Burleigh to Border Light Rail Cancellation “Bitterly Disappointing”

Better Transport Queensland
Monday, 1 September, 2025
For Immediate Release

Better Transport Queensland has described the Crisafulli Government’s decision to can Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 4 as “bitterly disappointing”.

Burleigh to Border Light Rail Cancellation “Bitterly Disappointing”

Better Transport Queensland has described the Crisafulli Government’s decision to cancel Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 4 as “bitterly disappointing,” calling for urgent government action on alternative transport solutions to address the city’s growing congestion crisis. The proposed extension, which would have connected Burleigh to the New South Wales border, was seen as a critical piece of public transport infrastructure.

“Gold Coast Light Rail is the single most popular public transport route in the state at over 11 million journeys every year,” said Better Transport Queensland Spokesperson, Alex Jago. “It’s a roaring success, with patronage well above the buses which preceded it.”

The organisation stressed that the decision to halt the project must not signal a complete abandonment of a critical transport corridor for the Gold Coast.

“As Mayor Tom Tate has noted, this must not represent a cancellation, a mere delay,” Mr Jago continued.

With the Gold Coast’s population now exceeding 600,000 and growing rapidly, Alex Jago highlighted the pressing need for high-quality public transport. “The Gold Coast is no longer the collection of holiday villages from 50 years ago. Today, it’s a city of over 600,000 residents and quickly rising. The only alternatives to high-quality public & active transport are congestion and pollution.”

Better Transport Queensland is calling on the government to pivot its focus and accelerate efforts to extend the heavy rail line to the border as a viable alternative. This would provide a much-needed, high-capacity transport link to service the region’s increasing population and connect it to the broader South East Queensland rail network.

Quotes attributable to Alex Jago, Better Transport Queensland’s Secretary & Spokesperson

"Gold Coast Light Rail is the single most popular public transport route in the state at over 11 million journeys every year. It’s a roaring success, with patronage well above the buses which preceded it. ”

“As Mayor Tom Tate has noted, this must not represent a cancellation, but merely a delay.”

“The Gold Coast is no longer the collection of holiday villages from 50 years ago. Today, it’s a city of over 600,000 residents today and quickly rising. The only alternatives to high-quality public & active transport are congestion and pollution.”

---

Better Transport Queensland Inc. — Queensland’s leading advocacy group for public, active, and freight transport.

Visit our website at www.bettertransportqueensland.org.

Spokesperson
Alex Jago - BTQ Secretary
[email protected]
(+61) 0478 136 788

General Media Enquiries
[email protected]