Access Queensland Rail Travel on Instagram, Access Queensland Rail Travel on Facebook, Access Queensland Rail Travel on Trip Advisor. Its quite exciting and Im grinning like a kid on a theme park ride as I pop my head under the curtains to see the shadows of trees whizzing past and the moon and the stars shining above. The Spirit of Queensland service operates from Brisbane to Cairns, a distance of 1,681 kilometres (1,045 miles). So really the choice is up to you, and whatever you feel comfortable doing. } this.isValid = false; })(this); We spent many years living and traveling around Australia exploring the country in-depth! I did this trip recently and I loved it to bits, except for one thing and I'll get to that. this.submit.value = this.submit.getAttribute('data-submitting-text'); The menu brings a paddock to plate experience with meals prepared using the freshest Queensland produce. Thanks, If you are in the Sleeping carriage can you still walk through to the Dining / Club carriage for coffee etc. There are slightly different food options depending on your ticket type, but there is a good general selection of seasonal dishes, with gluten free, dairy free and veggie options. if (format === 'json') action += '.json'; We are Oksana & Max, a Canadian couple with a passion for sustainable travel. Thanks for thatbeen thinking of a train trip with my Asisstance Dog. Take your pick from the Great Barrier Reef. 'submit' : 'disabled'; Trip in August 2014 between Innisfail and Gladstone. This map takes a look at some of the hotels and Stayz home rental options nice and close to the station. The Spirit of Queensland is a Queensland Rail long distance passenger rail service. Spirit of Queensland - Swain Destinations Yes, some folks got and and off at different stops but most people seemed to travel the entire route on the RailBed. }, Lie Flat With RailBed The first two passenger carriages on Spirit of Queensland are dedicated to RailBed. The magazine for world travellers. Its still all fresh Queensland produce but its mostly been prepped on land before its finished on board. RailBed passengers also receive a lip balm, hand sanitser and hand cream from Queensland skincare brand, Bubbles Organic. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Spirit of Queensland Tilt Train Railbed - YouTube if (input.id === 'signup_email') return;

if (field.className.indexOf('invalid') === -1) { On our recent trip to Australia, we discovered the beauty of traveling around the East Coast of Australia by train and its now an experience that we highly recommend to others. I suspect Queensland Rail assigns single bookings in this way but I wouldnt count on it. 2 Days / 1 Night aboard the Spirit of Queensland from Brisbane to Cairns in a lie-flat RailBed with lunch and dinner. Your email address will not be published. The journey to Kuranda passes by some of the most breathtaking scenery, plus 15 handmade tunnels and 37 towering bridges and offers a truly unique rail adventure. Discover Tropical North Queensland with Rail - My Cruises I got a really good 8 hours sleep on the train - the rail bed was very comfortable and I felt like I had enough privacy as my head was shielded from the view of passers by. top.location.href = this.formUrl('html'); return name; Good luck! Meanwhile the RailBeds are reminiscent of business class seats on an airline. 50+ Reasons Why to Go Downunder with Goway, All main meals served directly to your seat, Personal entertainment featuring a large screen with on-demand movies, music and audio books, Seat features include reading light, footrest, drink holder, 240v power adapter and USB charging, Towel and personal amenity pack with Queensland organic and sustainable products, All bed linen provided (sheets, duvet & pillow), RailBed customers may check in two (2) items of luggage not exceeding 20kg each (44 pounds), plus one item of carry on hand luggage free of charge, Carry on luggage for under-seat or overhead compartments is maximum size of 23cm x 34cm x 48cm and a maximum weight of 20kg. return 'text_field'; var name = this.form.className; With the beds made up, the lights dimmed, and the curtains closed, it felt like one large upmarket moving hostel dorm. } By night they are converted into the sort of flat bed that Id be very happy to find on a plane, measuring 1.9m x 0.51m. _this = this; },

Well, one of my things. Unlike the Sunlander where meals are all freshly prepared in the kitchen, here theyre more airline food style. A heavy label was attached and I was then told that I could have taken it on board myself. } The pod-like RailBeds provided a considerable amount of privacy, similar to business class pods on an aircraft. var _this = this;

Reviewed 18 August 2017. You can easily plan your trip with the full, Australia Travel Tips: 10 Things You Need to Know Before Traveling to Australia, What Does a Trip to Australia Cost? A significant amount of development time was invested in the selection of the Railbed mattress type and materials. They have been designed to provide a smooth and relaxing ride. Most rows have three seats, with two on one side and another on the other side of the aisle, so if youre travelling solo as I was you may want to request the single bed aisle when you book rather than the double if youd prefer not to sleep next to a stranger. Learn how your comment data is processed. Hope this helps. For dinner, we once again had a choice of a 3-course meal. Railbed Car - Spirit of Queensland. } The new Spirit of Queensland combines modern seating and entertainment options with the romance of long distance rail travel. If you are thinking of going from Brisbane to Cairns, fly there! Spirit of Queensland | Railbed Information | Goway Travel By day, the RailBeds are spacious seats capable of reclining up to 35 degrees. All thoughts and opinions remain her own. Kuranda Scenic Railway winds through a tropical rainforest, past rugged mountains, waterfalls tumbling and deep ravines of the Barron Gorge. I travelled in the RailBed from Cairns to Brisbane and the whole experience was exceptional - I enjoyed every second of it. for (var prop in source) { A complimentary wine, beer, or juice is served with lunch and dinner. Spirit of Queensland - 1700kms in a railbed seat Please turn on JavaScript and try again. new Mimi.Signups.EmbedValidation(); Phone: 1800 872 467 is bookings for Queensland Rail Travel. Cairns is an excellent base and launching point for exploring Far North Queensland. Enjoy 35 degrees of recline and a wide flat 18.5 inch screen with on-demand . this.dropdownValidation(field, input); } } else { , or one of the many wildlife and nature experiences just outside of the city. Glad the story helped with your travel dreaming and planning . In the evening the onboard team convert the seat to a lie-flat bed with all linen provided. inputs[j].onchange = function(){ _this.validate() }; Disembark here to enjoy the crystal clear blue waters on the shores of the Noosa National Park. Spirit Of Queensland Has All The Bells & Whistles Our FREE AUSTRALIA Travel Guide is a great resource for planning a trip to Australia! var dropdown = dropdowns[i]; Further north were cattle stations, wetlands, sugar cane fields, and mango and banana plantations. Hi Joanna, Youll need to ask Queensland rail about that one in the lead up to your trip as the advice on this one could change. Thank you for taking time to write a review of your trip on the Spirit of Queensland, we look forward to welcoming you onboard one of our services again soon.Kind Regards,Customer Service - TravelQueensland Rail Travel. function serialize(form){if(!form||form.nodeName!=="FORM"){return }var i,j,q=[];for(i=form.elements.length-1;i>=0;i=i-1){if(form.elements[i].name===""){continue}switch(form.elements[i].nodeName){case"INPUT":switch(form.elements[i].type){case"text":case"hidden":case"password":case"button":case"reset":case"submit":q.push(form.elements[i].name+"="+encodeURIComponent(form.elements[i].value));break;case"checkbox":case"radio":if(form.elements[i].checked){q.push(form.elements[i].name+"="+encodeURIComponent(form.elements[i].value))}break;case"file":break}break;case"TEXTAREA":q.push(form.elements[i].name+"="+encodeURIComponent(form.elements[i].value));break;case"SELECT":switch(form.elements[i].type){case"select-one":q.push(form.elements[i].name+"="+encodeURIComponent(form.elements[i].value));break;case"select-multiple":for(j=form.elements[i].options.length-1;j>=0;j=j-1){if(form.elements[i].options[j].selected){q.push(form.elements[i].name+"="+encodeURIComponent(form.elements[i].options[j].value))}}break}break;case"BUTTON":switch(form.elements[i].type){case"reset":case"submit":case"button":q.push(form.elements[i].name+"="+encodeURIComponent(form.elements[i].value));break}break}}return q.join("&")};

The Spirit of Queensland Brisbane to Cairns train isnt the only one departing from Queensland there are a number of other routes taking you to the far-flung corners of the state! While the Sunlanders Queenslander class had a full dining car, the Spirit of Queenslands RailBeds continue that airline feel with a trolley service, so you can have dinner and a movie without moving from your seat.

if (input.value) { Since 2015, we have been traveling full-time with a mission to inspire others to follow in our footsteps. Your trip your way! Surely for that amount of money something more comfortable must have been possible. if (field.className.indexOf('invalid') === -1) field.className += ' invalid'; Sleeping to the rocking and rolling of the train and soothing sounds of rail travel added to the enjoyment. Rail bed being used prior to us using rail bed seat, used pillow evidence left of prior occupation. A FREE travel quote! QueenslandRailTravel, Customer Service - Travel at Tilt Train, responded to this review, This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC, Recommended experiences in and around Brisbane. We were also thrilled to see that the Galley Car meals were served with Biopak biodegradable cutlery! (function(global) { var instance = instances[i]; Need help planning your holiday? Our toolkit is a great place to get started. this.form = document.getElementById('ema_signup_form'); A video trip report of Railbed (first) class on QR Travel's new Spirit of Queensland tilting train. My young friend shook her head in disbelief at the absurdity of my travel choices.

function extend(destination, source) { In other words, you traded a three-dollar business class flight to spend 24-hours on a train? The Spirit of Queensland is a modern tilt train that runs the length of the Queensland coast between Brisbane and Cairns. }, It provides two new travel options for customers: State-of-the-art personal entertainment systems featuring a large screen with on-demand movies, music and audiobooks. for (var j = 0; j < inputs.length; ++j) { Passengers were invited to take the blanket and cushion with them at the end of the journey. We loved the experience, a few things could do with improvement such as the hot breakfast and it was a bit difficult to sleep in the railbed with the train movement and space station sounding like doors between carriages. text = this.submit.getAttribute('data-choose-list'); Also, Id steer clear of selecting seats near doors that open and close frequently. Hi Amanda, could you tell me what items are included in amenities bag on Spirit of Queensland please. onSelectCallback: function(input) { 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. The seven carriages in between include two RailBed sleeper cars with airline style seats that convert to lie-flat beds. to Townsville. In March 2019, my ticket cost AUD 389.25 / USD 268.54 / CAD 371.38, covered by 37,138 Scotia Rewards. There was a good selection of movies, tv shows, kids programmes or music channels available in the in-seat entertainment. inputs[j].onkeyup = function() { Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all included in your RailBed ticket, with one glass of complimentary wine with your evening meal. No wonder people just fly, Is there power points for sleep apnea machines. } else { Customer service is one of our highest priorities and the vast majority of our staff take great pride in their customer relationships. }, The RailBed class is a top-notch travel experience at an affordable price. The next morning I wake up, look out the window and smile. BC Reg. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. In fact, I used Scotiabanks Scotia Rewards to cover the cost of the Spirit of Queensland fare from Brisbane to Cairns. for (var i = 0; i < inputs.length; ++i) { var input = inputs[i]; if (input.name.indexOf('signup') >= 0) { document.body.appendChild(script); for (var i = 0; i < fields.length; ++i) { It had been over fifteen years since I travelled from Brisbane to Cairns on this service. A 24-hour journey from Brisbane to Cairns on the Spirit of Queensland train will set you back by $370 per seat for a Premium Economy Seat and over $860 for a RailBed seat. 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. }, The staff certainly have not changed. I imagine so, but presumably it will cost more and will require paying for each segment. I took a Queensland Rail train form Brisbane to Maryborough and it was very affordable. Definitely will keep in mind for my next Australia trip (hopefully soon!). } script.src = this.formUrl('json'); } Take advantage of the coach connections at certain stops to explore parts of the Australian countryside that many tourists miss out on. Let's jump onboard!0:00 Cairns1:49 Spirit of Queensland3:16 Luggage check-in4:10 Carriage layout9:05 Cairns, Morning tea, Gordonvale12:27 Railbed seat part 113:28 Babinda, Innisfail15:05 Railbed seat part 218:10 Lounge Car, Tully, Cardwell21:31 Lunch23:12 Ingham, Townsville25:12 Pizza of the day25:59 Giru, Ayr, Home Hill27:55 Bowen, Proserpine29:27 Dinner, Mackay32:44 Seat --- Bed35:16 Rocky!36:35 Shower38:30 Gympie North, Nambour40:24 Breakfast, Caboolture42:30 SummaryThis video was filmed on 10 and 11 September 2021Train type: Spirit of Queensland (Diesel Tilt Train)From Cairns to Brisbane Roma StreetTravel time: 24h45mDistance: 1681kmSeat: B/11Class: Railbed SleeperCost: $389$120 on Egypt's most Luxurious Night Train from Cairo to Aswan - Deluxe Sleeper Cabin: https://youtu.be/jCI7eZKYnCQFirst High-Speed Railway in Turkey - TCDD YHT Istanbul to Ankara Business Class Siemens Velaro train: https://youtu.be/c6Sxy5ZX3A8Night Train Across Turkey - $50 Private Sleeping Cabin from Ankara to Izmir in TCDD TVS2000 railcar: https://youtu.be/SwNhyngYBsc10 days, 7100km train journey across Australia, Cairns to Perth by Rail: https://youtu.be/C1BmtiI9dS8The INDIAN PACIFIC 2022: Adelaide to Perth in GOLD TWIN - luxury sleeper train across Australia: https://youtu.be/CIUnEnBQPHQChristmas on the Great Southern Train - Australia's newest luxury rail journey Adelaide to Brisbane: https://youtu.be/WwJLTROA7Z0The GHAN Platinum Class Adelaide to Darwin - 3,000km luxurious train journey across Australia: https://youtu.be/llxr70sFWB4SPIRIT OF TASMANIA ferry inaugural sailing from Devonport to Geelong - 23 Oct 2022: https://youtu.be/as3gxC8WH8kTravelling on every type of V/Line train in ONE DAY!

dropdownValidation: function(field, input) { Long-distance rail travel in Victoria: https://youtu.be/_OX0sTjdBaUQantas QF2 B787 Business Class Darwin to Sydney - a domestic international flight! do the single railbed seats at the front and back of the carriage have a window? The Spirit of Queensland runs between Cairns and Brisbane five times a week. Meals will be delivered directly to Railbed guests and the 24 hour Club Car is available for additional purchases. I was a little wary of the 2-1 configuration and sharing sleeping space with 18 other passengers. this.fieldAndListValidation(); this.submit.disabled = !this.isValid; Hi Noel, they do indeed. Your email address will not be published. return name += ' mimi_invalid'; this.submit.className = this.isValid ? } Dear stevecau,It is wonderful to hear that you enjoyed your experience on board the Spirit of Queensland from Brisbane to Cairns recently. }

this.validate(); Your feedback on the noise within the sleeping carriage has been relayed back to our Onboard Customer Service Team for monitoring. The train makes the 1681km journey five times per week. We opted for a Caprese salad, roasted pork loin and tiramisu cake. Water Fountains - Drinking fountains are located at the end of all passenger carriages. this.submit.value = this.submitButtonText(); Spirit of Queensland | Railbed Information | Goway Travel Or possibly first class, depending on who youre flying with. Contemporary, comfortable and designed for relaxation. this.showConfirmationText(result.confirmation_html); for (var i = 0; i < elements.length; ++i) { Spirit of Queensland | Aussie Trains | Australia - Aussie Trains For information on what forms of payment are accepted onboard when travelling with us, visit our Spirit of Queensland . } else { 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 paddock to plate focus. I had never thought about train travel in Australia, until reading In A Sunburned Country. onSubmitCallback: function(response) { Queensland Rail Travel - Spirit of Queensland - Railbed Class One of the best things about travelling on the Spirit of Queensland train is the fact that it opens up so many more travel and sightseeing possibilities than flying ever could. this.updateSubmitButtonText(this.submit.getAttribute('data-thanks')); The Spirit of Queensland train is quite possibly the most comfortable and convenient way to hit up some of the most popular tourist spots along the Queensland coast. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. The journey to Kuranda passes by. var dropdownEl = input.parentNode, I'm Anne, a dedicated carry-on traveller. When travelling in Australia, I use British Airways Avios points to fly on Qantas, one of British Airways oneworld airline partners. The Spirit of Queensland train journey is a 1681 kilometre route taking about 24-25 hours from Brisbane to Cairns. 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. revalidateOnChange: function() { },

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. Last year I travelled on the Spirit of Queensland (Diesel Tilt Train) Premium Economy Class from Townsville to Cairns, I thoroughly enjoyed my trip therefore I wanted to travel from Cairns all the way to Brisbane one day. showConfirmationText: function(html) { var fields = this.form.querySelectorAll(".mimi_field.required"), Features It was so much better than what we had ever gotten on a plane. if (type === 'text_field') { I considered the cost of overnight accommodation when evaluating the fare. instance.onSelect = function(){ _this.validate() }; var email = document.getElementById('signup_email');

We left from Cairns, around 8.30am, heading for Brisbane. The RailBed is a spacious and comfortable seat by day that includes a state-of-the-art personal entertainment system and 240v powerpoint. Our brochures are loaded with great ideas. The couple behind me also suffered the same screaming about being overweight. _this.onFormSubmit(e);

validate: function() { takes you from bustling Brisbane to some of Australia and Queenslands most popular destinations, including the Southern Great Barrier Reef, Capricorn Coast, Bundaberg, and Fraser Coast. This was one of the stops we made during our journey from Brisbane to Cairns by train. Dear Aussieart,We thank you for providing feedback on your Spirit of Queensland journey with us recently.We are disappointed to hear that your experience was marred by one or more Queensland Rail Travel staff members. this.removeTextFieldError(email); Youve shown me where wed be sitting/sleeping & it sounds wonderful , Oh that sounds like a lovely one to do together.

onFormSubmit: function(e) { You can catch the Brisbane to Cairns train five times a week and have the option of booking RailBed or Premium Economy seats. Hi Tom, Im glad youve experienced this one for yourself and that you love the staff on the trains. There are also savings from the cost of getting to and from airports, and baggage and seat selection fees associated with air travel. input.placeholder = ''; this.isValid = false; Theres also a Galley / Club Car, and a carriage for luggage and crew. I must admit they were pushing it, their case was 200 grams over. Spirit of Queensland - Brisbane << View all Brisbane City Centre tours & cruises. The whole thing rattled and vibrated constantly, and lurched from side to side, so that sleep was virtually impossible. My wife and I have just returned from a trip Brisbane to Cairns and returned Proserpine to Brisbane. if (document.addEventListener) { Your email address will never be shared. Yes, especially when factoring in the costs of overnight accommodation, three meals, and long-distance ground transportation. Amanda Woods travelled on Spirit of Queensland and the Sunlander as a guest of Queensland Rail, and stayed as a guest of the Brisbane Hilton. But its pretty much just like being in business class on a plane where people may still be walking past and the little bit of light from the galley gets seen through the curtain. You can take the Spirit of Queensland train to Proserpine and then take a RailBus Connection to Airlie Beach, the gateway to the Whitsundays Islands and the Great Barrier Reef. } While the Spirit of Queensland can and does do 160 kilometres per hour at times, she doesnt stick to that speed the whole way. Planning your next trip? this.updateFormAfterValidation(); Which is why an eye mask and earplugs are a good thing to have in your bag so you can do that plane-like sleep (as hard as its getting to remember what thats like!). But she does feel fast. The RailBed chair was very comfortable and the selection of films/tv/documentaries to watch or music to listed to was very good. Ive 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. this.callbackName = 'jsonp_callback_' + Math.round(100000 * Math.random()); Railbed: - 2 x checked in items of luggage not exceeding 20kg and a maximum of 180 linear centimetres (sum of length, width and depth). var inputs = field.getElementsByTagName('input'), For a change of scenery, the Club Car offered an opportunity to mingle with other passengers over conversation and drinks. We look forward to welcoming you onboard a Queensland Rail Travel service again soon.Kind Regards,Customer Service - TravelQueensland Rail Travel. if (response.success) { In our opinion, it is, especially if you take it as an opportunity to stop along the way and break up your journey. Stay up to date with the latest travel info and destination deals!