Traveltrain
Traveltrain provides long range passenger rail services in Queensland, run by QR. Its flagships are the electric and diesel Tilt Trains, servicing Brisbane – Rockhampton and Brisbane – Cairns respectively. It also operates diesel-locomotive-hauled services between:
- Brisbane and Cairns (The Sunlander)
- Brisbane and Charleville (The Westlander)
- Brisbane and Longreach (The Spirit of the Outback) and
- Townsville and Mount Isa (The Inlander).
Tourist trains also run between Normanton and Croydon as The Gulflander, Cairns to Kuranda as the Kuranda Scenic Railway, and from Cairns to Forsayth as The Savannahlander.
Traveltrain's annual patronage is approximately 969,000.[1] Whilst proportionately smaller than other regional rail services, relative to population, this is largely as Traveltrain caters to a touring market more so than other operators.
Contents
Routes
There are six passenger routes in the Traveltrain system (not including tourist trains).
| Coastal Services |
The Sunlander (includes Queenslander Class)
Three times weekly to Cairns; four times weekly to Townsville.
- Brisbane
- Caboolture
- Nambour
- Cooroy
- Gympie
- Maryborough West
- Bundaberg
- Miriam Vale
- Gladstone
- Mount Larcom
- Rockhampton
- St Lawrence
- Carmilla
- Sarina
- Mackay
- Proserpine
- Bowen
- Home Hill
- Ayr
- Giru
- Townsville
- Ingham
- Cardwell
- Tully
- Innisfail
- Babinda
- Gordonvale
- Cairns
Electric Tilt Train (to Bundaberg and Rockhampton)
Regular services to Bundaberg and Rockhampton.
- Brisbane
- Caboolture
- Landsborough
- Nambour
- Cooroy
- Gympie
- Maryborough West
- Howard
- Bundaberg
- Miriam Vale
- Gladstone
- Mount Larcom
- Rockhampton
Diesel Tilt Train (to Cairns)
Twice weekly service to Cairns.
- Brisbane
- Caboolture
- Nambour
- Cooroy
- Gympie
- Maryborough West
- Bundaberg
- Gladstone
- Rockhampton
- St Lawrence
- Carmilla
- Sarina
- Mackay
- Proserpine
- Bowen
- Home Hill
- Ayr
- Giru
- Townsville
- Ingham
- Cardwell
- Tully
- Innisfail
- Babinda
- Gordonvale
- Cairns
| Outback Services |
The Spirit of the Outback
Debuting in November 1993, this 1,300km rail journey operates between Brisbane and Longreach. The Spirit of the Outback travels along the east coast of Queensland, from Brisbane to Rockhampton, where it heads west through Blackwater, Emerald and Barcaldine, to Longreach.
The Spirit of the Outback passes coastal landscapes then traveling into the Outback, with mountain ranges, sunburnt plains and historic towns to attractions such as the Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame, Outback Heritage Centre and Qantas Founders Museum. The train operates twice weekly from Brisbane to Longreach.
- Brisbane
- Caboolture
- Nambour
- Cooroy
- Gympie
- Maryborough West
- Bundaberg
- Miriam Vale
- Gladstone
- Mount Larcom
- Rockhampton
- Duaringa
- Dingo
- Bluff
- Blackwater
- Comet
- Emerald
- Anakie
- Willows
- Bogantungan
- Drummond
- Pine Hill
- Alpha
- Jericho
- Barcaldine
- Ilframcombe
- Longreach
The Westlander
Twice weekly to Charleville.
- Brisbane
- Corinda
- Ipswich
- Rosewood
- Laidley
- Gatton
- Helidon
- Toowoomba
- Oakey
- Dalby
- Chinchilla
- Miles
- Yuleba
- Wallumbilla
- Roma
- Mitchell
- Morven
- Charleville
The Inlander
The Inlander runs twice-weekly through Australia's scenic gulf country, from the tropical port of Townsville to the remote but interesting town of Mount Isa. The train is relatively slow, taking 21 hours (overnight) to complete a journey of around 1000km (600mi). Sitting class, roomettes, twinettes and triple sleeping cabins are offered and food can be bought in the newly refurbished club car.
- Townsville
- Charters Towers
- Pentland
- Torrens Creek
- Hughenden
- Richmond
- Maxwelton
- Nonda
- Nelia
- Julia Creek
- Oorindi
- Cloncurry
- Malbon
- Duchess
- Mount Isa
See also
References
- ↑ Queensland Rail (2006). "2005/06 Queensland Rail Annual Report" (PDF). Retrieved on 2007-01-01.
