Gold Coast Railway History

Old Railway Cutting at Coolangatta

Early Railway History on the Gold Coast

Railways on the Gold Coast have a long but fragmented history. The first train line ran from Beenleigh to Southport in 1889. A branch line from Beenleigh to Tweed Heads opened in 1903. Both lines were closed in the 1960s as cars became more popular and road transport was prioritised.

The Gold Coast was left without direct rail connections for more than 30 years until a new line from Beenleigh to Helensvale opened in 1996. Extensions followed to Nerang (1997), Robina (1998), and Varsity Lakes (2009).

However, the heavy rail line runs mostly inland and bypasses the main tourist and population centres of Surfers Paradise, Southport, and Broadbeach. This created major gaps in intra-city public transport.

The Need for Better Local Transport

For decades, the lack of convenient public transport within the Gold Coast contributed to heavy traffic congestion, especially along the Gold Coast Highway. Buses struggled to cope with high passenger numbers, and connections to popular areas were inconvenient.

This is exactly why the Gold Coast Light Rail (G:link) was developed — to provide fast, frequent, and scenic transport right through the heart of the city’s busiest precincts.

Gold Coast Light Rail Today (2026)

  • Current Network: ~27 km with 27 stations from Helensvale to Burleigh Heads (Stage 3 open 9 August 2026)
  • Fare: Flat rate of 50 cents per journey
  • Service: Every 7–10 minutes in peak, 24-hour service on weekends
  • Stage 3 (opened 9 August 2026): 6.7 km extension to Burleigh Heads with 8 new stations

New Stage 3 Stations:

  1. Mermaid Beach
  2. Mermaid Beach South
  3. Nobby Beach
  4. Miami North
  5. Miami
  6. Christine Avenue
  7. Second Avenue
  8. Burleigh Heads

Timeline of Gold Coast Rail History

  • 1889 – First train line from Beenleigh to Southport
  • 1903 – Line extended to Tweed Heads
  • 1960s – Old lines closed due to declining use
  • 1996–2009 – Modern heavy rail extensions to Helensvale, Robina and Varsity Lakes
  • 2011 – GoldlinQ wins contract for Stage 1 Light Rail
  • 2014 – Stage 1 opens
  • 2017 – Stage 2 opens to Helensvale
  • 9 August 2026 — Stage 3 to Burleigh Heads opened for passengers