WESTLANDER

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.

Watch the Outback Come to Life on the Westlander

Embark on a memorable journey with the Westlander, a train that connects the bustling city of Brisbane to the tranquil town of Charleville twice-weekly. As the train pulls away from the urban views of Brisbane, customers are invited to sit back and relax until the countryside unfolds through the windows at daybreak. The journey offers a unique vantage point to watch rich farmlands transition into the expansive Outback. The landscape continuously evolves, revealing wide-open grazing lands and charming regional towns such as Roma, before reaching the heart of the southwest Outback.

This train experience isn’t just a ride; it’s a passage through some of Queensland’s most stunning and varied scenery. Customers can enjoy the landscape’s changing character as the train rolls through the fertile rolling hills of the Darling Downs, blanketed with pastures of vegetables, cotton, wheat, barley and sorghum. As well as crops and livestock, you may well catch sight of irrigation systems, windmills, crop-dusting planes, rusting woolsheds and other remnants from a bygone era of early settlement. As the train proceeds past the farmlands at a gentle pace, customers can appreciate the alluring beauty of the Outback as it reveals itself in sync with the rhythm of the journey. 

At each stop along its route, travellers are offered glimpses into the unique character of each town. Whether you’re savouring the entire journey to Charleville or considering the onward RailBus connections to Quilpie or Cunnamulla, the Westlander serves as a memorable introduction to the wonders of Queensland’s Outback, all while reducing your carbon footprint in comparison with air travel. This 17-hour, 777-kilometre voyage gives customers the opportunity to take in the serene Outback and contemplate the history of the land they pass through, whether on a holiday or a family visit.

What You Can Expect

As you step onto the platform for your westbound evening departure, the Westlander’s nostalgic charm extends a warm welcome to all its travellers, offering the excitement of a classic diesel engine rail adventure. 

The Westlander consists of three customer carriages, each equipped with practical amenities. Carriage A has single seats on one side and paired seats on the other, accommodating a total of 36 travellers. Carriage B offers an alternative seating setup with two seats on either side of the aisle..  All seats are comfortable and can recline, with footrests so you can stretch your legs, tray tables, reading lights and seat pockets for small personal items as well as safety information and refreshment menus. Hand luggage can be stored in overhead racks, while larger luggage can be stored in luggage racks at the end of the carriage. It is recommended to check in larger items, which can be stored securely in the luggage carriage. Both carriages offer clean and functional toilets, with unisex showers also available, and large windows for panoramic views. Windows in all carriages are equipped with blinds for the comfort and convenience of customers.

The Westlander Lounge is where customers can relax in lounge-style chairs around bar tables, having a chat or simply enjoying the ever-changing scenery through the wide windows. Your Westlander ticket includes complimentary snack packs delivered to your seat at mealtimes. Start your day with juice, cereal with milk and a piece of fruit. For lunch and dinner, customers can enjoy a satisfying sandwich together with fruit, juice and a piece of cake. If you get peckish in between mealtimes, there’s a range of snacks such as chocolate bars, cheese and crackers and potato chips available at reasonable prices.

Complimentary tea and coffee are available at the self-service station located at the end of the Westlander Lounge, near Carriage A. A selection of locally-sourced red and white wines and beers are available after 10 am. 

The Westlander stops at tiny Outback stations such as Morven, when someone has booked it as the start or end of their journey, and larger city stops like Toowoomba and Roma. Customers should take the opportunity to stretch their legs for a few minutes when the onboard team advise there is time to soak up the atmosphere – making sure to reboard the train in good time – and can also choose to break their journey to discover the variety of local attractions each destination has to offer. 

History and Fun Facts 

The Westlander has become an integral part of Queensland’s history since its inaugural journey in August 1954, when it replaced the historic Western Mail service, which had been in operation since 1888, whose wooden carriages connected Brisbane with the western frontier. Its establishment marked a significant improvement in passenger comfort with the introduction of air-conditioned steel carriages, a novel feature at the time, which showcased Queensland Railways’ commitment to modernisation – something that continues to this day. Initially, the Westlander journey stretched over 973 kilometres from Brisbane to Cunnamulla, before being curtailed to terminate at Charleville in 1994, reflecting shifting transportation needs and regional development. 

The Westlander runs on the world’s first narrow-gauge main line, a pioneering innovation that allowed for rapid and cost-efficient railway construction. As customers travel from Brisbane across the Great Dividing Range, every mile of the journey is a tribute to the early endeavours that laid the groundwork for Queensland’s journey from its past to the present day. For example, Toowoomba station, erected in 1867, is the oldest extant masonry railway station in Queensland. Although Toowoomba is the junction for the Western, Main and Southern railway lines in Queensland, the Westlander is now the only passenger train that stops there.

Accessibility

Overview 

Queensland Rail Travel prioritises accessibility, and the Westlander is geared towards providing as comfortable a journey as possible. However, the Westlander harks from an earlier age and may not be suitable for many customers using mobility devices due to its narrower doorways (530 millimetres), limited aisle width (420 millimetres) and lack of accessible facilities on board. Nevertheless, station platform ramps are available to assist boarding for customers using wheelchairs or mobility aids.

Although the onboard experience has its limitations, especially for those using power-driven mobility devices, Queensland Rail is committed to ensuring that every passenger’s needs are addressed to the greatest extent possible. Assistance is readily available, with staff trained in disability awareness to support passengers with different disabilities. Customers are encouraged to make assistance requests during the booking process to ensure the smoothest experience. 

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 widows or widowers 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 or 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 Companion Card holders for Australian residents, international visitors in possession of a companion/carers 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

Access to stations and platform facilities varies depending on the location. Please visit Queensland Rail’s Find Your Station web page to learn about what facilities are available at your station, such as ramps, lifts, tactile edging, hearing loops and heights between platforms and the train entrance.

At most stations, boarding is seamless with the assistance of supportive staff and easy-to-navigate platform ramps with handrails for those who need them. 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 610 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 onboard team. 

On Board

There is no retractable step at the carriage entrances for Westlander services and the step height can be significant between the platform and the train entrance. This height varies between stations, and can be found on the Find Your Station Information web page.

Customers who are able to navigate through the train without the use of their mobility device may use the luggage carriage to store their mobility device. In general, the dimensions for a mobility device to be stored in the luggage carriage on the Westlander is 750mm wide by 1300mm long. For customers with collapsible mobility devices, they can be stored during travel at the end of their carriage in the luggage rack. 

Once aboard the Westlander, travellers can expect a supportive environment. Our team members regularly check in with customers to provide necessary assistance such as bringing meals to customer’s seats. However customers who may need additional assistance are encouraged to bring a carer or support worker. For further information go to our ‘Assistance available’ webpage. 

Toilet facilities may be difficult to access for some customers with disabilities due to the size of the room and inward-opening door. The unisex showers may not be suitable for customers who have limited mobility. They are also equipped with a baby change table.

Carriage B offers an alternative seating setup with two seats on either side of the aisle as well as two seats at the front of the carriage for customers accompanied by guide, hearing and assistance animals. Signage on shower and toilet doors features Braille, and there are high-contrast grab rails in corridors to support passengers with low vision. The team can provide further assistance upon request for tasks such as manoeuvring small hand-held luggage up to 7 kilos and providing guidance to facilities.

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

We hope to welcome you on board soon to share the beauty of Queensland’s Outback and the charm of country hospitality.