Transport Minister Rachel Nolan and Member for Burleigh Christine Smith today announced another major milestone in the Bligh Government’s Robina to Varsity Lakes Rail Extension Project with the completion of the new 4.1 kilometre dual rail track.
Ms Nolan said that the laying of the track between Robina and the new station at Varsity Lakes was now complete.
“We’re now just a few months away from opening the new Varsity Lakes station and rail line, removing potentially up to 400 cars from our roads every day. This will be a wonderful Christmas present for Gold Coast residents.
“The finishing touches are being put on the Varsity Lakes station with the new line expected to be operational by Christmas,” Ms Nolan said.
In less than 6 months, around 12,000 concrete sleepers, more than 1,000 tonnes of rail, 23,000 tonnes of ballast, 132 masts and 40 kilometres of overhead wires have been used to construct the bi-directional, electrified track.
Ms Smith said that during design and construction of this important project over 2300 jobs have been created.
“The new Varsity Lakes rail line is the first new track extension to be laid on the Gold Coast in over 10 years,” Ms Smith said.
“This is a huge step towards improving rail services for southern Gold Coast residents.
“It demonstrates the Bligh Government’s commitment to ensure public transport keeps pace with the rapid population growth in the Gold Coast region”.
All major construction works on Varsity Lakes station have now been completed, with the gleaming new architecturally designed station ready to set new benchmarks for rail projects in Australia.
Including eco-friendly features such as the use of solar power and tanks to store rain water, the station also makes excellent use of natural ventilation and lighting.
The station building is light and open with an attractive tree-lined plaza at the front. It features a covered island platform, 300 car parking spaces, 50 bicycle lockers, a taxi rank and bus interchange.
“Varsity Lakes station will be the centrepiece of the future Varsity Station Village, a transit-oriented development featuring commercial, retail and residential precincts, being planned by the Department of Transport and Main Roads,” Ms Nolan said.
The Robina to Varsity Lakes Rail Extension Project is part of the Queensland Government's $124 billion South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program 2009-2026, of which over $30 billion has been identified for rail projects.
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