Tuesday 28 July 2015

Australasian Railway Association wishes G:Link on their first anniversary

The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) welcomes the first anniversary of the Gold Coast light rail, also known as the G:Link, which in its first year of operation has achieved patronage figures far greater than anticipated at a whopping 6.18million trips.

Acting Chief Operating Officer of the ARA, Phil Allan, said he wasn’t surprised by the success of the project and that it was just another example of how light rail is improving Australian cities.

“Australia is undergoing a light rail renaissance and the G:Link project shows that a light rail system can support the transit needs of a cities of all sizes and complexity.,” said Mr Allan.

“The Gold Coast is one of Australia’s iconic tourism destinations and within one year the G:Link has become a local icon itself, providing 18,200 trips each day up and down the scenic 13km stretch of track.

Mr Allan encouraged the Queensland Government to continue to build on this success by implementing Phase Two of the project; extending and linking it to the heavy rail system.

“Prior to the state election early this year, we called on the incoming Government to commit to Phase Two of the Gold Coast light rail, by linking it to the existing heavy rail service in the north of the Gold Coast, better integrating both modes,” continued Mr Allan.

“This piece of new public transport infrastructure is made all the more important by the looming 2018 Commonwealth Games, being held at the Gold Coast, and the tens of thousands of extra people it will bring with it.

“As the Commonwealth Games will put Australia on the world stage with capital works already co-funded by the Queensland and Federal governments, the ARA urges the Federal Government to co-fund Stage 2 of the G:Link to ensure it is ready for the opening ceremony in April 2018.

“Globally, all modes of public transport are being recognised for the vital role they play in moving and connecting the population for work and leisure.

“With much of the world turning to the Gold Coast for the Commonwealth Games, it would be embarrassing to not have a functioning public transport system to support what is set to be a highlight tourism event for the city and for Queensland,” Mr Allan concluded.

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