The new connection, which was designed to prepare south-east Queensland for next year's Commonwealth Games, means that passengers travelling between Gold Coast and Brisbane can now transfer more easily between the heavy and light rail systems on their journey.

The second extension of the Gold Coast light rail network, called the G:Link, has seen the line connected to Helensvale Rail Station and will include three new stations with park and ride spaces for 1,400 cars.

The latest extension has been funded by the central Australian Government, the Queensland Government and Gold Coast City Council.

The timetable for the line is not due until early 2018, but Queensland deputy premier Jackie Trad told Fairfax Media that trains will run every ten minutes.

Speaking to The Age about the opening of the new extension, Trad said: "What we have done is fundamentally transformed public transport between the Gold Coast and Brisbane.

"For the first time in five decades, people on the Gold Coast can get on a mass transit system, a rapid transit system - come to Helensvale on light rail - change over to heavy rail and get into Brisbane seamlessly.

"Light rail on the Gold Coast is a resounding success and the extended tram system will help ease congestion now and into the future as the city continues to grow."

Despite the large investments in Gold Coast transport, there have been problems in the past.

For example, prior to its opening on December 11, it was claimed that the New Queensland Rail, which connects Gold Coast and Brisbane with one main line, would only be running three of the 21 trains that had initially been delivered to Australia.

The Commonwealth Games will take place in Gold Coast from April 4 to 15.