

Sustainability was an important element in the design, construction and operation of the network. G:link is proud to be the first railway to receive an as-built certification from the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia. It received an excellent rating, with almost 200 sustainability initiatives identified.

The Gold Coast staff had never seen a light rail service before, so Keolis sent the first group of operational staff to visit Keolis networks in Le Mans and Dijon in France and Nottingham in the UK to learn in a live environment. This group returned to train the other staff on the Gold Coast.

Awards

Construction Skills Queensland Excellence Awards 2013

Civil Contractors Federation Award for Construction Professional of the Year (Civil Construction Superintendent Jon Lea)

Major Training Group Award for Employer Commitment to Training Excellence

McConnell Dowell – D&C Partner

Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia, 2014

IS Project/Asset Award

Rating Score: 64.4

Rating level: Excellent

2015 National Infrastructure Awards

Finalist – Project of the Year

Finalist – Operator and Service Provider Excellence

2015 Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards, 

Trades, Professions and Services Award

2015 Queensland Civil Contractors Federation (CCF) Earth Award, Projects over $150 million

Gold Coast Light Rail Project (stage 1) – via McConnell Dowell

2015 Gold Coast Urban Design Awards 

Helen Josephson Award for Urban Design Leadership – Gold Coast Light

2016 Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards

Trades, Professions and Services Award

2018 Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards 

Trades, Professions and Services Award

2018 Global Light Rail Awards 

Operator of the Year – Highly Commended 

Team of the Year (Customer Service) – Highly Commended

2019 Australasian Rail Industry Award

Customer Service Award (Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games delivery) – Winner

2022 Global Light Rail Awards

Team of the Year (Customer Service) – Winner 

2025 Global Light Rail Awards

Team of the Year (Maintenance and Operations) – Winner 

Operator of the Year – Winner 

Rising Star (Darcy Reynolds, Light Rail Vehicle Operator) – Highly Commended 

ISO9001 – Quality Management Systems

ISO45001 – Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems

ISO14001 – Environmental Management Systems

ISO55001 – Asset Management

Registered Electrical Contractor under the QLD Electrical Act