KEEPING GC RAIL SAFE IS A MUST DO

THE Gold Coast’s light rail system is one of the crown jewels of southeast Queensland’s public transport network.

Clean and reliable and relatively quiet, it is popular with locals and tourists alike,

It’s strong patronage figures routinely show the popular support it has.

Passengers vote with their feet and back the tram to the hilt, infrequent fare gripes aside.

But drivers and passengers alike openly admit there can be issues with drug usage and poor behaviour in and around the Gold Coast’s public transport network, in particular its trams.

Talk to anyone who regularly rides the light and heavy rails and they will be able to tell you at least one story – probably more – involving rowdy teenagers, drug-affected passengers or disruption. When you are stuck on board, that can be incredibly offputting when it comes to continued use of the system.

It is these bad eggs which can give an otherwise excellent transport system a bad name.

Robina councillor Hermann Vorster’s calls for reform on the network are a necessary reality check.

While the State Government maintains that there are already enough eyes on the trams and trains, it is clear from the anecdotal evidence there are issues which must be dealt with.

The Gold Coast is a tourist city and that means we must put our best foot forward at all times. Having people feel uncomfortable about using public transport is not on.

With our $6 billion dollar industry decimated by COVID-19, the number of visitors to the city is significantly lower than a normal year.

This is why it is critical our public transport be unimpeachable and give the best possible impression.

It is important that visitors be able to return home with nothing but positive stories about travelling on the railway and tram – or if problems do arise that an authoritative presence was at hand to help.

Drug usage and bad behaviour have no place in society.

The bid for a uniformed marshal-style service to complement the existing tram inspectors and give them a bit more grunt is a good one.

For Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey to dismiss it right off the bat is ill-considered.

For political leaders to turn a blind eye is unacceptable.

Leadership cannot be abrogated on critical issues for both public transport and tourism itself.

It will be interesting to see what sort of response Cr Vorster gets to floating the idea and whether there is more will around the council table to back what he is proposing.

This city has had more than its share of shocking incidents related to the ease with which public transport has allowed those up to no good to traverse in from elsewhere and run amok. The city has benefited greatly from its implementation but responsibility also has to be taken for the associated problems it helps foster.