Work to duplicate the last remaining section of rail as part of the $163 million Gold Coast rail upgrade – the 8.2-kilometre Coomera to Helensvale section – has been completed.
Queensland Rail crews finalised the last works with the multimillion project delivered on time and under budget, and commissioned at the end of September.
“Queensland Rail crews and contractors have delivered a collective 450,000 hours of work since the start of construction in March last year, to deliver the 8.2 kilometre heavy rail duplication, including eight new rail bridges totalling 1.4 kilometres in length,” said Deputy Premier and Minister for Transport Jackie Trad.
“This includes an impressive 860 metre bridge spanning across the Coomera River, Hope Island Road and Saltwater Creek, 180 new overhead masts, 50,000 metres of cabling, and the laying of 18,000 metres of rail, 13,000 sleepers and 30,000 tonnes of ballast.
Ms. Trad said $10 million worth of train station refresh works were also now well underway along the Gold Coast line in preparation to welcome local, interstate and international visitors to the city in April for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
“A lift upgrade at Helensvale is also set to open to the public [in October], while the first stage of the Helensvale bus interchange upgrade is now well underway, which will link customers to Stage 2 of the Gold Coast Light Rail, when it opens early next year.”