Queensland Government Opens $1.2 Billion Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3 Extension from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads

Expanding Queensland's Premier Coastal Transit Spine to Burleigh Heads

GOLD COAST, Queensland — In a momentous infrastructure triumph for South East Queensland’s coastal connectivity and tourism economy, the Queensland Government, the Australian Federal Government, and the City of Gold Coast have officially opened the landmark $1.2 billion Gold Coast Light Rail (G:link) Stage 3 extension. Stretching 6.7 kilometres south from Broadbeach along the Gold Coast Highway to Burleigh Heads, the high-frequency light rail line provides seamless, car-free rapid mobility for residents, beachgoers, and interstate visitors.

Jointly delivered by construction consortium GoldLinQ and delivery partner John Holland, Stage 3 expands the award-winning G:link system into a continuous 27-kilometre rapid transit corridor spanning 27 stations from Helensvale heavy rail station in the north right to the iconic headland of Burleigh Heads. The completed link slashes peak-hour commute times and transforms mobility ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Eight Brand-New Architectural Passenger Stations

The 6.7-kilometre corridor introduces eight brand-new, architecturally bespoke passenger stations designed to blend into the coastal subtropical landscape:

• Mermaid Beach & Mermaid Beach South: Serves popular residential precincts and coastal retail dining strips.
• Nobby Beach: Direct pedestrian access to vibrant outdoor cafes, village boutiques, and surfing spots.
• Miami North & Miami: Seamless connections for local primary schools, high schools, and sporting complexes.
• Christine Avenue: Convenient interchange serving major commercial retail plazas and southern bus feeders.
• Burleigh Heads Terminus: An expansive southern transport hub integrated with the Burleigh Head National Park and village esplanade.

Each station features full disability accessibility, tactile ground guidance, shaded architectural canopies, real-time arrival totems, emergency assistance intercoms, and secure bike parking facilities.

Upgraded Flexity 2 Fleet and Dedicated Surfboard Storage

To service the extended southern route, operator Keolis Downer has expanded the network's fleet of world-class Bombardier Flexity 2 light rail vehicles. Built in Dandenong, Victoria, each 43-metre low-floor articulated tram accommodates up to 309 passengers and features powerful dual air-conditioning systems engineered for Queensland's tropical summer conditions.

Honoring the region's world-famous beach culture, each tram is custom-fitted with dedicated surf-board racks, allowing surfers to transport shortboards and longboards safely without impeding fellow commuters. Fully integrated with Queensland Translink’s Smart Ticketing network, passengers can tap on and tap off seamlessly using contactless credit cards, debit cards, smartphones, or standard Go Cards.

Urban Streetscape Renewal and Long-Term Environmental Benefits

Beyond laying heavy steel rails and high-voltage catenary infrastructure, the Stage 3 civil works executed a complete corridor overhaul along the Gold Coast Highway. The project delivered over 10 kilometres of new or upgraded pedestrian footpaths, continuous grade-separated cycleways (the 'Oceanway' links), undergrounded overhead utility wires, and planted thousands of native coastal trees and shrubs.

State and civic leaders noted that Stage 3 is projected to remove millions of private vehicle trips off the congested Gold Coast Highway annually. By delivering reliable, high-frequency mass transit directly through the heart of the southern beaches, the project safeguards local lifestyle, reduces urban carbon emissions, and sets the stage for the final planned Stage 4 extension toward Gold Coast Airport and Coolangatta.