At a glance
- Journey time
- About 86 minutes from Varsity Lakes to Central, 72 from Helensvale (Monday 19 October 2026 timetable)
- How often
- Every 15 minutes in the morning from Varsity Lakes; every 30 minutes at midday
- Fare
- A flat 50 cents under Translink’s fares
- Line
- Listed by Translink as T5 Varsity Lakes
- Brisbane Airport
- Airtrain, a non-Translink operator; fares from $23.30 between the airport and Brisbane City stations
- Gold Coast Airport
- No train; route 760 to Varsity Lakes, route 777 to Stockland Burleigh Heads
The train from Varsity Lakes to Brisbane’s Central station takes about 85 minutes, and a trip costs a flat 50 cents under Translink’s fares. On Monday 19 October 2026, Translink’s T5 Varsity Lakes timetable showed trains leaving Varsity Lakes every 15 minutes in the morning, and from Central to Varsity Lakes every 30 minutes in the middle of the day. Check the timetable for your own date, because track closures change it.
Translink describes the fare as a 50 cent flat rate across all of its services, regardless of how far you travel or how you pay. The exception is the Brisbane Airport stations, which are served by Airtrain on separate fares (see below). Everything on this page is taken from Translink’s own pages and timetable, checked on 18 October 2026.
How long does the train from the Gold Coast to Brisbane take?
On the Monday 19 October timetable, a train leaving Central at 10:29am reached the Gold Coast stations at these times. The same running times applied to a train leaving Central at 4:29am.
| Station | Arrives (from Central 10:29am) | Minutes from Central |
|---|---|---|
| Beenleigh | 11:20am | 51 |
| Pimpama | 11:30am | 61 |
| Coomera | 11:34am | 65 |
| Helensvale | 11:41am | 72 |
| Nerang | 11:45am | 76 |
| Robina | 11:51am | 82 |
| Varsity Lakes | 11:55am | 86 |
Going the other way is similar. On the same Monday, a train leaving Varsity Lakes at 6:36am left Robina at 6:39am, Nerang at 6:45am and Helensvale at 6:50am, and reached Central at 8:01am. That is 85 minutes from Varsity Lakes and 71 minutes from Helensvale. Plan on about an hour and a quarter from most of the Gold Coast stations, and allow extra time if your trip includes a connection.
How often do the trains run?
The timetable on 19 October showed these patterns. This is a snapshot of the times the page displayed, not the full day, so check the timetable for the time you want to travel.
- Towards Brisbane in the morning: departures from Varsity Lakes at 6:36am, 6:51am, 7:06am, 7:21am and 7:36am, every 15 minutes.
- Towards Varsity Lakes in the middle of the day: trains left Central at 10:29am, 10:59am, 11:29am, 11:59am and 12:29pm, every 30 minutes.
- From the airports: trains left Domestic Airport station at 10:04am, 10:34am, 11:04am, 11:34am and 12:04pm, every 30 minutes, calling at International Airport, Eagle Junction, Bowen Hills and Fortitude Valley before Central.
The trains that run on this line are listed on Translink’s timetable page as T5 Varsity Lakes, with the other direction listed as Domestic Airport and Bowen Hills. The page lets you pick a date from the next few weeks and a departure hour, and it shows the next five trips from that time. Varsity Lakes is marked “drop-off only” for trains arriving from Brisbane, because that is where they finish.
How much does the train from the Gold Coast to Brisbane cost?
Translink says public transport fares are a 50 cent flat rate across all Translink services, regardless of how far you travel on the network or how you choose to pay. The Gold Coast to Brisbane train is a Translink service, so that is the fare for a trip between, for example, Robina and Central. For fares on non-Translink services, Translink asks you to contact the local operator.
You can pay with a go card, or tap on and tap off with a Visa or Mastercard credit or debit card, including a card on a phone or other smart device. Translink says each customer must use one card or device and tap on and off with the same one to avoid being charged an extra fee. For the G:link light rail connection, see our guide to G:link fares and how to pay.
How do I get to Brisbane Airport from the Gold Coast?
Translink’s airport services page says travel to and from Brisbane Airport is provided by Airtrain, a non-Translink operator that links Brisbane’s International and Domestic Airports with Brisbane City and the Gold Coast. That means the 50 cent fare does not cover the airport stations. Airtrain fares start from $23.30 for travel between the airport stations and Brisbane City stations, effective 27 April 2026. Brisbane City stations include Eagle Junction, Wooloowin, Albion, Bowen Hills, Fortitude Valley, Central, Roma Street and South Brisbane. Translink’s page does not list the Airtrain fare from a Gold Coast station to the airport, so check Airtrain’s fares for that trip.
Translink gives these details for Airtrain:
- Airtrain offers a direct express service from Gold Coast stations to Brisbane Airport, travelling via Brisbane City.
- If you are travelling to or from the Gold Coast, you can use the tram to connect to Airtrain at Helensvale station.
- Services run between 4:30am and 10pm, every 15 minutes during peak times.
- Airtrain tickets are valid only on train and tram services, and you cannot transfer to a bus or ferry on them.
- Children aged 14 and under travel free when accompanied by an adult with an Airtrain ticket, for travel between Brisbane Airport and any Brisbane City station.
- You can pay by tapping a contactless card or go card, or buy a paper ticket at a train or tram station fare machine or ticket office. Online tickets are sold by Airtrain, with online discounts.
When you transfer from Airtrain to another Translink service, the contactless and go card transfer rules do not apply and a new journey starts. Translink’s page says services between Brisbane’s airports and the city take 20 minutes, while the T5 timetable for 19 October showed 25 minutes from Domestic Airport (10:04am) to Central (10:29am), so allow for the longer figure.
What is on board, and what about Skygate?
Translink describes the Airtrain fleet as modern trains with air-conditioning, Wi-Fi, space for luggage, restrooms on board and information screens to help you follow your journey. Airtrain stations are at the Domestic Airport and the International Airport, directly in front of each terminal, so access is easy with luggage.
If you need to travel between Brisbane Airport and Skygate, Translink says you can catch the free Terminals-Skygate bus, or the route 590 bus, where Translink fares apply and no cash is accepted on buses.
Is there a train to Gold Coast Airport?
No. Translink lists two buses for Gold Coast Airport. Route 777 runs as a limited-stop express between the airport and Stockland Burleigh Heads only, according to Translink’s service notice on the bus and tram changes from Monday 7 September 2026, so you change to the G:link at Burleigh Heads. Translink’s airport page still says route 777 goes to Broadbeach South, but its September notice says it no longer travels north towards Broadbeach South. Route 760 connects to Varsity Lakes train station for travel to and from Brisbane. You can pay with a contactless debit or credit card, a go card or go explore. See our guide to getting from Gold Coast Airport to Surfers Paradise by public transport, and our guide to Gold Coast Airport parking if you would rather drive.
What if the line is closed?
Planned track closures change the timetable, usually with railbuses replacing trains. Our guide to the 17 and 18 October closure shows what that looks like, and the late-night closures on 26 and 27 October affect the last trains of those nights. The tram between Helensvale and Gold Coast University Hospital is also replaced by buses on some evenings; see the November evening tram closures. Check Translink’s service updates before you travel.
Where can I park at a Gold Coast station?
Translink’s parking page covers park ‘n’ ride at stations. See our guide to park ‘n’ ride at Gold Coast train stations for the stations that publish details.
More guides: Gold Coast public transport guide
Sources
- Translink — Ticketing by region (50 cent fares) (checked 18 October 2026)
- Translink — Airport services (Airtrain, Gold Coast Airport buses; checked 18 October 2026)
- Translink — Bus and tram changes to connect the coast (route 777; last reviewed 8 September 2026)
- Translink — T5 Varsity Lakes timetable (Monday 19 October 2026 times; checked 18 October 2026)
Featured image: Nerang railway station in June 2026 (photo: Totallynotarandomalt69 / CC BY 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Translink, Queensland Rail or Airtrain. Timetables, fares and service changes can change; check Translink before you travel.