Southport light rail depot
 | |
.jpg) Vehicles stored at the depot in June 2026 | |
Interactive map of Southport light rail depot | |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Location | Michelin Street, Southport |
| Coordinates | 27°58′05″S 153°23′29″E / 27.9681°S 153.3913°E |
| Characteristics | |
| Owner | GoldlinQ[1] |
| Operator | Keolis Australia[2] |
| Type | Light rail |
| Roads | 16 |
| Rolling stock | Flexity 2 |
| Routes served | G:link |
| History | |
| Opened | 2013 |
Southport light rail depot is a light rail depot located in the Gold Coast suburb of Southport. Operated by Keolis Australia, it opened in 2013 and is the only depot that serves the G:link light rail system.
History
The Southport light rail depot was built on the former site of a landfill.[3] To save A$5.8 million, the design of the tracks was altered to reduce the amount of landfill that was required to be excavated.[3] Construction was completed in 2013 at a total cost of A$20 million.[4] The first G:link-branded light rail vehicle was unveiled during a ceremony at the depot on 20 September 2013.[5]
In late 2021, the John Holland Group began plans to upgrade to the depot to cater for five additional light rail vehicles, which would be added to the line as part of the Stage 3 extension.[6] The upgrades, which included the addition of new stabling tracks and maintenance facilities, took place in 2022.[7][8] The five additional vehicles arrived at the depot in July 2023.[9][10]
A tour of the depot, hosted by the Australasian Railway Association, took place on 28 November 2024 following the AusRAIL conference.[11][12]
On 22 June 2026, the Crisafulli state government announced an extension of the light rail line to Biggera Waters, with plans for a second depot to be constructed as part of the extension.[13][14] The project is expected to be completed before the start of the Brisbane Olympics in July 2032.[15][16]
Layout
The depot features sixteen roads, with four located inside the maintenance building and twelve located outside.[3][17] Three of these roads were built in 2022 for the expansion of the light rail system to Burleigh Heads.[7][18]
The depot also features a tram wash-plant and a maintenance building, which contains the operations control centre and the signalling control room.[3][11]
Light rail vehicles can enter and exit the facility from both northbound and southbound tracks.[6] Some services stop adjacent to the depot to allow drivers to changeover.[19]
Rolling stock
All 23 Alstom Flexity 2 light rail vehicles used on the G:link are stored at the Southport light rail depot.[9][10]
References
- ↑ Gameng, Monica (6 July 2021). "Early works set to commence on the $1bn Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3". Felix. Archived from the original on 21 June 2026. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
- ↑ "KDR Gold Coast History". G:link. Archived from the original on 26 June 2026. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Light rail proliferates as urban centres seek low-carbon solutions". Eco-Business. 31 March 2014. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
- ↑ "Gold Coast Light Rail Depot". Architectus. Archived from the original on 17 March 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
- ↑ Forbes, Tom (20 September 2013). "G-whiz excitement greets first Gold Coast tram". ABC News. Archived from the original on 26 June 2026. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
- 1 2 "Site and utility investigations: Southport Light Rail Depot" (PDF). GoldlinQ. October 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 June 2026. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
- 1 2 "Southport Depot Site establishment works" (PDF). GoldlinQ. April 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 June 2026. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
- ↑ Bailey, Mark (22 October 2022). "Light rail extension from Broadbeach to Burleigh breaks ground, supporting over 700 good jobs". Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 22 June 2026. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
- 1 2 Palaszczuk, Annastacia; Bailey, Mark; Scanlon, Meaghan (24 July 2023). "New trams arrive for Gold Coast's thriving G:link". Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 23 April 2026. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
- 1 2 Chan, Ray (24 July 2023). "New trams for Gold Coast light rail". Rail Express. Archived from the original on 18 November 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
- 1 2 "Tours of Gold Coast Light Rail Depot and Queensland Train Manufacturing Program (QUTMP) Ormeau rail facility". Australasian Railway Association. 31 October 2024. Archived from the original on 24 January 2026. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
- ↑ "Record numbers at AusRAIL 2024 on the Gold Coast". Australasian Railway Association. 25 November 2024. Archived from the original on 13 April 2026. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
- ↑ "Metro buses revealed as alternative to axed stage 4 light rail". ABC News. 22 June 2026. Archived from the original on 22 June 2026. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
- ↑ "Metro-buses, new light rail spur line as GC transport plan unveiled". 102.9 Hot Tomato. 22 June 2026. Archived from the original on 22 June 2026. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
- ↑ Crisafulli, David; Janetzki, David; Mickelberg, Brent (22 June 2026). "Crisafulli Government to deliver major transport projects on the Gold Coast". Queensland Government. Archived from the original on 22 June 2026. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
- ↑ Caithness, Harrison (22 June 2026). "Qld Reveals Bus Plan to Replace Axed Gold Coast Light Rail Stage". The Urban Developer. Archived from the original on 23 June 2026. Retrieved 23 June 2026.
- ↑ "Hydro demolition works" (PDF). GoldlinQ. March 2023. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 June 2026. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
- ↑ "Gold Coast's $1B light rail project". Industry Capability Network. 23 September 2022. Archived from the original on 9 May 2026. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
- ↑ "GCN relief point timetable". Anytrip. Archived from the original on 26 June 2026. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
External links
Media related to Southport light rail depot at Wikimedia Commons