Assembly on the other side of the world

A distance of 16,000 kilometres, lots of stations and a substantial time difference – the Gold Coast 3 project was certainly anything but boring. We worked with our Australian partner MIRAIT to install our track components and associated controller, station by station, along the line. By Christoph Heidbrink

To ensure everything would be in the right place at the right time, we initially made the necessary components available at a central warehouse. Then it was time to run cables, make connections and install the track components – not just anywhere, of course, but along a route divided into numerous sections.

Good organisation is key to a smooth installation. That’s why we held regular weekly meetings with our partner MIRAIT to jointly discuss and coordinate our client’s specifications, the next steps and the planning for the individual sections.

It was not the Australian heat, but the distance – and therefore the time difference – that proved particularly challenging. When the working day was slowly coming to an end here, it was already well underway Down Under. A quick follow-up question could easily turn into communication with a built-in 24-hour delay. We therefore learned quickly that not every delay was a problem – sometimes it was simply a matter of time zones. 

When it came to commissioning, it was time to pack our bags and get to work on site. Our HANNING & KAHL installers and technicians commissioned the individual stations step by step, ensuring that the installed components worked together as a fully functioning system.

The first section was successfully accepted by our customer at the end of 2025. From there, we continued station by station. As the stations were very similar in design, we were able to apply the experience gained directly to the next construction phases.

Things got a bit more intense again in the final stage: with a tight schedule, plenty of tasks and a firm deadline in sight. But the team stayed focused – and successfully completed the installation and commissioning in May 2026.