Mimi.Signups.EmbedValidation = function() { We look forward to seeing you again onboard someday.Kind Regards,Customer Service - TravelQueensland Rail Travel. Plus, if you get off in Pomona (for example), theres no need to take the RailBed as its only 150 km or so north of Brisbane. 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 whole thing rattled and vibrated constantly, and lurched from side to side, so that sleep was virtually impossible. e.preventDefault();
In the evening the onboard team convert the seat to a lie-flat bed with all linen provided. The three meals were delivered on a trolley to each seat. 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. In this video I have covered every single aspect of this train, if you have any questions about Spirit of Queensland, I think you should be able to find out the answer after watching the whole video. 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. The fold-down seat had a pocket for reading material and assorted items. The Spirit of Queensland train is quite possibly, But the best thing is, that you can really take your time and make a few pit stops along the way, the. 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. More onboard experiencesOnboard MerchandiseMore about your train. I hope you get to enjoy the train and sleep easily. Unlike the Sunlander where meals are all freshly prepared in the kitchen, here theyre more airline food style. Hot breakfast consisted of a three cheese omelette served with pork chipolata, bacon and tomato wedge (there was also a vegetarian option available). var elements = this.form.elements; along the way. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. nice way to travel along the coast of Queensland, relax read a book enjoy a movie, have a coffee, eat a meal enjoy the view. If you are thinking of going from Brisbane to Cairns, fly there! to Townsville. Menu Stay Updated: Onboard Dining and Menus 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. My experience started when the luggage gestapo screamed that my luggage was overweight. 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. } After folks settled in, a more social atmosphere prevailed, especially while watching staff make up the beds. var _this = this; Queensland Rail Travel is committed to supporting Queenslanders by preventing the spread of COVID-19. The three premium economy cars have adjustable leather lounger seats in a 2 2 configuration. Enjoy the trip! var _this = this; 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. We left from Cairns, around 8.30am, heading for Brisbane. Trip in August 2014 between Innisfail and Gladstone. As for what to wear to bed? A direct flight back to Brisbane offers a quick return. First meal was around mid-day on Day One, quite a serviceable chicken noodle dish with a sticky-date pudding for dessert. Welcome to Packing Light Travel. 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! this.isValid = false; } submitButtonText: function() { Australias impressive size and long distances between its destination make traveling by plane the most popular way to see Australia. if (result.has_redirect) { How do you return from Cairns when trip finishes I believe it finishes at night. new Mimi.Signups.EmbedValidation(); We acknowledge their spiritual connection to the lands and waterways and ask their ancestors to watch over us as we tread lightly on Country. I was just wondering if towels were provided for the showers or if it was byo? The wait is over!! Railbeds - Spirit of Queensland. Meanwhile the RailBeds are reminiscent of business class seats on an airline. The customer service was fantastic - the staff very clearly enjoy doing a good job and the food that was served us was delicious. I did removed one article and my case now weighted 18kgs. However, with daylight, it was more interesting to enjoy the constantly changing coastal Queensland landscape. Another is that its an opportunity to take in the scenery. After all, there are lots of great stops and things to do between Brisbane and Cairns. I would have appreciated Wi-Fi to look up stuff on the fly such as How did the Glasshouse Mountains get their name? or When is sugar cane harvested? Also, a lounge would have been a more attractive spot to relax than the Galley / Club Car. }); return 'checkboxes'; Before leaving home Id already decided I was going the PJs route and had packed my Singapore Airlines sleep suit. I highly recommend it. if (typeof Widget === 'undefined' || !Widget.BasicDropdown) return; It arrives at 4:30 pm. We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the country we traverse. Water Fountains - Drinking fountains are located at the end of all passenger carriages. Thanks, If you are in the Sleeping carriage can you still walk through to the Dining / Club carriage for coffee etc. }, However, when we helped them board yesterday the other guests in their carriage (B) who had boarded somewhere between Cairns and Townsville were not wearing masks. Oh thats so lovely to hear, Linda. Our FREE AUSTRALIA Travel Guide is a great resource for planning a trip to Australia! The Spirit of Queensland is proud to offer an Australian first, the revolutionary RailBed. You can easily plan your trip with the full Spirit of Queensland timetable. by Anne Betts | Nov 7, 2019 | Australia | 8 comments. } }, }); 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 is a Queensland Rail long distance passenger rail service. Full Day Great Barrier Reef Cruise and Pontoon Experience . For the main, I chose oven-roasted pork loin accompanied by an apple infused jus, chat potatoes, carrots, and beans. this.callbackName = 'jsonp_callback_' + Math.round(100000 * Math.random()); It was so much better than what we had ever gotten on a plane. }); } else { I wasnt paid anything for the review, and clearly we had very different experiences. } else { The Spirit of Queensland is a long distance passenger rail service running along the North Coast between Brisbane and Cairns. Learn how your comment data is processed. Instead, you flew from Sydney to Brisbane for $22 and from there took the train to Cairns for $389? }, Spirit of Queensland - Brisbane << View all Brisbane City Centre tours & cruises. , or one of the many wildlife and nature experiences just outside of the city. There are little things like bends and track conditions to take into consideration, and of course slowing to come into towns and stopping to let passengers on and off. All thoughts and opinions remain her own. } else { destination[prop] = source[prop]; But while domestic flights certainly dominate travelers preference list, it wont surprise many to hear that its not the most eco-conscious way. Your feedback on the noise within the sleeping carriage has been relayed back to our Onboard Customer Service Team for monitoring. Join the mailing list for updates, and access to the Resource Library. I'm Anne, a dedicated carry-on traveller. Orders were taken in advance of the meal. for (var i = 0; i < fields.length; ++i) { By day the seat was hard and the footrest reached no further than behind my knees, which was not at all comfortable. I was told that I had to repack it. Enjoy our online presentations from the comfort of your home. It was more expensive than flying but an attractive option, all things considered. input.placeholder = ''; var inputs = fields[i].getElementsByTagName('input'); It was really good value considering it is overnight accommodation, travel and three hearty meals! I had never thought about train travel in Australia, until reading In A Sunburned Country. initialize: function() { Even the 2nd Class Sleepers in Thai railways have curtains. Are people forced to wear masks on the train? . RailBed: A spacious and comfortable seat by day that converts to a lie-flat bed at night. this.isValid = true; Railbed: - 2 x checked in items of luggage not exceeding 20kg and a maximum of 180 linear centimetres (sum of length, width and depth). dropdown.onchange = (function(){ _this.validate(); }); var input = inputs[i]; A call button is available to contact the onboard staff for assistance }); } If youre travelling solo, reserve a seat in the single bed aisle at the time of booking. For your listening pleasure, you might want to pack your own headphones. Hi Anna, towels are provided so you dont need to worry about that one. this.initialize(); formSubmitting: function() { } else { running along the North Coast between Brisbane and Cairns. }, The bathroom was spacious and worth the experience of showering to the rocking on the rails.if (input.value) { We hope to see you on board again soon.Kind Regards,Customer Service - TravelQueensland Rail Travel. We do thank you for your feedback regarding staff moving through the carriages noisily, this information has been passed on to our Onboard Services Team.The Spirit of Queensland does provide a Club Car with a limited number of tables and seating which all customers are welcome to use throughout their journey. Onboard Payment Options page. A FREE travel quote! Required fields are marked *. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. } Ride the historic railway to the hinterland or take a tour out to the Great Barrier Reef. } else { Ive experienced the romance of rail on the Venice Simplon Orient Express and the Royal Scotsman, zipped through the Japanese countryside on a bullet train and crossed Canada on The Canadian. The RailBed is a spacious and comfortable seat by day that includes a state-of-the-art personal entertainment system and 240v powerpoint. The food served to the Rail Bed was typical Airline style, pre-cooked and reheated and the coffee was luke warmI did a 3 day train trip across Canada a few years ago and it was fabulous. I travelled from Roma St to Ayr and return on the Spirit of Queensland 'Rail Bed'. Any other drinks and snacks can be purchased from the club car, which is where premium economy passengers buy their meals. }, The route was dotted with coastal towns, each with its own character. The staff on the train were just fantastic very professional and they just couldnt do enough for the passengers.
fieldAndListValidation: function() { Hi Joan thats right there in the story complete with a picture! But even then it felt like such an old-fashioned thing to do. The menu brings a paddock to plate experience with meals prepared using the freshest Queensland produce. For $389?. On 10 September 2021, I finally boarded this train once more and experienced Railbed Sleeper from Cairns to Brisbane. QLD trains, forget the hype NOTHING HAS CHANGED except the prices. Most people seemed to have pyjamas for sleeping. } else { Kuranda Scenic Railway winds through a tropical rainforest, past rugged mountains, waterfalls tumbling and deep ravines of the Barron Gorge. 'submit' : 'disabled'; Our Spirit of Queensland train is the newest edition to our fleet which combines modern seating and entertainment options with the romance of rail travel. What was missing from the RailBed experience? } 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. However, the average speed is more like 80 kph. We're looking forward to more trips with Queensland Rail. The spinach & feta quick was definitely our favourite! We traveled from Brisbane to Cairns in RailBed seats and were impressed with the comfort and service level in RailBed Class. formUrl: function(format) { I travelled from Roma St to Ayr and return on the Spirit of Queensland 'Rail Bed'. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Welcome to Packing Light Travel. Youll also get a free knee blanket! Contemporary, comfortable and designed for relaxation. Glad the story helped with your travel dreaming and planning . For us, trains offer the best alternative to flying. 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. Travelling between Brisbane and Cairns five times a week, the Spirit of Queensland redefines the modern rail travel experience with a comfortable and convenient way to access spectacular holiday destinations such as the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsundays, Townsville and Cairns and everywhere in between. As a Stay22 affiliate if you book through this map I may receive a commission but dont worry its at no extra cost to you. } Im glad you enjoyed your Spirit of Queensland adventure as much as I did. For the three-course evening meal, the appetizer was a Caprese salad of Mozzarella pearls, tomatoes, and sweet basil seasoned with salt and olive oil. Spirit of Queensland Rail Service Townsville to Brisbane Sept 2015 Friendly and Welcoming Cabin Crew. Can't recommend the RailBed highly enough and would definitely do this sort of experience again. It worked just fine. this.submitForm(); The train attains a top speed of 160 kph, usually achieved during the night. Please advise us if you require meals to be delivered to your seat at the time of booking and confirm these requirements with onboard staff when you join the service. 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. We got to sample the delicious all-inclusive railbed menu and were really impressed by its quality. more. We pay respect to Elders past, present and future. Check out the Queensland Rail site for options. Spirit of Queensland . This feedback has been passed on to the relevant area for review.We understand your frustration RE luggage limits, however these have been implemented with the safety of our staff in mind, as well as being in line with the luggage limits of our interstate neighboring rail operators. Premium economy-class passengers buy their meals from the Galley and some choose to eat in the Club Car so it can become congested at meal times. 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. this.form.className = this.setFormClassName();
dropdownValidation: function(field, input) { 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. this.revalidateOnChange(); We stopped for 5 days, enjoying some time in Airlie Beach, in the Whitsundays and on the Great Barrier Reef. } else { RAILBED Spacious reclinable seat Seat converts to a lie-flat bed at night All-inclusive in-seat dining experience including two course meals with complimentary beverage Linen, pillow, towel and amenities pack provided On-demand entertainment Tray table, reading light, drink holder, footrest and 240-volt power point On the south-to-north service, the stop in Tully was long enough for passengers to stretch their legs on the platform. Take advantage of the coach connections at certain stops to explore parts of the Australian countryside that many tourists miss out on. The RailBed is a spacious and comfortable seat by day that includes a state-of-the-art personal entertainment system and 240v powerpoint. Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, Croc Express to Australia Zoo from Brisbane. for (var i = 0; i < inputs.length; ++i) { var input = inputs[i]; if (input.name.indexOf('signup') >= 0) { 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. However with unpredictable border restrictions and the train's popular demand, I had to reschedule this trip again and again! this.onSubmitSuccess(response.result); The Spirit of Queensland service operates from Brisbane to Cairns, a distance of 1,681 kilometres (1,045 miles). We regret that you were not informed beforehand that you are able to store the luggage yourself if you prefer. , plus 15 handmade tunnels and 37 towering bridges and offers a truly unique rail adventure. By day, the RailBeds are spacious seats capable of reclining up to 35 degrees. text = this.submit.getAttribute('data-choose-list'); if (format === 'json') action += '.json'; },
The food was better than what Ive encountered in economy-class cabins on international airlines. A 24-hour journey from Brisbane to Cairns on the Spirit of Queensland train will set you back by, that many tourists miss out on. } } Cars B and C are becoming old. He did ask if he could pay for the excess, in his case 200 grams. Sign up for my weekly newsletter: travel tips, inspiration and a chuckle or two. })(this); We spent many years living and traveling around Australia exploring the country in-depth! The Spirit of Queensland is a modern tilt train that runs the length of the Queensland coast between Brisbane and Cairns. At busy times, it was possible to buy a drink and take it back to the comfort of your seat. if((input.type === 'checkbox' || input.type === 'radio') && input.checked) { Not much. 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. if (input.getAttribute('name') === 'signup[email]') { I may have grown up on a farm where kangaroos were commonplace but the sight puts a big smile on my face. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. } Here are just a few of them: 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. It had been over fifteen years since I travelled from Brisbane to Cairns on this service. If there is one drawback with this type of sleeper it is lack of privacy. }; All services have aServery orCafonboardfor customers to purchasemeals and refreshments. The Spirit of Queensland has a maximum speed of 160km/h and the entire trip takes 24 hours.. The Spirit of Queensland. Looking for an airfare only? 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. We are Oksana & Max, eco-conscious travelers on a mission to inspire responsible travel practices around the world. Enjoy 35 degrees of recline and a wide flat 18.5 inch screen with on-demand . this.submit.value = text; 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. }, Dear TDK1962,Many thanks for your kind review. 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. BC Reg. } else { 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. top.location.href = this.formUrl('html'); if (input.id === 'signup_email') return; But, theres also the train thing. } But it actually looks really fun and glamourous! 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. 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). So really the choice is up to you, and whatever you feel comfortable doing. if (document.addEventListener) { Did it represent good value? It was so much better than what we had ever gotten on a plane. Any other drinks and snacks can be purchased from the club car, which is where premium economy passengers buy their meals. if (document.addEventListener) { I thought that it had been upgraded. } else { Your email address will not be published. } else { There are two RailBed carriages, with 19 in one car and 16 in the other to allow for wheelchairs. Pack shower shoes (e.g., thongs/flip flops), and comfortable sleepwear. if (instance.wrapperEl === dropdownEl) { field.className += ' invalid'; _this.onSubmitCallback(response);checkboxAndRadioValidation: function(field) { The Spirit of Queensland is proud to offer an Australian first, the revolutionary RailBed. this.form = document.getElementById('ema_signup_form'); https://youtu.be/FHcDorXrmWoMUST DO!! #833-0; TICO Reg. The next morning I wake up, look out the window and smile. Fraser Island is known for being a unique nature destination with miles of beach, 100 freshwater lakes and over 30 walking tracks.