Trams on the Gold Coast

[CoastSportsFan]

Opinion is pretty divided on this topic but I think it is a great step for the city. It'll certainly help tourists get around the hot spots such as Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach. It was revealed yesterday that stage 2 (connecting to the train line) is likely to be approved in the next six months or so. Here are some pictures of tests they are conducting in Southport at the moment and a video link at the bottom.





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrR4r6bnmCs

So what do you think about it? Lets remember they are planning an extension to Robina stadium in the future...

[DIEHARD]

I've never heard anyone refer to them as "Trams"

[hammer]

Stage 2 will be part of the next state election posturing!

[Bayside Titan]

I think that long term they will be a good investment for the City. It will help with the Public Transport problems that exist. In my view the fact that there will designated Stations and a Time Table that can for the most part be relied upon will be great. Additionally if the council has say 20 buses servicing that line then it could be argued that those buses be moved to other routes to increase the buses in high use Routes.

[Titanic]

no reason why buses can't connect to the tram stations ... like them a lot.

[CoastSportsFan]

I know people are split on this topic so I thought I'd see what people on here think about it. If you don't know, the Gold Coast has recently built a light rail network (trams) that runs from Southport, through Main Beach and Surfers Paradise before finishing on Broadbeach. It is due to open to the public in June (June 2 apparently). Clearly the network has been made mostly for tourists and students (most northern stop is Griffith Uni) and it makes sense economically considering tourism is the biggest contributor to the Gold Coast economy.

Now obviously Melbourne is the city known for their trams but this isn't quite the copycat move it may appear to be. Sydney is also building a light rail network through their CBD and Perth isn't far away either. Adelaide already has a tram network for anyone who doesn't know. So you can see most major Australian cities are turning to the trams to develop their transport network.

The local paper often runs stories about the negatives with the light rail network without writing about the potential positives. Biased reporting is nothing new though. People driving on the tracks is a concern though...

I think the Gold Coast public will slowly warm to the network over the next 2-3 years and in about 5 years time we'll wonder how we ever lived without it. I suppose it's a bit like the Titans in that sense. I honestly can't believe we used to live in a city with no national sports teams but it wasn't that long ago that this was the case.

Anyway, what do you guys think?

- - - Updated - - -

Here is a picture of a tram passing through Surfers Paradise (Cavill Ave to be specific) for anyone who doesn't know what it looks like.

[Mexican titan]

WOFTAM. The cost is $1.8billion. Would have got many buses for a fraction of this cost. This supposedly was built to ease future traffic congestion however will not make one bit of difference.
I would like a wager that the second stage will never happen.

[C-Whiz]

WOFTAM. The cost is $1.8billion.

That's outrageous. I guess Tom Tate pocketed about half of that in kick-backs.

Would have got many buses for a fraction of this cost. This supposedly was built to ease future traffic congestion however will not make one bit of difference.
I would like a wager that the second stage will never happen.

BS, traffic is gonna be worse, already is. I know people say "it's not finished" but it will continue to swallow up more road space (parking space) as they realise it needs more room to operate safely, and I can already see the tiny one way laneway through Surfers being closed to vehicle traffic because it will just be too dangerous. Same goes for parts of Southport. Some of Southport is already off limits to cars.

I am all for the idea of what it is meant to be, but like most things GCCC planning and approved, it is a class A far cup.

The route is wrong, and it doesn't solve the whole issue of leaving your car at home. It just means we drive and park somewhere else, and they haven't got parking close to the tram stops. In fact, most of the parking that was around has been removed to make way for the trams. Tourists and shoppers might like it, but that will hardly solve the extra traffic congestion this is creating.

Great idea, crap planning and execution.

[CoastSportsFan]

WOFTAM. The cost is $1.8billion. Would have got many buses for a fraction of this cost. This supposedly was built to ease future traffic congestion however will not make one bit of difference.
I would like a wager that the second stage will never happen.

Pretty harsh to say it's a waste of money before it's even opened. The cost may be $1.8billion (haven't seen that officially reported anywhere. source?) for the 13km route but it doesn't seem to be that bad considering Sydney's new 12km tram line is predicted to cost $1.6billion. Just seems to be the standard cost of building light rail these days.

If you look at the Translink site you'll find the bus system is being completely overhauled and will no longer have any buses running along the tram route. This means less buses on the road through Southport, Main Beach, Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach while more attention will be given to other routes through the addition of more buses. Surely having less buses on the GC Highway will ease congestion?

I'm all for progress on the Coast, but this is the biggest stuff up that I've seen in my time. The negative publicity is justified, because it's probably going to cost twice as much to remove it in 10-15 years time.

As Mexican Titan said, heaps cheaper to update/upgrade the Bus System, and still have change for something like a Sky Rail from the Coast to the Hinterland or similar sort of projects to reinvigorate the Coasts infrastructure.

You really believe they will remove it in 10-15 years? Look at the Monorail in Broadbeach as an example of something that simply cost too much to pull down.

Buying/adding more buses would just result in more congestion. Do we really want gridlock in the future?

That's outrageous. I guess Tom Tate pocketed about half of that in kick-backs.

BS, traffic is gonna be worse, already is. I know people say "it's not finished" but it will continue to swallow up more road space (parking space) as they realise it needs more room to operate safely, and I can already see the tiny one way laneway through Surfers being closed to vehicle traffic because it will just be too dangerous. Same goes for parts of Southport. Some of Southport is already off limits to cars.

I am all for the idea of what it is meant to be, but like most things GCCC planning and approved, it is a class A far cup.

The route is wrong, and it doesn't solve the whole issue of leaving your car at home. It just means we drive and park somewhere else, and they haven't got parking close to the tram stops. In fact, most of the parking that was around has been removed to make way for the trams. Tourists and shoppers might like it, but that will hardly solve the extra traffic congestion this is creating.

Great idea, crap planning and execution.

How could you possibly know traffic is going to be worse? You say it'll take up road space but if you drive along the GC Highway these days it is 2 lanes through Broadbeach up to Southport which was the exact same amount of lanes they had before the tram line was installed. How often do people drive through Surfers Paradise Boulevard anyway? It's not like it's a major road that requires four lanes.

I agree the parking needs to improve. They MUST build car parks near the tram stops if they expect the locals to use the system.

[Toads]

You really believe they will remove it in 10-15 years? Look at the Monorail in Broadbeach as an example of something that simply cost too much to pull down.

CSF, how long have you lived on the Coast? I the reason I ask, is because it'd be interesting to know how long you've seen the place develop. If you've been around long enough you may develop an idea what works and what doesn't. Please don't tell me you're another Melbournite that's been here a couple of years and start proclaiming you know what'll work best for the Coast.

Anyway, the thing with Broadbeach Monorail. It doesn't foul up the roads. Whereas the Light Rail is in direct competition with the already congested streets along the Strip. As Whiz said, great idea just in the wrong place. So once the novelty of the Light Rail wears off, and it starts losing money hand over fist. They will most likely have to rip up in time to get traffic flowing again to the best of it's ability.

Until then, it's going to be another white elephant project that'll cost Ratepayers for many years to come. Because it won't even get close to balancing the books itself.

[Toads]

I'm all for progress on the Coast, but this is the biggest stuff up that I've seen in my time. The negative publicity is justified, because it's probably going to cost twice as much to remove it in 10-15 years time.

As Mexican Titan said, heaps cheaper to update/upgrade the Bus System, and still have change for something like a Sky Rail from the Coast to the Hinterland or similar sort of projects to reinvigorate the Coasts infrastructure.

[Mexican titan]

Interesting comments from the red and blue corners and very lengthy. I can see holes in CSF's argument such as:
1) more buses will add to road congestion - first time I have heard that before as I thought buses took people out of cars!
2) I live at Runaway Bay. I used to be able to get a bus from here all the way down the Coast. Now to get past Southport you have to change buses which is a con to get people to use light rail if they are wanting to get off between Southport and Broady.
3) I really can't be effed finding the source for the cost but I remember reading it. You mention the Sydney tramway is a similar distance and the cost is not that far apart (yes, before you say its $200 million blah blah, look at it as being about 10% difference). So it's costly, very costly.
4) you think car parks might get built along the tramway. We are talking the suburbs of Southport, Surfers and Broadbeach which are some of the most expensive land areas on the Coast. Idiotic.
That's just for starters.

[CoastSportsFan]

Interesting comments from the red and blue corners and very lengthy. I can see holes in CSF's argument such as:
1) more buses will add to road congestion - first time I have heard that before as I thought buses took people out of cars!
2) I live at Runaway Bay. I used to be able to get a bus from here all the way down the Coast. Now to get past Southport you have to change buses which is a con to get people to use light rail if they are wanting to get off between Southport and Broady.
3) I really can't be effed finding the source for the cost but I remember reading it. You mention the Sydney tramway is a similar distance and the cost is not that far apart (yes, before you say its $200 million blah blah, look at it as being about 10% difference). So it's costly, very costly.
4) you think car parks might get built along the tramway. We are talking the suburbs of Southport, Surfers and Broadbeach which are some of the most expensive land areas on the Coast. Idiotic.
That's just for starters.

1) Majority of people on the Gold Coast use cars even though buses are available. Just because you give the option doesn't mean people will take it.
2) Can't argue with this one. Transferring will become a part of GCers lives if they want to go to those areas.
3) That's nice that you cbf finding the source. If I were to state the light rail costed $1 billion it just as valid as your statement without a source. Of course $200 million is a lot of money but, as I said before, Sydney's route is 1km less distance when compared to the GC version. That's 7% extra. So basically 3% to build the bridge ($540,000).
4) I said car parks SHOULD be built along the tramway, not they might or will. I specifically said whether it's possibly is an entirely different issue.

[CoastSportsFan]

I have decided to not respond to everyone that has quoted me. I'll just simply say that I will not judge the light rail until it opens.