After preparing this I found that Richard had already sent you info on the route via Helensvale. He should know! However, this may
be of use if you are asleep when the train passes Helensvale!

I suggest that you get off at Nerang. There are three bus routes which may be usable - 739 (which does not operate Saturdays or
Sundays, so far as I can make out), 743 and 744. 739 goes to the Gold Coast University Hospital, which is the west terminus of the
tram. The other two go to Broadbeach, which is the southern terminus. 743 wanders around the back blocks of Nerang, including
crossing it self once, then goes roughly direct to Broadbeach. 744 does the same, with a different set of back blocks. Both are
hourly, but at least they are timed to depart Nerang 30 minutes apart, at 19 and 49 minutes past the hour, taking about 39 minutes.
739 also goes hourly, and is also timed to depart at 49 past the hour.

All buses depart from the bus station on the east side of Nerang Station - I imagine that they are timed to connect with the train
from Brisbane.

Checked with the Translink Journey Planner, from South Bank Station, a typical journey would instead use Helensvale Station for the
transfer. Train departs South Brisbane at 0837, and arrives at Helensvale about 0937, then it is a one minute walk to the bus
station. You have a five minute connection as the bus (route 709) departs at 0942 and you have a 23 minute bus journey to GCUH,
arriving at 1005, on platform 4. This route uses the alternative route (Gold Coast Highway/Olsen Avenue) that was seriously
considered for the tram connexion, but discarded in favour of the Smith Street route.

This trip is 1h 38 min, rather faster than the Nerang route due to the much shorter bus trip - but is only hourly. There is another
bus, the 710, which has the same termini, and the same departure time from Helensvale, but wanders through Arundel and Parkwood,
taking two minutes longer than the 709.

These route may be operative on weekends, I haven't checked.

Regards

Dudley Horscroft
----- Original Message -----
From: "[email protected] [TramsDownUnder]" TramsDownUnder@...>
To: TramsDownUnder@...>
Sent: Saturday, May 13, 2017 9:54 PM
Subject: [TramsDownUnder] Train to GC light rail - connection?

>I would like to ride the Gold Coast light rail, I would be going by train from Brisbane, so can someone suggest where best to leave

>the train, and then how do I get to the tram?

> TIA Leon.

>