The system forms part of Translink's South East Queensland public transport network and consists of a single 20 km (12 mi) line of nineteen stations.

The line initially opened on 20 July 2014 and was subsequently extended northwest from Gold Coast University Hospital to Helensvale on 17 December 2017.

[5] In June 2011, the GoldLinq consortium comprising Bombardier Transportation, Downer EDI, Keolis, McConnell Dowell and Plenary Group was awarded the contract to build and operate the Gold Coast light rail line for 18 years under a Public Private Partnership.

[15] After the successful opening and operations of Stage 1, the Queensland Government announced in February 2016 plans to extend the light rail line from the University Hospital to the Helensvale railway station, providing a connection with the Gold Coast railway line that connects the city with Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland.

The new extension includes 7.3 km (4.5 mi) tracks and 3 new light rail stations, with Helensvale being the new northern terminus for the line.

The Queensland Government, in conjunction with the Gold Coast City Council and the federal government, announced the plan to extend the light rail line 6.4 km (4.0 mi) south, from the existing Broadbeach South station to Burleigh Heads back in 2018 with the original completion date to be in 2024.

Due to funding disputes among the three levels of government, the COVID-19 pandemic along with rising construction costs in recent years, the project kept getting delayed.

In February 2020, three parties were short-listed to build the extension:[17] It was announced in October 2020 that John Holland had won the contract,[18] with the state government releasing a statement in 2021 saying that the agreement will see the construction consortium undertake detailed construction planning and start establishing a site presence along the 6.7-kilometre (4.2 mi) corridor.

[1] In July 2022 construction formally started with water, sewerage and gas infrastructure upgrades and relocation on the Gold Coast Highway between Broadbeach and Nobby Beach.

Mermaid Beach station is located in the suburb of the same name near the intersection of the Gold Coast Highway and Crescent Avenue and Montana Road.

Nobby Beach station will be situated between Albicore Street and Dolphin Avenue on the Gold Coast Highway.

Christine Avenue will serve a number of retail and dining venues, as well as the North Burleigh Surf Beach.

The line passes over the Nerang River before reaching the only stop in Main Beach, which serves the Sea World theme park.

The next stops are Surfers Paradise North and Cypress Avenue, the latter serving the Chevron Renaissance Shopping Centre and the Funtime amusement park.

The line terminates at Broadbeach South which serves Pacific Fair Shopping Centre and provides bus connections to southern suburbs as well as the Gold Coast Airport.

[57] 6.6 million passengers were carried on the line in its first year, and total public transport users on the Gold Coast - across buses and trams - increased by 25 per cent.

[58][59] In February 2016 the Queensland Government announced the ten million passenger milestone had been reached and noted that Cavill Avenue was the busiest station with 4,729 boardings a day.

Future extensions however are not expected to take place until after Stage 4 to Gold Coast Airport is fully completed and further feasibility studies are undertaken, with the time-frames for the projects still undecided.

[76] The proposed line would branch off from the existing University Hospital light rail station, travelling north before terminating at Harbour Town Shopping Centre in the suburb of Biggera Waters.

Stations may include Chevron Island, HOTA, Bundall Business District and Gold Coast Turf Club.

[78] The proposed line would spur off from Broadbeach, travelling west along Hooker Boulevard and north along Nerang–Broadbeach Road before terminating at the Nerang railway station.

[81] In 2020, a feasibility study was proposed by the NSW state government for a light rail corridor between Gold Coast Airport and Tweed Heads.

[82] The Gold Coast light rail project was subject to protest campaigns from some local residents and politicians.

[88] In 2016, a retired property analyst, Alan Midwood, claimed light rail had been a "gross financial disaster" that had doubled roadway congestion, and calling for it to be scrapped.

[88] One group operated by a Paradise Waters resident, alleged light rail was "a proven killer"[91] that slaughtered at "a rate 2.5 times that of cars".

[92] Following the success of the project, in 2017, a group of Paradise Waters residents appealed for a tram stop to be added at their locality, as had been originally planned, but were denied it by Council.