Agree with the bottom part. The existing Sunshine Coast line should virtually be all shuttles to/from Beerwah. If there are any remaining directs, it would likely be the token “Gympielander” services via Bowen Hills.
However saying all that, I’d predict/pretty much expect that the existing ‘Gympielanders’ will be converted to a 4 or 5 daily shuttle service to Beerwah, replacing the current ‘Gympielander’ services.
I maintain it would be better overall if Caloundra / Kawana / Maroochydore trains ran non stop Beerwah to Caboolture. Run an hourly service from Cooroy to Caboolture which picks up Glasshouse, Beerburrum and Elimbah, and extend some to Gympie. Make the most of the 160km/h speedboards instead of stopping in whoop whoop at what will eventually be every 15 minutes. These 3 stops are a lot closer to the patronage volumes at places like Bindha than say Pimpama.
Sounds like the dollar signs are adding up for the two proposed East-West BRT connections:
The state government is facing a staggering bill to deliver crucial east-west transport corridors on the Gold Coast before the 2032 Olympics.
Paul Weston and Andrew Potts
3 min read
October 22, 2025 - 7:00AM
Gold Coast Bulletin
The state government is facing a $1bn-plus bill to build east-west public transport corridors on the Gold Coast before the 2032 Olympics, according to cost estimates.
In September, the government announced it was scrapping light rail stage four to the border because costs had blown out to $9.85bn.
But the 100-day review of the Brisbane 2032 Games locks the government into upgrading two key east-west corridors — between Nerang and Broadbeach, and Robina to Miami — with a “high frequency bus network”.
The costings have never been released but a confidential briefing paper, discussed by city councillors in a closed session, shows the funding options for the Robina to Miami corridor. Costs start at $75m but the City’s preference will be a $750m Brisbane Metro-style system which guarantees the best patronage.
Full article: No Cookies | Gold Coast Bulletin
I’ve been hunting for the material picked up in this article - appears to have been considered by the GCCC Transport and Infrastructure Committee on 9 September 2025 (agenda and unconfirmed minutes linked). There is a little bit about Robina transport issues in here as well.
So much for better public transport, huh.
This state government really has a thing against G:link as a whole to pull off closures like this because it “interferes” with a road project.
Tell them that if they’re going for the HESS Lightram 25 option, that all the prospective busway stations in the Gold Coast ought to be all longer than Mater Hill’s.
Make them loooooooong like Cultural Centre’s.
Only a minor one, but TransLink persistently gets this wrong for some reason.
Ormeau to Varsity Lakes - temporary train timetable changes | Translink
How does it interfere allegedly?
To be fair, the light rail line is right beside the Coomera Connector works site the whole way between Helensvale and Parkwood, and at Parkwood it will eventually pass over both Smith Street and the light rail line.
This sounds like something similar that happened in Melbourne, where there was a track occupation on the Hurstbridge line from Heidelberg to Eltham for 8 weeks straight to build a motorway over the track at Watsonia.
I’m absolutely not surprised that a vital train-tram connection is getting halted because the state government prioritised slapping a motorway right next to the train and tram lines. But WHY ARE THEY OCCUPYING THE TRAM LINE DURING AFTERNOON PEAK HOURS ON WEEKDAYS???. Is the Gold Coast line affected by the Coomera Connector as well?
Aside from works relating to the construction of Hope Island Station, which is being delivered jointly with the adjacent section of Coomera Connector by the same contractor, I don’t think the GC Line has been affected.
That being said, the available works corridor of the northern section where it is directly beside the rail line, between Beatie Road and Helensvale, looks to be much wider than the corridor between Helensvale (specifically south of Country Club Drive) and Smith Street. However, due to the Light Rail line sitting between the CC works and the heavy rail line through this stretch, it is copping the closures rather than the GC Line.
Are we able to make some enquiries about what is happening with connecting bus services at Hope Island? I expect details will probably just drop at or around the same time the station opens - some public consultation would be nice for a change.
The half-arsed approach would be to just have the 725 service the station.
The more sensible approach would be to have a proper look at how bus services work in the band between Brisbane Road and the Coomera River (for instance looking at whether we can get a connection between Hope Island station and the Paradise Point / Runaway Bay area and if we can improve the generally abysmal levels of service on routes like the 723).
Whoops
NSW should just pay the Qld Government to make Tweed part of the Translink network. I’m sure the ticketing network could still be programmed to charge NSW fares.
QLD should just annex the land south along the Tweed. The only connection to NSW is the main road bridge over the Tweed.
Problem solved.
Welcome to Queensland - The Sunshine State.
A border along the river would sure make a lot more sense rather then crossing the street. There would still be cross border issues from south of the river accessing Tweed as a major centre but far more manageable - Kingscliff is also developing so could play more of that regional centre role for those NSW communities.
#EXCLUSIVE: New transport modelling shows our city could hit complete M1 gridlock by 2046, unless solutions are put in place now. #9News
Discussion points with Mayor Tate include:
