rail travel queensland

Train timetables changed on 17 July 2023​

On 17 July 2023, long-distance timetables changed. There were different impacts for the Tilt Train, Spirit of Queensland, Westlander and Spirit of the Outback.

This timetable will remain in place for up to 14 months. More information can be found on our Frequently Asked Questions page .​​

​​​Review our current timetable for your service by selecting a train below​​​

Times are subject to change, please view our Service Updates for the current status of our trains.

Alternative timetables​

Some services will run on an alternative timetable to avoid planned maintenance and other impacts. These services are available to book online, alongside usual timetabled services. Please check train departure and arrival times when booking and review your ticket information for details of your service.

Travel bookings are open for long-distance train services until 31 August 2024, Book Online now.

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Home Travel Queensland’s top 7 rail journeys

Queensland’s top 7 rail journeys

With 4000km of regional track, Queensland Rail Travel can deliver you all the way to Cairns in the state’s north, Longreach, Charleville and Mount Isa in the west and even to tourism hotspots in the Far North and the Gulf Savannah. You can also take advantage of its RailBus connections to explore don’t-miss coastal havens such as Hervey Bay, Airlie Beach and the Whitsundays. With Queensland Rail Travel you can leave the car at home, and enjoy the unique luxury of time and space to sit back and enjoy the ever-changing landscapes. Here are our top picks.

SPIRIT OF QUEENSLAND

Brisbane–Cairns (1681km)

This train travels the coast of Queensland from Brisbane to Cairns, a distance of 1681km, in 25 hours and has two travel options – economy seats, which are great if you are stopping along the way, and the RailBed, a spacious seat during the day that folds out to a lie-flat bed at night, with all-inclusive in-seat dining. The train passes through canefields and rainforest and stops at some of the Queensland coast’s biggest regional cities, including Mackay, Rockhampton, Proserpine (the gateway to the Whitsunday Islands) and Townsville.

SPIRIT OF THE OUTBACK

Brisbane–Longreach (1325km)

Launched in 1993 by combining the Capricornian and Midlander train journeys, the Spirit of the Outback travels 1325km between Brisbane and Longreach in about 24 hours. The perfect introduction to outback Queensland, the Spirit takes its passengers deep into the engine rooms of the Queensland economy. It follows the coast to Rockhampton, then turns inland and passes through the heritage mining towns of Blackwater and Emerald, and the birthplace of the Australian Labor Party, Barcaldine, before arriving in Longreach, a town that has been saved from the clutches of a never-ending drought by its burgeoning tourist trade.

Townsville–Mount Isa (977km)

A historic trip from the major northern Queensland port city of Townsville to the mining centre of Mount Isa. Over a leisurely 21-hour journey, covering 977km, the Inlander offers the opportunity to experience the heritage and natural treasures of northern Queensland’s ruggedly beautiful inland.

From Townsville, the train travels through picturesque Charters Towers, across the Great Dividing Range and through the mining towns of Hughenden and Julia Creek, before delivering passengers into Queensland’s dry western reaches. Introduced in 1953, the Inlander was Queensland’s first air-conditioned train.

KURANDA SCENIC RAILWAY

Cairns to Kuranda (37km)

Imagine all that natural wonder so close that you can almost touch it, your senses alive with the heady organic fragrance and untamed sounds of the dense rainforest. That’s what it’s like aboard Kuranda Scenic Railway as you unwind your way through a tropical paradise framed by rugged mountains with waterfalls tumbling forever into deep ravines.

Rising from sea level to 328m, the journey to Kuranda passes spectacular waterfalls and into the stunning Barron Gorge. Meandering through picturesque scenery, you travel through 15 handmade tunnels and a​cross 37 towering bridges that stand as a monument to the pioneers of the north.

Being one with the rainforest as you undertake an unforgettable journey is what makes Kuranda Scenic Railway such a must-do experience.

Normanton to Croydon (151km)

​​​​​​​​​Take a journey through frontier country from Normanton to Croydon as you step aboard the iconic Gulflander. Also known as the ‘Tin Hare’, this legendary rail motor is one of the last great characters of the rail world.

Affectionately said to go from ‘nowhere to nowhere’, the Heritage Listed Normanton to Croydon line was never connected to the state rail network and remains the only line in Queensland still measured in miles. From wetlands and grasslands to arid Savannah territory, the Gulflander travels through countryside that most people will never see. This nostalgic rail journey is the perfect way to discover an area steeped in pioneering history and heritage. 

As a working tribute to the Gulf of Carpentaria’s early pioneers, the Gulflander is a once in a lifetime experience.​

Brisbane to Charleville (740km) ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Venture to the natural wonders of Queensland’s southwest outback onboard the Westlander. From Brisbane travel across the Great Dividing Range, through the rich farmlands of the Darling Downs to Charleville, this scenic journey travels through some of the state’s most picturesque outback regions. 

Depending on the travel sector a complimentary in-seat snack pack will be delivered to each seat at meal times. Light refreshments can be purchased from the Economy Lounge.

Experience this unforgettable journey into Queen​sland’s western frontier as you follow in the footsteps of the early pioneers on Westlander. Unwind, as you sit back relax and watch the striking scenery pass you by.

THE SAVANNAHLANDER

Cairns–Forsayth (425km)

The Savannahlander’s unique experience departs Cairns weekly, winding through the Wet Tropics area of the Kuranda range and out through the savannah to Forsayth and back, taking four days. The highly personalised tours, in a 1960s classic Silver Bullet rail-motor, offer passengers the opportunity to see remote Queensland at a sleepy 50km/h. Drivers provide running commentaries and there are options for short tours and visits to Cobbold Gorge, Undara Volcanic National Park, and overnight stops in country hotels. This is train travel at a relaxed pace.

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Spirit of Queensland, Timetables and Bookings

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The new Spirit of Queensland combines modern seating and entertainment options with the romance of long distance rail travel. Contemporary, comfortable and designed for relaxation, the newest addition to the Queensland Rail Travel fleet has two dedicated RailBed Cars, a shared Club Car and three Premium Economy Seat Cars.

VIEW SPIRIT OF QUEENSLAND TIMETABLE

RailBed:  An Australian first, the revolutionary RailBed is a spacious and comfortable seat by day (recline 35°) that includes a state of the art personal entertainment system (18.5 inches) offering on-demand movies and music. In the evening, the onboard team convert your seat to a lie-flat bed (1.7-1.9m length x 51.5cm width, with a 7.5cm mattress).

• All main meals served directly to your seat
• 240v powerpoint and USB point, drink holder, reading light and footrest
• All bed linen (sheets, duvet & pillow), towel and Queensland organic and sustainable amenities pack

Premium Economy Seat:  Premium Economy seats have state-of-the-art personal entertainment systems (8.9 inches) offering on-demand movies and music.

• Premium leather seating
• Reading light, drink holder, 240v power adapter
• Seat recline – 30° / Pitch – 1080m

Onboard facilities available to all customers

• Licensed Club Car providing light refreshments, confectionery and beverages and open 24 hrs
• Drinking fountains
• Showers and Toilets located in the end of each carriage
• Smoking is not permitted
• RailBed – check in two (2) items not exceeding 20kg each
• Premium Economy – check in one (1) item not exceeding 20kg each
• One (1) item of carry on hand luggage free of charge up to 20kg

Disability Access

• Allocated spaces and accessible seats/ Rail Beds are available as well as signage with raised text, braille and hearing aid loops
• Disability accessible shower/toilet located in the first RailBed carriage and first Premium Economy carriage in the direction of travel.

Click here for information on the Cairns Skyrail ?

If you are looking for holiday or transfer packages, please contact us below.

Queensland Explorer Pass

The Queensland Explorer Pass gives you unlimited travel on most Queensland Rail Travel Train services in Queensland. Queensland has the best trains in Australia and this pass is valid on the fast Tilt Trains between Brisbane and Rockhampton and the new Spirit of Queensland trains that run between Brisbane and Cairns.

Where can I use this rail pass?

This pass is valid for unlimited travel on Queensland Rail Travel Train services including the following rail services:

• Tilt Train (Brisbane–Rockhampton)
• The Spirit of Queensland  (Brisbane–Cairns)
• The Spirit of the Outback (Brisbane–Longreach via Rockhampton)
• The Inlander (Townsville–Mount Isa)
• The Westlander (Brisbane–Charleville)

This pass includes the following connecting coach services:

• Maryborough–Hervey Bay
• Proserpine–Airlie Beach
• Barcaldine–Winton
• Charleville–Quilpie
• Charleville–Cunnamulla

The Queensland Coastal Pass includes one journey on Brisbane’s City rail network to connect with a Queensland Rail Travel Train service. This includes travel as far south as the Gold Coast.

When is the Queensland Explorer Pass valid?

This pass is valid for one or two months travel in economy seating. This rail pass is good for unlimited rail travel for the entire validity of the pass (not a set number of travel days or a set itinerary like many other rail passes). Travel must commence within six months of the date of purchasing this pass. The one or two-month travel period begins on the date that the pass is first used.

Who can use this rail pass?

The Queensland Coastal Pass is only available to overseas visitors to Australia. People travelling with this rail pass must be able to prove that they are not an Australian resident (a passport or drivers licence issued outside Australia will usually be sufficient proof).

More details about the Queensland Explorer Pass

Click below for the latest prices for the Queensland Explorer Pass and details about ordering your rail pass online.

Other important details about this rail pass

After purchasing the Queensland Coastal Pass you will receive a voucher that you need to exchange for the actual travel pass at a ticket office exchange location in Australia prior to commencing your first journey. Your exchange voucher will be emailed to you but it is best to allow 3–5 business days for your order to be processed prior to emailing your voucher.

Seat reservations must be made prior to each leg of travel.

The Queensland Coastal Pass is valid for economy class travel on most rail services. However it does cover premium economy travel on the Spirit of Queensland for bookings made within seven days of travel. Seat bookings made outside this time will incur an upgrade charge.

Pass holders may upgrade to business seats on the Tilt Train (between Brisbane and Rockhampton), RailBeds on the Spirit of Queensland and available sleeping berths upon payment of an upgrade fee.

Travel on the fast Tilt Train is only available between Brisbane and Rockhampton (and intermediate stops).

This rail pass cannot be used on heritage railways and tourist services such as the Kuranda Railway.

The Queensland Coastal Pass is only valid for travel on services operated by Queensland Travel Train. It is not valid for travel on Great Southern Railway, NSW TrainLink, V/line or TransWA services.

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Brisbane to Cairns on the Spirit of Queensland: Is the RailBed sleeper worth it?

by Anne Betts | Nov 7, 2019 | Australia | 8 comments

“So let me get this straight. You could have flown business class on points, on a direct flight from Sydney to Cairns for $25 in taxes and fees. Instead, you flew from Sydney to Brisbane for $22 and from there took the train to Cairns for $389?

In other words, you traded a three-dollar business class flight to spend 24-hours on a train? For $389?”

My young friend shook her head in disbelief at the absurdity of my travel choices.

The points thing

Miles and points are my thing. Well, one of my things. When travelling in Australia, I use British Airways Avios points to fly on Qantas, one of British Airways’ oneworld airline partners. Other points programs fund other travels. In fact, I used Scotiabank’s Scotia Rewards to cover the cost of the Spirit of Queensland fare from Brisbane to Cairns.

But, there’s also the train thing. For anyone who loves train travel, Queensland Rail’s Spirit of Queensland is a fabulous choice. The RailBed class is a top-notch travel experience at an affordable price.

Spirit of Queensland

The Spirit of Queensland service operates from Brisbane to Cairns, a distance of 1,681 kilometres (1,045 miles). A small train compared to that of other epic rail journeys such as The Ghan , it has two locomotives and just seven carriages.

There’s a locomotive at each end. The one in front pulls while the one at the rear pushes. They drive the train and supply power to the carriages.

The seven carriages in between include two RailBed sleeper cars with airline style seats that convert to lie-flat beds.

The three premium economy cars have adjustable leather lounger seats in a 2 – 2 configuration. Each one can recline to thirty degrees.

There’s also a Galley / Club Car, and a carriage for luggage and crew.

The train attains a top speed of 160 kph, usually achieved during the night. However, the average speed is more like 80 kph. The journey takes roughly 25 hours.

There are stops for passengers to board and disembark. On the south-to-north service, the stop in Tully was long enough for passengers to stretch their legs on the platform.

RailBed class

What attracted me to the Spirit of Queensland was the RailBed class.

It was more expensive than flying but an attractive option, all things considered. One of the advantages of train travel is that travelling between city centres is usually more convenient and less costly than getting to and from airports. Besides, when compared to air travel, it’s a more sustainable method of transportation.

Another is that it’s an opportunity to take in the scenery. On the Brisbane to Cairns route, the views were interesting and varied. After leaving the urban sprawl of Brisbane, we passed by pineapple farms, rainforests, and the Glasshouse Mountains.

Further north were cattle stations, wetlands, sugar cane fields, and mango and banana plantations. The route was dotted with coastal towns, each with its own character. I even spotted the odd kangaroo and wallaby, and lots of cockatoos.

The service included a welcome drink of ginger beer, lime, mint, and ice.

The three meals were delivered on a trolley to each seat. Two of them, dinner and lunch, included a complimentary soft drink, juice, water, beer, or wine. Tea and coffee were also provided. Orders were taken in advance of the meal. The food was better than what I’ve encountered in economy-class cabins on international airlines. For the three-course evening meal, the appetizer was a Caprese salad of Mozzarella pearls, tomatoes, and sweet basil seasoned with salt and olive oil. For the main, I chose oven-roasted pork loin accompanied by an apple infused jus, chat potatoes, carrots, and beans. For dessert, I had the tiramisu cake. The Sirromet Vineyard Selection Shiraz came from Queensland’s Granite Belt.

I considered the cost of overnight accommodation when evaluating the fare. The bed and bedding were very comfortable. Sleeping to the rocking and rolling of the train and soothing sounds of rail travel added to the enjoyment.

The bathroom was spacious and worth the experience of showering to the rocking on the rails. One hand on the grab bars at all times added to the challenge. The water was hot and the pressure was perfect. The bathroom was kept impeccably clean throughout the trip.

In March 2019, my ticket cost AUD 389.25 / USD 268.54 / CAD 371.38, covered by 37,138 Scotia Rewards.

RailBed class seating

By day, the RailBeds are spacious seats capable of reclining up to 35 degrees.

At night, they’re a comfortable bed with a thick mattress and beautiful bedding consisting of a sheet, two pillows, and a duvet.

Staff made them up, and returned the beds to seats, on demand.

I was a little wary of the 2-1 configuration and sharing sleeping space with 18 other passengers. It worked just fine. The pod-like RailBeds provided a considerable amount of privacy, similar to business class pods on an aircraft.

The main lights were turned off at 21:30, but each pod had individual reading lights. Most people seemed to have pyjamas for sleeping. With the beds made up, the lights dimmed, and the curtains closed, it felt like one large upmarket moving hostel dorm.   

Each seat had a standard power point, USB port, and earphone socket. There was a decent-sized 18.5-inch screen on the back of the seat in front. Movies, music, and audiobooks were on demand. However, with daylight, it was more interesting to enjoy the constantly changing coastal Queensland landscape.

There was an extra seat that folded down under the TV. The fold-down seat had a pocket for reading material and assorted items.

Each passenger received an amenities kit of Queensland organic products. The drawstring bag included shampoo, conditioner, face mist, lip balm, body lotion, face cloth, eye mask, earplugs, and headphones.

The overhead compartment contained a towel, blanket, and inflatable neck cushion. Passengers were invited to take the blanket and cushion with them at the end of the journey. The overhead bin was large enough for my carry-on travel bag.

The ride was quiet and smooth, and conversation was possible at a normal volume. After folks settled in, a more social atmosphere prevailed, especially while watching staff make up the beds.

For a change of scenery, the Club Car offered an opportunity to mingle with other passengers over conversation and drinks. Premium economy-class passengers buy their meals from the Galley and some choose to eat in the Club Car so it can become congested at meal times. At busy times, it was possible to buy a drink and take it back to the comfort of your seat.

• Book as early as possible to take advantage of saver fares and seat selection.
• If you’re travelling solo, reserve a seat in the single bed aisle at the time of booking. I suspect Queensland Rail assigns single bookings in this way but I wouldn’t count on it. Also, I’d steer clear of selecting seats near doors that open and close frequently.
• For your listening pleasure, you might want to pack your own headphones. The ones in the amenities kit are cheap and flimsy. It’s also a good idea to pack your own entertainment. Your entertainment system might not work or the content could be uninspiring. A few downloaded Netflix movies and Spotify playlists, or favourite podcasts or books might come in handy. 
• Pack shower shoes (e.g., thongs/flip flops), and comfortable sleepwear. Shoes with a decent tread will keep you upright when moving throughout the train. A light sweater or pashmina will help combat fluctuations in air temperature.   

Exploring Cairns and environs

Cairns is an excellent base and launching point for exploring Far North Queensland. Ride the historic railway to the hinterland or take a tour out to the Great Barrier Reef. Stroll along the Cairns Esplanade or visit the unique Daintree Rainforest. This three-day itinerary describe these suggestions and a host of other ideas.

The final verdict

What was missing from the RailBed experience? Not much. I would have appreciated Wi-Fi to look up stuff on the fly such as “How did the Glasshouse Mountains get their name?” or “When is sugar cane harvested?” Also, a lounge would have been a more attractive spot to relax than the Galley / Club Car. Apparently, a lounge was part of the original design but with rising costs, the project needed to be scaled back and the lounge was scrapped.

Did it represent good value? Yes, especially when factoring in the costs of overnight accommodation, three meals, and long-distance ground transportation. There are also savings from the cost of getting to and from airports, and baggage and seat selection fees associated with air travel.

It was a welcome break from the frenetic pace of busy airports, enhanced security-screening measures, and cramped aircraft space.

The Spirit of Queensland’s RailBed experience was one of the most relaxing journeys I’ve ever had. If you enjoy train travel, it might be for you. I highly recommend it.

If your travel plans involve Australia, you might be interested in these other posts:

• A perfect day trip from Cairns to Kuranda by historic train and rainforest cable car
• Sydney at its best: A self-guided tour of The Rocks, the magnificent Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and points in between
• Cycling around Uluru: the best way to experience Australia’s most recognizable natural landmark
• For a perfect day in Outback Australia, visit Alice Springs Desert Park
• Buying a SIM card in Australia

Care to pin it for later?

Very interesting. I’ve read a couple of articles recently about the resurgence in interest in overnight rail travel, especially in Europe with the expansion of the Austrian Railjet routes. I enjoy train travel far more than flying but my overnight experiences were sadly not my favourites, even in a sleeper car, but this one looks pretty nice. Perhaps I’ll give it another chance.

I have a little service dog and want to know if he can travel with me

I Googled “Queensland Rail service dog” and the following site was at the top of the search results: https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/Pages/Assistance-Animals.aspx

Can you take the train from Brisbane to Cairns but get on and off overnight in various places en route? For example, can I get the train and get off at Pomona, then after a few days get back on and continue to Whitsundays, get off for a few days then continue to Cairns?

Yes, some folks got and and off at different stops but most people seemed to travel the entire route on the RailBed. There are the non-RailBed carriages that might meet your needs. Check out the Queensland Rail site for options. I took a Queensland Rail train form Brisbane to Maryborough and it was very affordable.

I imagine so, but presumably it will cost more and will require paying for each segment. Plus, if you get off in Pomona (for example), there’s no need to take the RailBed as it’s only 150 km or so north of Brisbane. Contact Queensland Rail to find out how your travel plans can be accommodated. Good luck!

How do you return from Cairns when trip finishes I believe it finishes at night

It arrives at 4:30 pm. I would speculate that most travellers spend time in Cairns to explore the hinterland, the reef, and surrounding areas. A direct flight back to Brisbane offers a quick return.

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

• What’s the best use of Scotia Rewards? - Packing Light Travel - […] took Spirit of Queensland’s RailBed class train from Brisbane to Cairns. The price of $371.38 could be redeemed for…
• 25 Tips on earning Aeroplan miles - Packing Light Travel - […] cruises. Redemptions are valued at 1 cent per point (e.g., 5,000 = $50). In Australia, I took Spirit of Queensland’s…
• Sydney at its best: A self-guided tour of The Rocks, the magnificent Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and points in between - Packing Light Travel - […] Brisbane to Cairns on the Spirit of Queensland: Is the RailBed sleeper worth it? […]

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The Spirit of Queensland: Cairns to Brisbane Train [REVIEW]

The Spirit of Queensland train is a luxury train that makes the 1600km trip from Cairns to Brisbane. Over its 30 hour journey, it stops in at key Queensland towns, including Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville and Bundaberg . This is a modern rail travel experience not as common in Australia as the rest of the world and a rail journey worth checking out as you explore Queensland .

We asked travel writer Maureen Spender to share a review of her recent experience on the train to help you decide if long-distance rail travel is right for you.

Is it a plane or a train?

How long does a trip on the spirit of queensland take, should you choose a rail bed or a premium economy seat, what is the food like in the railbed section.

• The magic of the seat that converts to a lie flat bed

Things to do and see on the train ride

So would we do it again, is the spirit of queensland value for money.

This page may contain affiliate links. Read our full disclosure policy  for more information.

On a recent trip to Cairns from the Gold Coast, the Bag Carrier and I flew up to Cairns but returned on the Spirit of Queensland train to Brisbane. We love a good train trip, and the shiny 100km to a maximum speed of 160km per hour tilting train called the Spirit of Queensland sounded like it was going to be quite a different experience to the usual Australian train trip. Here’s how it went. We travelled in a railbed seat, so our review reflects this.

With its luxurious seating and flat rail beds, on first glance, you might wonder if you have accidentally boarded a plane. This train offers a modern rail travel experience with great entertainment options. It really does offer a similar experience to that you get when you fly and if you are a train buff you will appreciate that the entire trip is a comfortable and convenient way to explore the Queensland coast .

The Spirit of Queensland train departs Cairns Railway Station at 8.35 am five times a week, there is no trip on Tuesdays or Saturdays. The overnight journey is 1680 km long and takes about 25 hours.

You will travel in daylight from Cairns to Proserpine (6pm) or Mackay in summer (7.36pm) and arrive ain Brisbane the following morning at 9.20am.

You get approximately the same daylight time in either direction and the same scenery. The Mackay to Maryborough section is completed at night in both directions.

The return trip between Brisbane and Cairns also travels five times a week, with no service on Thursdays or Sundays. It departs Brisbane at 3.45 pm and arrives in Cairns at 4.30 pm the following day.

If you decide to travel on the Cairns to Brisbane trip by train, your first decision will be which class of ticket to book. Premium Economy is the popular option for people doing shorter sections of the route and not requiring a lie flat bed for the night section. It is comfortable and all that most travellers not staying on board overnight would need.

The Premium economy carriages have four seats per row- two on each side of the aisle. The leather seats are reasonably spacious, with 43 inches of pitch, and can be reclined 30 degrees. Each seat has its own entertainment system -an 8.9inch screen on the back of the seat in front.

There are overhead lockers for luggage, a powerpoint for phone charging, and a reading light. Your ticket allows you to take one 20 kg bag and one carry-on item. A knee blanket is provided, but no pillows.

Food and drink are available from the Galley Car, which is open 24 hours and provides meals, drinks, and snacks.

We booked the Railbed option, as we are now of an age where sleeping sitting up in a seat is too tough! The Railbed seats are very similar to a business class seat on a plane in style and design. This was unlike anything we had previously experienced on a train.

Each seat or pod is contained within its own hardback shell. There are three seats (pods) per row- two on one side of the aisle and one on the other- perfect for solo travellers. There is plenty of legroom, and what a treat that is! The seats have 35 degrees of recline. The floor is carpeted, and in true airline-style, there is an overhead locker for bags.

There are plenty of other extras, including a complimentary welcome pack containing an assortment of toiletries. Your entertainment options are good too, there is an 18.5-inch screen which is mounted on the seat in front as it is in an aeroplane, a handy fold-out table, a drink holder, a reading light, a 240-volt powerpoint for phone charging, and a footrest folding down from the seat in front that can act as a seat too for any passers-by that want to have face to face, sit down chat with you!

A Spirit of Adventure Menu is in your seat pocket when you get on board, and you are given options, including vegetarian for the three meals served during the trip. A complimentary wine, beer, or juice is served with lunch and dinner.

For our first meal, which was lunch, we chose the Spinach and Pumpkin Feta Filo pastry with beetroot relish and a Greek salad. Dessert was a New York cheesecake with a passionfruit topping. All meals were served by the friendly attendants at our seats on trays, as it is in business class on an aeroplane.

For dinner, we had an entrée of a Chicken Basil Penne Pasta Salad and Braised Beef Cheeks for our Main Course. Dessert was Apple and Rhubarb Crumble. Both the lunch and dinner were delicious and well presented and served.

However, our cooked breakfast the following day was a disappointment. It was very much like a tasteless ‘economy class on a plane’ breakfast- very overcooked and bland. It was labelled a fluffy spinach and feta omelette served with pork chipolata, bacon, and roasted tomato.

Our train was running an hour and a half late in the morning; unbeknown to most passengers, there had been a medical incident overnight, and the train had been stopped for quite some time during the night while waiting for an ambulance and medical assistance. We decided that this was probably the reason for our very overcooked breakfast!

The Galley car, which is open 24 hours, can also be accessed by people in the Railbed section if extra snacks or drinks are required.

The magic of the seat that converts to a lie flatbed

I had expected the whole seat would simply roll flat like a sofabed, but this was not the case. Announcements were made, giving us plenty of notice for when the crew would be coming to convert our modern seating for the night.

All the seats in the carriage were converted at the same time. You did not have an option of when you would like the bed made up.

The process was fascinating to watch and quite labour intensive! The attendant carried a remote control gadget that he plugged into the power socket and hydraulics took care of, actually slowly flipping the seat to become a lie-flat mattress. The bed was then made up with pillows, sheets, and a doona.

It was quite a comfortable bed, cozy even! The flat beds are 515mm wide and 1900mm long for the window seat or 1700mm for the aisle seat. The aisle bed is shorter to allow the person on the window side to get out of bed without having to climb over the person on the aisle side.

The showers and toilets are at either end of each carriage. They were quite spacious and reasonably clean. Towels are provided too which was appreciated.

The entertainment system has a good variety of movies, TV shows, music, and podcasts to keep you entertained. The scenery was interesting and varied. We passed through many small country towns, and we saw tropical rainforests, plenty of sugar cane fields, and banana plantations.

There were plenty of big mango trees laden with mangoes on one section that we felt we could almost reach out the window and grab! We could get off the train and stretch our legs at a few stations. However, this was a stressful exercise as the announcement on the platform that the train was now departing was made at almost exactly the same time as the train departed! It required a very quick sprint to get back on board the train.

It certainly was a comfortable, interesting, and different train ride experience and very much a similar experience to a business class flight. The tilt train did make for a very smooth ride. However, I think my personal preference for an overnight train trip would still be to have my own compartment with a little more privacy.

At the time of writing, the fare for the railbed from Cairns to Brisbane or vice versa was $389, and the Premium Economy fare was $221. Our flight from Gold Coast to Cairns was $139 per person economy class, so this is not the cheaper form of transport.

To make the comparison regarding cost, you would also need to factor in the price of one night’s accommodation and meals and the business class service on board the train, as compared to the economy service on the flight.

Overall, it was undoubtedly a much more pleasant experience than flying and dealing with queues, baggage control, and time spent hanging around an airport. It was certainly offered a chance for some relaxation and less stress than a road trip where you are dealing with traffic, navigation, and finding accommodation and meals.

About the Author : ​Maureen is a travel writer lucky enough to be living in New Zealand and has a great passion for travel. Since she became “empty nested” in the late 1990s, she has travelled and worked in over 70 countries! Now she writes articles to share her amazing experiences with other travellers in the hope of providing practical information to help them to prepare and plan for their travel trips.

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PM sinks boot into Melbourne Airport rail stalemate

The Prime Minister has called on Melbourne Airport owners to get on with a major infrastructure project to make it easier for passengers.

Major airline enters voluntary liquidation

One Bonza plane takes flight

New blow as Bonza’s last ditch plea fails

The Prime Minister has weighed in on Melbourne’s long-promised, never-delivered train line from Tullamarine airport to the city, telling the terminal owners to be better corporate citizens.

And Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas has used a business lunch in front of hundreds of corporates to double down on threats of taking the project to Melbourne’s Avalon Airport instead.

Tuesday’s state budget formally acknowledged the $10 bn Melbourne Airport rail project is now at least four years delayed.

Melbourne Airport wants an underground station but the state government wants a cheaper above-ground station. The Treasurer also says the Airport wants compensation for the construction period.

At a post-budget business lunch in Melbourne on Thursday, Mr Pallas reiterated the project with Melbourne Airport owners Australia Pacific Airports Corporation was at a stalemate, and threatened to take the project to the smaller and further away Avalon near Geelong.

“The fact the airport is saying they expect to be compensated for the dislocation of the construction, is I think, very rich because frankly, we are building a multi-billion dollar asset to service their airport,” Mr Pallas said.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Melbourne Airport was not being a good corporate citizen.

“The airport should get serious about actually getting things done,” Mr Albanese said.

“I’m familiar with airports. From time to time, they think they operate in a way, that forgets about their social licence.”

In April the federal government appointed a mediator between the state government and airport company.

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The Prime Minister was in Melbourne Thursday to commit another $3.25bn to the North East Link, bringing the Commonwealth contribution up to $5bn for the blown-out $26.1bn project.

Melbourne Airport owner Australia Pacific Airports Corporation had a table at Thursday’s luncheon with Mr Pallas.

Executives including the chief financial officer and executive general manager of engineering declined to comment.

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Customers have been left stranded after a major airline entered voluntary liquidation, cancelling all flights.

Bonza plane “Bruce” has flown out from the Sunshine Coast for Honolulu, leaving the futures of Shazza, Malc, Sheila and Bazza uncertain.

Hopes have been shot down for Bonza after fresh fleet negotiations failed, leaving all flights cancelled and a majority of staff without work until at least May 14.

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Conspiracy theorist accused of links to Queensland police shootings offered plea deal by US prosecutors

Donald Day Jr was arrested by the FBI in December 2023, a year after two police officers were shot dead by the Train family at Wieambilla

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An American man accused of links to the family who gunned down two Queensland police officers has been offered a plea deal by US federal prosecutors.

Donald Day Jr , 58, was arrested in December 2023 by the FBI in Arizona on two counts of “interstate threats” 12 months after the shootings at rural Wieambilla, west of Brisbane.

He was later charged with illegally possessing firearms including three military-style rifles, handguns, a sawn-off pump-action shotgun and a large cache of ammunition, as well as threatening FBI agents during his arrest.

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Prosecutor Gary Restaino last week asked for more time for pretrial motions as they had made an undisclosed offer to Day in return for entering a plea, documents filed in the US district court of Arizona show.

“A plea offer has been extended and the deadline for acceptance is May 17, 2024,” Restaino said.

The US Department of Justice states on its website that prosecutors can engage in plea bargaining with defendants if they are willing to plead guilty in court.

“When the government has a strong case, the government may offer the defendant a plea deal to avoid trial and perhaps reduce his exposure to a more lengthy sentence,” the department states.

Queensland police in January 2024 started providing confidential evidence to the FBI concerning the killing of the two officers and a Wieambilla resident.

Constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow were shot in cold blood by Nathaniel, Gareth and Stacey Train after the officers arrived at the Wieambilla property.

Neighbour Alan Dare was also shot dead before the Trains were killed in a gunfight with specialist police later that night.

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Day, of Heber, Arizona, is accused of repeatedly sending messages about a “Christian end-of-days ideology” known as premillennialism to the Trains between May 2021 and December 2022.

Last week in the US district court Judge John Tuchi granted an order to extend pretrial motions for Day’s trial.

“This Court finds that an extension of the pretrial motion deadline will provide time for plea negotiations and should not interfere with the upcoming trial date,” Tuchi stated.

The start date for Day’s trial has been set at 4 June but that schedule has previously been extended.

• Australian police and policing
• Wieambilla shooting

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