The bathrooms were very big for a train and I didn't have to wait very long to use any of them, even with people showering in the morning. It is operated by a diesel powered [3] Tilt Train that runs five times a week on the North Coast line between Brisbane and Cairns, a distance of 1,681 kilometres (1,045 mi). I am sure the passengers at the other end of the platform were all now awake. A fast moving slumber party. After folks settled in, a more social atmosphere prevailed, especially while watching staff make up the beds. Dear Talknsmile,It is always great to hear about another happy customer onboard our trains. Enjoy our online presentations from the comfort of your home. The shower may move a little bit more than youre used to, but its surprisingly good, and theres more space than you find on some other trains so your clothes dont have to get wet when you do. if (format === 'json') action += '.json'; _this.onFormSubmit(e); var elements = this.form.elements; Club Car - The licensed Club Car allowing guests to purchase light refreshments, confectionery and beverages throughout the journey. The journey takes roughly 25 hours. We apologise that the comfort profile of the Railbed did not meet your expectations.With regards to noise I am sure you understand that things like train movement and occasional noise related to this are beyond our control. Hi Noel, they do indeed. Or possibly first class, depending on who youre flying with.

extend(Mimi.Signups.EmbedValidation.prototype, { } We had tickets from Roma St to Cairns. Need help planning your holiday? For information on the site, please see the, Ride the historic railway to the hinterland, 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 Australias most recognizable natural landmark, https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/Pages/Assistance-Animals.aspx, Whats the best use of Scotia Rewards? This website contains some affiliate links, so if you click on a link and book something I will get a little something to help pay those blogging bills, but dont worry, its no extra cost to you. Lunch was a 2-course meal served at around midday. this.isValid = false; more. this.onSubmitSuccess(response.result); Though with things changing all the time its always best to have a mask on you these days so you can do the right thing. if (!Mimi.Signups) Mimi.Signups = {};

if (this.validEmail.test(email.value)) { } Discover Tropical North Queensland with Rail - My Cruises But even then it felt like such an old-fashioned thing to do. Hi Joan thats right there in the story complete with a picture! Join the mailing list for updates, and access to the Resource Library. 0:00 / 11:40 Spirit of Queensland Railbed Cairns to Brisbane 14,230 views Dec 18, 2018 81 Dislike Share Save Heino's Transport Films 164 subscribers A film of my journey from Cairns to. Trains are more sustainable and more comfortable and not only that but going at a slower pace allows you to see more of the Australian countryside without the crazy cost of multiple flights. For a change of scenery, the Club Car offered an opportunity to mingle with other passengers over conversation and drinks. selected = true; Our Railbeds are an Australian first designed to provide our customers with a smooth and relaxing ride. field.className = field.className.replace(/ invalid/g, ''); var dropdownEl = input.parentNode, e.preventDefault();

Mimi.Signups.EmbedValidation = function() { Youll also get a free knee blanket! The Spirit of Queensland runs between Cairns and Brisbane five times a week. return name.replace(/\s?mimi_invalid/, ''); A small train compared to that of other epic rail journeys such as The Ghan, it has two locomotives and just seven carriages. I considered the cost of overnight accommodation when evaluating the fare. At busy times, it was possible to buy a drink and take it back to the comfort of your seat. this.isValid = false; The RailBed ticket for the Spirit of Queensland train includes all-inclusive meals which are served directly to your seat. if (name.indexOf('mimi_invalid') === -1) { this.htmlEmbedDropdownValidation(field); Long-distance rail travel in Victoria: https://youtu.be/_OX0sTjdBaUQantas QF2 B787 Business Class Darwin to Sydney - a domestic international flight! This traditional diesel train journeys through the diverse and ever-changing scenery between Brisbane and Longreach with coach connections to Winston, offering the perfect outback experience. This trip was not! We found out that while the menu was different in the Gallery Car, where Economy customers ate on their journey, everything served on the Spirit of Queensland Train was fresh with a, We never got bored looking at the stunning scenery outside of our windows, but when it got dark, and we had to amuse ourselves before getting some shut-eye, the, Noosa is one of the most popular holiday destinations in all of Queensland and is home to the most visited National Park in the country. In my opinion the Rail Beds are a dismal failure. } The lack of privacy was unpleasant and with the exception of one shower room, the bathroom facilities were very cramped with wet floors. } You also get an amenities pack which included all organic products. Staff were noisily rushing from one end of the carriage to the other all through the night, talking loudly and jangling keys, and bumping from side to side as the train lurched along.There is no dining car. For anyone who loves train travel, Queensland Rails Spirit of Queensland is a fabulous choice. Phone: 1800 872 467 is bookings for Queensland Rail Travel. The staff certainly have not changed. Can you take the train from Brisbane to Cairns but get on and off overnight in various places en route? There are also plenty of fun activities around the park such as walking trails and the chance to spot some of Australias national animals, like koalas and kangaroos. When travelling in Australia, I use British Airways Avios points to fly on Qantas, one of British Airways oneworld airline partners. (this.form.querySelectorAll('fieldset')[0] || this.form).innerHTML = html; } Its still all fresh Queensland produce but its mostly been prepped on land before its finished on board. _this = this; You could have flown business class on points, on a direct flight from Sydney to Cairns for $25 in taxes and fees. text = this.submit.getAttribute('data-invalid-text'); All seats come with a 240 volt AC power outlet so depending on your machine you should be just fine, but do let them know when you book your ticket. This three-day itinerary describe these suggestions and a host of other ideas. Individual flights to destinations such as Hervey Bay, Airlie Beach and Cairns would easily add up costing just as much if not more than a rail ticket. Meanwhile the RailBeds are reminiscent of business class seats on an airline. The Spirit of Queensland is a modern tilt train that runs the length of the Queensland coast between Brisbane and Cairns. } The menu brings a paddock to plate experience with meals prepared using the freshest Queensland produce. Select a Region you are interested in travelling to. }); this.textValidation(input); The Spirit of Queensland Rail Bed is SERIOUSLY UNCOMFORTABLE! Ive spent a lot of nights sleeping on trains and its true this one isnt like the ones Ive been on before with private cabins. }, 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. The whole thing rattled and vibrated constantly, and lurched from side to side, so that sleep was virtually impossible. Cairns is an excellent base and launching point for exploring Far North Queensland. Yes, especially when factoring in the costs of overnight accommodation, three meals, and long-distance ground transportation. You can spend a few days just exploring Airlie Beach with its palm-fringed beaches, bars and restaurants before going island hopping or, sailing around the 74 islands of the Whitsundays, Not only is Cairns a hub of vibrant city life full of great cafs, markets, art galleries, and nearby beaches, but its also. Premium Economy from $221, Railbed from $389. Disclaimer: Our trip on the Spirit of Queensland train was provided courtesy of Queensland Rail Travel, but as always all opinions expressed in this article are our own. } before arriving at your final destination of Cairns. The USB ports are useless for charging so I plug mine into the power point beside the bed. Let us customize a dream holiday for you. var email = document.getElementById('signup_email');

for (var i = 0; i < dropdowns.length; ++i) { We got to sample both the spinach and feta quiche served with a fresh garden salad and the lemon chicken with rice pilaf and seasonal vegetables. Spirit of Queensland - Brisbane QLD trains, forget the hype NOTHING HAS CHANGED except the prices. }, if (field.className.indexOf('invalid') === -1) field.className += ' invalid'; },

textValidation: function(input) { } I travelled from Roma St to Ayr and return on the Spirit of Queensland 'Rail Bed'. this.submit = document.getElementById('webform_submit_button'); })(this); We spent many years living and traveling around Australia exploring the country in-depth! Another route through the Outback, this time going from Brisbane to Charleville, taking in the picturesque scenery of the Great Dividing Range and the Darling Downs farmland along the way. The staff on the train will have the latest update for the day so just listen for their instructions if needed and come prepared. The water was hot and the pressure was perfect. The premium economy carriages feature leather seats, entertainment systems with on demand movies, TV and music in the back of the seat in front of you and a 30 degree seat recline. There was an extra seat that folded down under the TV. You can also get connecting coach services to Quilpie and Cunnamulla.

function extend(destination, source) { My young friend shook her head in disbelief at the absurdity of my travel choices. Learn how your comment data is processed. this.isValid = false; }, new Mimi.Signups.EmbedValidation(); for (var j = 0; j < inputs.length; ++j) { text; } But, theres also the train thing. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. } else { Apparently the galley crew don`t understand how to heat food. The lack of privacy was unpleasant and with the exception of one shower room, the bathroom facilities were very cramped with wet floors.