It was really good value considering it is overnight accommodation, travel and three hearty meals! Hi Lee, I remember being able to use my iPad and other electrical devices, but youre best to call Queensland Rail and ask to find out for sure in case anything has changed, or in case it isnt set up the right way for you. My bag weighted 20.1kg, 100 grams over weight. This new train has allowed us to reduce the total travel time between Brisbane in the south and Cairns in the north from 31 hours on The Sunlander, down to 24 hours on the Spirit of Queensland. It was so much better than what we had ever gotten on a plane. A speedier trip isnt the only change between the two, as while the Sunlander had private sleeping compartments, the Spirit of Queensland has two classes and both remind me of something youd usually see in the sky. Do you need a Visa to enter? The seats in Premium Economy are pretty spacious and recline just enough for you to feel relaxed. This was one of the stops we made during our journey from Brisbane to Cairns by train. I would speculate that most travellers spend time in Cairns to explore the hinterland, the reef, and surrounding areas. The staff on the train will have the latest update for the day so just listen for their instructions if needed and come prepared. updateSubmitButtonText: function(text) { } else { The Club Car provides food and refreshments for purchase as well a social environment to sit with other travelers.Kind Regards,Customer Service - Travel. var inputs = fields[i].getElementsByTagName('input'); Can't recommend the RailBed highly enough and would definitely do this sort of experience again. is definitely worth a stop along your Spirit of Queensland journey. If youre travelling solo, reserve a seat in the single bed aisle at the time of booking. For us, trains offer the best alternative to flying. For dessert, I had the tiramisu cake. The water was hot and the pressure was perfect. } }, } See queenslandrailtravel.com.au - Traveller An unanticipated problem. this.form.attachEvent('onsubmit', function(e){

fieldAndListValidation: function() { Your email address will not be published. The one in front pulls while the one at the rear pushes. if (!Mimi.Signups) Mimi.Signups = {};

for (var i = 0; i < fields.length; ++i) { var field = fields[i], type = this.fieldType(field); if (type === 'checkboxes' || type === 'radio_buttons') { this.checkboxAndRadioValidation(field); } else { this.textAndDropdownValidation(field, type); } } }, fieldType: function(field) { var type = field.querySelectorAll('.field_type'); if (type.length) { return type[0].getAttribute('data-field-type'); } else if (field.className.indexOf('checkgroup') >= 0) { a budget airline" was the reply from one of the assistants as the other two just laughed. A selection of hot cooked dishes, ranging from traditional roasts, pastas, beef, chicken, vegetarian and gluten free meals as well as fresh salads, sandwiches and wraps are available from our onboard kitchen. It says there are a point for sleep apnea machine as I am travelling in September with mine so made the same enquiry and told them at time of booking. On the south-to-north service, the stop in Tully was long enough for passengers to stretch their legs on the platform. It is unfortunate to hear that you considered the Railbed seat by-day uncomfortable as many of our customers have advised us of their satisfaction with the comfort of the seats. Disembark here to enjoy the crystal clear blue waters on the shores of the, Hop off the Spirit of Queensland train and. 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. Premium Economy from $221, Railbed from $389. } Water Fountains - Drinking fountains are located at the end of all passenger carriages. Delicious meals were served making this a stress free way to travel. The ones in the amenities kit are cheap and flimsy. It was a very bad crossing on a ship without stabilisers, with screaming banshees all night. Disembark here to enjoy the crystal clear blue waters on the shores of the Noosa National Park. , or one of the many wildlife and nature experiences just outside of the city. 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. All thoughts and opinions remain her own. Rail bed being used prior to us using rail bed seat, used pillow evidence left of prior occupation. Kind Regards,Customer Service - TravelQueensland Rail Travel, This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Australia. destination[prop] = source[prop]; } } else { Its beautiful out there, and I feel lucky to be seeing this part of Queensland in a completely new way. } Speaking of sleeping, if you suffer from sleep apnea and travel with a machine, you should let Queensland Rail know that youll be bringing one onboard so they can take care of you. The Spirit of Queensland is proud to offer an Australian first, the revolutionary RailBed.

var _this = this; Your feedback on the noise within the sleeping carriage has been relayed back to our Onboard Customer Service Team for monitoring. You can also get connecting coach services to Quilpie and Cunnamulla. } We had tickets from Roma St to Cairns. #1543989; CST #2016613-20. We look forward to welcoming you onboard a Queensland Rail Travel service again soon.Kind Regards,Customer Service - TravelQueensland Rail Travel. I have a little service dog and want to know if he can travel with me, I Googled Queensland Rail service dog and the following site was at the top of the search results: https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/Pages/Assistance-Animals.aspx. this.initialize();

if (this.validEmail.test(email.value)) { Website: www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au. this.isValid = true; } else { You also get an amenities pack which included all organic products. var fields = this.form.querySelectorAll('.mimi_field.required');

for (var i = 0; i < dropdowns.length; ++i) { Take your pick from the Great Barrier Reef, Daintree National Park, or one of the many wildlife and nature experiences just outside of the city. var input = inputs[i]; It's easy to walk around or freshen up with a shower.

emailValidation: function() { Not unlike first class in a plane but more spacious. Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, Croc Express to Australia Zoo from Brisbane. 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 Spirit of Queensland fleet will provide guests with a fast, value for money modern rail experience. Thanks, If you are in the Sleeping carriage can you still walk through to the Dining / Club carriage for coffee etc. On the Brisbane to Cairns route, the views were interesting and varied. Dear TDK1962,Many thanks for your kind review. 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. Kuranda Scenic Railway winds through a tropical rainforest, past rugged mountains, waterfalls tumbling and deep ravines of the Barron Gorge. First meal was around mid-day on Day One, quite a serviceable chicken noodle dish with a sticky-date pudding for dessert. } Each passenger received an amenities kit of Queensland organic products. A few downloaded Netflix movies and Spotify playlists, or favourite podcasts or books might come in handy. Well, one of my things. Second was evening Day One, and given we were going through the heartland of Qld's beef country, I had the beef cheeks. Hot breakfast in RailBed Class on the Spirit of Queensland train Lunch was a 2-course meal served at around midday. The bed at night was SERIOUSLY uncomfortable. Any other drinks and snacks can be purchased from the club car, which is where premium economy passengers buy their meals. RailBed customers aboard Spirit of Queensland receive inclusive meals served directly to their seat. For anyone who loves train travel, Queensland Rails, The Spirit of Queensland service operates from Brisbane to Cairns, a distance of 1,681 kilometres (1,045 miles). if (result.has_redirect) { But while domestic flights certainly dominate travelers preference list, it wont surprise many to hear that its not the most eco-conscious way. Welcome to Packing Light Travel. Joanna, my parents left Townsville yesterday (arriving in Brisbane this morning) and were told, yes, at this time it would be necessary for them to wear their masks at all times while travelling as Townsville was in a 3 day lockdown last week. } I had seen a couple of tv shows about this new train, so I decided to travel from Cairns to Townsville in the so call premium economy. One hand on the grab bars at all times added to the challenge. }

textValidation: function(input) { It arrives at 4:30 pm. Hi LoisOK,We are sorry to hear that you were less than impressed with your recent trip on board the Spirit of Queensland.The Railbeds are an Australian-first innovation and are a modern alternative to traditional rail travel. Cost: A$0 (2 Passengers) . There are also savings from the cost of getting to and from airports, and baggage and seat selection fees associated with air travel. He did ask if he could pay for the excess, in his case 200 grams. input.placeholder = input.getAttribute('data-required-field'); Sign up for my weekly newsletter: travel tips, inspiration and a chuckle or two. It was so much better than what we had ever gotten on a plane. The sun is preparing to come up over the mountain range, theres mist everywhere, and kangaroos are hopping beside the train. } We are always striving to improve the customer experience and it is always fantastic to hear from people like yourself who thoroughly enjoy their trip with us. 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. 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. The Spirit of Queensland is a long distance passenger rail service running along the North Coast between Brisbane and Cairns. I did this trip recently and I loved it to bits, except for one thing and I'll get to that. One of the biggest benefits of traveling by train was that it was easy to hop off and hop back on the train to split up the journey. Its also a good idea to pack your own entertainment. inputs[j].onchange = function(){ _this.validate() }; One of the most popular train routes in Australia is the Brisbane to Cairns train aboard the Spirit of Queensland and it was this particular route that we experienced on our recent trip to Queensland. }); How much were you paid for this review? Australias impressive size and long distances between its destination make traveling by plane the most popular way to see Australia. But, theres also the train thing. I did removed one article and my case now weighted 18kgs. With the beds made up, the lights dimmed, and the curtains closed, it felt like one large upmarket moving hostel dorm. The Spirit of Queensland combines modern seating and entertainment options with the charm of long-distance rail travel. to Townsville. 'submit' : 'disabled'; 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. You feel connected to the rails, and as the train tilts, so do you. Surely for that amount of money something more comfortable must have been possible. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. 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. The RailBed is a spacious and comfortable seat by day that includes a state-of-the-art personal entertainment system and 240v powerpoint. On the plus side the staff and meals were excellent. The service included a welcome drink of ginger beer, lime, mint, and ice. The Spirit of Queensland has a maximum speed of 160km/h and the entire trip takes 24 hours.. 2 Days / 1 Night aboard the Spirit of Queensland from Brisbane to Cairns in a lie-flat RailBed with lunch and dinner. this.formSubmitting(); Check out the Queensland Rail site for options. As my train / airline experience blurs a little I sometimes forget where I am, and think oh, a little turbulence as the train moves. Our toolkit is a great place to get started. A significant amount of development time was invested in the selection of the Railbed mattress type and materials. I will definitely taking another trip in the future with qld rail thank you for a memorable trip away. However, the average speed is more like 80 kph. The Spirit of Queensland runs between Cairns and Brisbane five times a week. In March 2019, my ticket cost AUD 389.25 / USD 268.54 / CAD 371.38, covered by 37,138 Scotia Rewards. Contemporary, comfortable and designed for relaxation. When it comes time to get ready for bed, the staff leaps into action, bringing out the hydraulics to flip the seat over to reveal a mattress. 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. Spirit of Queensland Rail Service Townsville to Brisbane Sept 2015 Friendly and Welcoming Cabin Crew. They drive the train and supply power to the carriages. Not only are the RailBed sets much more comfortable and spacious than seats in Premium Economy, but we found them to be more comfortable than First Class air travel. What a cool way to slow travel and see more of a country. 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. Tiny hessian bags full of travel comforts are waiting for you along with welcoming hosts. }); do the single railbed seats at the front and back of the carriage have a window? Railbed Car - Spirit of Queensland. The lack of privacy was unpleasant and with the exception of one shower room, the bathroom facilities were very cramped with wet floors. Spirit of Queensland . e.preventDefault();