This has now finished. The details below applied up to Friday 23 October 2026 and are kept as a record. For current information, see our Gold Coast public transport guide.
At a glance
- When
- From 7:30pm until the last service, Sunday to Thursday: Sunday 11 to Thursday 15 and Sunday 18 to Thursday 22 October 2026
- Where
- G:link between Helensvale and Gold Coast University Hospital stations
- What’s affected
- Helensvale, Parkwood, Parkwood East and Gold Coast University Hospital stations
- Alternative
- Replacement buses from the stops listed below, not the tram platforms
- Reason
- Coomera Connector (Stage 1) construction works
- Official notice
- Translink
From 7:30pm until the last service on Sunday to Thursday nights this fortnight, buses replace G:link trams between Helensvale and Gold Coast University Hospital stations. The October dates are Sunday 11 to Thursday 15 October and Sunday 18 to Thursday 22 October, and trams run normally again from the first service each morning.
Translink says the closures are due to Coomera Connector (Stage 1) construction works. Only the northern end of the line is affected: the notice lists four stations, all between Helensvale and the hospital.
Which stations are affected?
Four stations on the L1 Helensvale / Burleigh Heads line are covered by the evening closures: Helensvale, Parkwood, Parkwood East and Gold Coast University Hospital. If you board or leave the tram at any of these after 7:30pm on a closure night, you will be on a replacement bus for that part of the trip.
Where do the replacement buses stop?
The replacement buses do not stop on the tram platforms. Translink lists these stops:
| Station | Towards Gold Coast University Hospital | Towards Helensvale |
|---|---|---|
| Helensvale | Helensvale light rail bus stop off Buckler Drive (Stop ID 320404) | Drop-off only |
| Parkwood | Greenacre Drive at Parkwood station (Stop ID 301997) | Greenacre Dr at Parkwood station (Stop ID 301200) |
| Parkwood East | Henry Cotton Drive at Parkwood East station (Stop ID 301203) | Henry Cotton Drive at Parkwood East station (Stop ID 301209) |
| Gold Coast University Hospital | Gold Coast University Hospital bus station, platform 4 (Stop ID 318945) | Gold Coast University Hospital bus station, platform 3 (Stop ID 318946) |
At Gold Coast University Hospital, the replacement buses use the hospital bus station (platforms 3 and 4), not the tram platform. Translink asks passengers to plan ahead and allow extra travel time on these nights.
Who is most affected?
The closures matter most for people using Helensvale as a transfer point. Helensvale is where the G:link meets the Gold Coast train line to Brisbane, so anyone coming off an evening train and heading towards Southport or the hospital will start the journey on a bus.
People travelling to or from the hospital in the evening, and anyone who uses the Parkwood or Parkwood East stations, should check their usual route before heading out.
Sunday 18 October: trains are out as well
Sunday 18 October is a double-change night. Gold Coast line trains between Beenleigh and Varsity Lakes are replaced by railbuses all weekend, from the first service on Saturday 17 October to the last service on Sunday 18 October. A trip from Brisbane to Southport that Sunday evening could mean a railbus to Helensvale and then a tram replacement bus to Gold Coast University Hospital. Our guide to the Gold Coast line weekend track closure has the details.
What about the Gold Coast 500?
The October closures are on Sunday to Thursday nights only, and the last one is Thursday 22 October. The Gold Coast 500 runs from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October, and none of those nights is on Translink’s closure list, so the race weekend is not affected by these works. If you are using the Parkwood park and ride for the race, see our Gold Coast 500 transport and parking guide.
More closures in November
Translink has already published a second round of evening closures on the same section, again from 7:30pm until the last service:
- Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 November
- Sunday 8 to Thursday 12 November
- Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 November
- Sunday 29 and Monday 30 November
The replacement bus stops listed for November are the same as in October.
What is being built?
The Coomera Connector (M9) is a planned 45km north–south motorway between Loganholme and Nerang, running east of the Pacific Motorway (M1) and the Gold Coast heavy rail line. According to the Department of Transport and Main Roads, Stage 1 Central is the 8km section from Helensvale Road to the Smith Street Motorway. It will have six lanes, interchanges at the Gold Coast Highway and the Smith Street Motorway, and more than 8km of walking and bike riding path connecting with the Helensvale and Parkwood light rail stations.
For questions about tram and bus services, Translink’s contact centre is on 13 12 30, 24 hours a day.
More guides: Gold Coast public transport guide
Sources
- Translink — October evening tram closures, Helensvale to Gold Coast University Hospital (checked 12 October 2026)
- Translink — November evening tram closures, Helensvale to Gold Coast University Hospital
- Department of Transport and Main Roads — Coomera Connector Stage 1 Central
Featured image: G:link tram at Helensvale station (photo: Queensland Government, Department of Transport and Main Roads / CC BY 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Translink, G:link or the Department of Transport and Main Roads. Check the official notices above before you travel.