SPIRIT OF QUEENSLAND

Acknowledgement of Country 

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the Country we traverse. We pay respect to Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge their spiritual connection to the lands and waterways and ask their ancestors to watch over us as we tread lightly on Country.

Take a Journey through Time and Nature

Rediscover the luxury of time with a rail journey along Queensland’s coast aboard the Spirit of Queensland. Travelling between bustling Brisbane and lush, laid-back Cairns several times a week, the Spirit of Queensland redefines the rail travel experience with a comfortable, convenient and relaxed way to access many of Queensland’s iconic destinations such as the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsundays, Townsville, the Sunshine Coast and everywhere in between. 

As the diesel Tilt Train glides along 1681 kilometres parallel to Queensland’s beautiful coastline, customers relax in the comfort of their RailBed or the cosy embrace of an Economy seat to enjoy the glorious views through wide bay windows. This is more than just a train journey; it’s an odyssey through the region’s rich and varied built, cultivated and natural environments – from Brisbane’s cityscape through enormous sugarcane plantations to the untouched wilderness of the tropical north. Every changing scene is a vivid painting, creating cherished memories.

Every station has its own story, from the volcanic origins of the Glasshouse Mountains to the echoes of the Gold Rush era that gave Gympie its reputation as “the town that saved Queensland”. From Gladstone’s industrial beginnings to its current status as a favourite destination for holidaymakers and sea changers. From historic Rockhampton, home to Quay Street – the longest National Trust Heritage street in Australia – to the picturesque beauty of Proserpine, gateway to the mesmerizing Whitsundays. A trip on this train isn’t just point-to-point travel, but a journey through Queensland’s history and natural wonders.

The Vibe

As you board the train, if you’re a RailBed customer, you might be forgiven for thinking you’ve boarded an aeroplane: the RailBeds resemble business-class seats and, in the same way, convert into comfortable lie-flat beds for overnight travel. The Economy carriages are equipped with comfy reclining leather seats. In select carriages there are entertainment screens that offer a wide selection of music, movies and podcasts to keep you entertained throughout the 25-hour journey, or you can download your own favourite shows before you travel. In-seat food and beverage service – including a three-course lunch and dinner inspired by local flavours, accompanied by a glass of local wine – is a well-loved part of the Spirit of Queensland RailBed experience, while there’s also a well-stocked cafe carriage for snacks, drinks and a place to mingle with friends and fellow travellers. Customers are invited to experience a luxury that won’t be found on most aeroplanes: a warm shower!

Imagine the comforting feel of smooth leather against your back as you recline in the spacious seats. The Spirit of Queensland has been thoughtfully designed to ensure the comfort and well-being of customers. As you snuggle into your Economy seat or RailBed, the subtle pulse of the rails beneath massage away the stresses of modern life. This rail journey is an auditory tapestry: listen as the train’s gentle sways create its own lullaby, while conversations and laughter form a backdrop of companionship. You can also choose to listen to the on-board commentary, which shares fascinating snippets of the storied past of each town on the line, enriching your appreciation of the rich history of the region, including its deep Indigenous past. The driving carriages are located at each end of the train, minimising engine noise, but light sleepers should bring along earplugs and an eye mask so as not to be disturbed overnight by activity in the carriages.

What You Can Expect

You can choose between an Economy seat or RailBed for your preferred experience. 

Economy seats feature leather backs and plush seats with ample legroom and a footrest, ideal for journeying while enjoying the picturesque vistas. Making sure all bases are covered, there’s a USB charging port, an adjustable reading light and power point, while tray tables and armrests can be raised for your convenience.

Meanwhile, RailBed seats offer premium comfort with seats that the on-board team will transform into lie-flat beds with fresh, crisp linen, complete with added luxuries in an amenities pack. During the day you can make yourself more comfortable with an automatic adjustable calf rest. RailBeds offer an extra-large entertainment console, headphone jack, USB charging port, adjustable reading light and power point.

In both classes of travel, overhead luggage compartments will fit smaller bags, and there are dedicated luggage areas for larger suitcases. Space on board for large suitcases is limited, so you are encouraged to use our checked luggage service for your suitcase or larger items. 

While breakfast and a three-course lunch and dinner are included in the RailBed fare, anyone who is feeling peckish can visit the cafe carriage at any time day or night to sample its delicious range of home-style meals and snacks, or choose from a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Many people use the cafe as a place to socialise with their travelling companions or make new friends; others enjoy the view from the huge windows; while some may read a book or turn the pages of the on-board Embark magazine. 

History and Fun Facts

The Spirit of Queensland is operated by a diesel-powered Tilt Train that replaced the diesel-hauled train, The Sunlander, in 2015. Tilt Trains are able to tilt up to five degrees, giving customers a much smoother ride. 

Every stop along the way has its own story, but some towns deserve special mention. Gordonvale has the dubious reputation as being the place where cane toads were first released into Australia’s environment in 1935. Mackay is sometimes called the sugar capital of Australia, but Giru is home to the Invictus Sugar Mill, which crushes 3.67 million tonnes of sugar per annum, the second highest total in the southern hemisphere. Between Townsville and Giru, the train passes through wetlands which are rich with birdlife. The Burdekin Bridge is the one of the longest multi-span bridges in Australia, at just 46 metres shorter than the Sydney Harbour Bridge. You’ll see a lot of cane sugar plantations, but Bowen is famous for its mango production and one of Australia’s Big Things: the Big Mango. Woombye, meanwhile, is home to the Big Pineapple. The author of Mary Poppins, PL Travers, was born in Maryborough in 1899. Maryborough is also where the Tilt Trains were built.

The east cost of Queensland also offers plenty of opportunities to learn about the richness and diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. The Spirit of Queensland passes through the country of numerous mobs whose connections with the lands and waterways stretch back for countless generations. From the lands of the Yagera and Turrubal peoples in Brisbane to the Darumbal people in Rockhampton or the Gimuy, Walubara, Yidinji and Yirrganydji peoples of Cairns, there is a wealth of Indigenous history and connections with nature to explore. 

We’ve mentioned the experience may be similar to a plane journey but there’s one extremely important difference: it’s a fraction of the carbon footprint compared to the same journey taken by plane. Plus, it’s encouraged you move around the train for those all-important stretch breaks and for a change of scenery. When doing so, please hold on for your safety. A travel tip for divers who need to observe the recommended 24-hour break before flying: this is the perfect alternative.

Accessibility

Overview 

The Spirit of Queensland prides itself on ensuring customers of all abilities can share in this remarkable journey. Carriage B (RailBed) and Carriage E (Economy seating) have been equipped for accessibility needs, providing comfortable, flexible seating arrangements. You can book seats in both RailBed and Economy where there is additional room for assistance animals. At each station, the team readily deploys a ramp, ensuring smooth boarding and disembarkation for any guest requiring assistance. 

Queensland Rail Travel provides concession fares for rail travel to a range of concession card holders. Queensland pensioner rail entitlements are available to Queensland residents who hold a Queensland Pensioner Card. These entitlements are also available to Queensland residents who are war widow/ers with an Australian Government DVA Health Card or partners of a Totally and Permanently Incapacitated or Extreme Disability Adjustment Veteran travel pass holder.

Holders of a valid Australian state and territory senior’s card receive a discount of up to 50% of the full fare on Queensland Rail long-distance services, and Queensland veterans with a Totally and Permanently Incapacitated or Extreme Disability Adjustment Veteran travel pass also receive rail travel entitlements. 

We offer a free carer ticket to eligible customers including Australian resident Companion Card holders, international visitors in possession of a card equivalent to the Companion Card, and to Queensland pensioner rail entitlement customers with a doctor’s letter. Check the Concession Fares web page for full details. 

At the Station 

The Spirit of Queensland has a retractable step that folds down to assist customers joining and leaving the service. The height between the platform and train entry is about 20 centimetres. A platform ramp with handrails is available at all stations and the gradient is usually gentle. However, some stations have a larger gap between the platform and the train carriage entrance, meaning the incline can be steeper. Further information on ramps is available on our Find your Station page.

The aluminium ramps are 900 millimetres wide at their widest section, narrowing to 600 millimetres where the ramp rests on the train doorway entrance, which is 840 millimetres wide. The combined weight of you, your mobility device and anyone assisting you to navigate the ramp should not exceed 300 kilograms.

There’s a Customer Assistance Meeting Point at Roma Street Station, Brisbane, located near the top of the stairs and travelator on Platform 10. If you have requested assistance, please make your way to the Customer Assistance Meeting Point at least 30 minutes prior to the departure of your service in preparation for boarding announcements and assistance from the station or on-board team. 

On Board 

The on-board team takes great care to create an inclusive and welcoming environment. Every effort is made to accommodate each passenger’s unique needs with empathy and efficiency. The Economy carriage with accessible facilities also includes allocated spaces for wheelchairs and additional room for ease of movement. Economy accessible spaces are equipped with an adjustable in-seat entertainment screen to ensure that guests are able to enjoy the full range of entertainment options. 

Most types of wheelchairs and mobility scooters can be accommodated; however, size restrictions do apply: 720 millimetres wide by 1200 millimetres long. Corridors vary in width from 485 millimetres in Economy carriages to 500 millimetres in RailBed carriages; minimum corridor widths are 800 millimetres, apart from in the cafe, where the corridor is 500 millimetres. For those who wish to stay in their mobility device, tie-downs are available, and can be secured and released by our team when the train is stationary. For those who wish to transfer to their seat, whose height is 430 millimetres, armrests can be raised.

During travel, collapsible mobility devices can be stored at the end of the carriage in the luggage rack. Accessible RailBeds feature a low side wall height of 420 millimetres, and the aisle width between accessible RailBeds is the widest on the train, at 1200 millimetres. The accessible bathroom is conveniently located just 10 metres from the carriage, and is equipped with a fold-down chair. 

Customers who are Deaf or hard of hearing will appreciate the captioning on all safety and information messages, most lifestyle programs and selected movies. Carriages B and E, as well as the cafe carriage, are equipped with hearing loops.

For customers who are blind or have low vision, there are plenty of high-contrast grab rails along the corridors. Seats, aisles and flooring are thoughtfully contrasted in colour. Accessible signage is provided throughout the carriages, using raised text, clear colour contrast, pictograms and Braille. Overhead lockers have raised numbers and Braille to assist customers to identify their seat location.

Collapsible, compact wheelchairs (weight limit of 100kg) are available on all Spirit of Queensland services. Customers who experience difficulty walking are welcome to use these wheelchairs to move around the carriage, but cannot take them between carriages. Customers who have trouble accessing the on-board dining facilities can request food and beverages to be served to their seat. 

For more information about the types of assistance available throughout your travel with us, visit our Assistance Available page.

We look forward to welcoming you on board the Spirit of Queensland soon.