Take advantage of the coach connections at certain stops to explore parts of the Australian countryside that many tourists miss out on. 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. The journey takes roughly 25 hours. this.textFieldError(input); Well, one of my things. Thanks for sharing. I described the sleep time in terms of a ship. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I highly recommend it. },

Stay up to date with the latest travel info and destination deals! Fully plated meals will be provided to RailBed customers offering hot or continental breakfast, 2 course lunch and 3 course dinner. _this = this; By day the seat was hard and the footrest reached no further than behind my knees, which was not at all comfortable. Luckily, it is possible to get around Australia without flying, especially on the East Coast by taking the Spirit of Queensland train! Australias impressive size and long distances between its destination make traveling by plane the most popular way to see Australia. for (var i = 0; i < fields.length; ++i) { Can you take the train from Brisbane to Cairns but get on and off overnight in various places en route? 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. Join the mailing list for updates, and access to the Resource Library. It was so much better than what we had ever gotten on a plane. 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. Its also a good idea to pack your own entertainment. Ride the historic railway to the hinterland or take a tour out to the Great Barrier Reef. } else { Hi splumpf,Thank you so much for your wonderful review on our Spirit of Queensland train service. How much were you paid for this review? if (this.isValid) { 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("&")};

Youve shown me where wed be sitting/sleeping & it sounds wonderful , Oh that sounds like a lovely one to do together. Great train journey from Brisbane to Cairns. Thanks for thatbeen thinking of a train trip with my Asisstance Dog. Even the 2nd Class Sleepers in Thai railways have curtains. The train makes the 1681km journey five times per week. 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. } else { 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. 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. In the evening the onboard team convert the seat to a lie-flat bed with all linen provided. var fields = this.form.querySelectorAll('.mimi_field.required');

} 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. Your email address will never be shared. Theres a locomotive at each end. 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. Details valid from 1st December 2021 and are subject to change. onSelectCallback: function(input) { At busy times, it was possible to buy a drink and take it back to the comfort of your seat. var instance = instances[i]; Check out the Queensland Rail site for options. Each passenger received an amenities kit of Queensland organic products. Railbed Car - Spirit of Queensland. A significant amount of development time was invested in the selection of the Railbed mattress type and materials. We are storytellers, photographers, and videographers traveling the world full-time in search of outdoor adventures, wildlife encounters, cultural experiences and ways to make a positive impact on the destinations and communities we visit. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Welcome to Packing Light Travel. 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. var name = this.form.className; The staff on the train will have the latest update for the day so just listen for their instructions if needed and come prepared. }, Subscribe to our newsletter to follow our life on the road, learn more about sustainable travel practices, and be the first to learn about updates from the blog! top.location.href = result.redirect; The journey to Kuranda passes by. They then make the bed for you, providing all of the bedding as well as a towel for those who fancy a refreshing shower at high speed. this.textFieldError(email); is definitely worth a stop along your Spirit of Queensland journey. Dear stevecau,It is wonderful to hear that you enjoyed your experience on board the Spirit of Queensland from Brisbane to Cairns recently. I travelled in the RailBed from Cairns to Brisbane and the whole experience was exceptional - I enjoyed every second of it. this.isValid = true; The seven carriages in between include two RailBed sleeper cars with airline style seats that convert to lie-flat beds. Definitely will keep in mind for my next Australia trip (hopefully soon!). While you cant feel the speed of a plane once youre up in the air, you can feel the speed of a train. } else { Cons It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. },

But, theres also the train thing. 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. Lie Flat With RailBed The first two passenger carriages on Spirit of Queensland are dedicated to RailBed. 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. RailBed passengers also receive a lip balm, hand sanitser and hand cream from Queensland skincare brand, Bubbles Organic. The lack of privacy was unpleasant and with the exception of one shower room, the bathroom facilities were very cramped with wet floors. 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. } With the beds all made up, the lights dimmed and the curtains closed, the RailBeds feel like a fun slumber party. The water was hot and the pressure was perfect. 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. this.initialize();

Even though the train gets up to speeds of 160km per hour, its innovative tilt design allows for a really smooth ride even around those sharp turns, youd barely know you were moving at all! text = this.submit.getAttribute('data-default-text'); } } else { A video trip report of Railbed (first) class on QR Travel's new Spirit of Queensland tilting train. }, A heavy label was attached and I was then told that I could have taken it on board myself. Book as early as possible to take advantage of saver fares and seat selection. My experience started when the luggage gestapo screamed that my luggage was overweight. }, If youre travelling solo, reserve a seat in the single bed aisle at the time of booking. If your travel plans involve Australia, you might be interested in these other posts: Very interesting. } else { Review our onboard menu options for your service by selecting a train below.. It arrives at 4:30 pm. The Spirit of Queensland is a modern tilt train that runs the length of the Queensland coast between Brisbane and Cairns. }, };

It worked just fine. It was a very bad crossing on a ship without stabilisers, with screaming banshees all night. Planning to get the train from Brisbane? The Spirit of Queensland combines modern seating and entertainment options. this.revalidateOnChange(); A Railbed, on the Spirit of Queensland, offers most of the benefits of a seat at the front of a plane with the bonus of scenic views, rather than clouds, through the large windows. The drawstring bag included shampoo, conditioner, face mist, lip balm, body lotion, face cloth, eye mask, earplugs, and headphones. if (selected) { }; Premium Economy from $221, Railbed from $389. } Enjoy the trip! Surely for that amount of money something more comfortable must have been possible. Required fields are marked *. Features 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. }, } if (this.isValid || !invalidFields) { }); Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. 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. more. 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. if (name.indexOf('mimi_invalid') === -1) { _this.onFormSubmit(e); 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. With a high ticket price, many would wonder, is the journey on the train really worth it? Meanwhile the RailBeds are reminiscent of business class seats on an airline. You feel connected to the rails, and as the train tilts, so do you. var inputs = fields[i].getElementsByTagName('input'); dropdown.onchange = (function(){ _this.validate(); }); #833-0; TICO Reg. 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. That was also the experience of the others in our tour party. this.submit = document.getElementById('webform_submit_button'); if (input.value.length === 1) _this.validate(); The Club Car provides food and refreshments for purchase as well a social environment to sit with other travelers.Kind Regards,Customer Service - Travel. Take your pick from the Great Barrier Reef. We left from Cairns, around 8.30am, heading for Brisbane. Spirit of Queensland - Brisbane << View all Brisbane City Centre tours & cruises.

var _this = this; It must have come from a very happy cow who smiled a lot because it was very tender. 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. 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! this.updateSubmitButtonText(this.submit.getAttribute('data-thanks')); 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. 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. The new Spirit of Queensland combines modern seating and entertainment options with the romance of long distance rail travel. Hope this helps. before arriving at your final destination of Cairns. Sorry to hear yours wasnt what you were hoping for. Hot breakfast in RailBed Class on the Spirit of Queensland train Lunch was a 2-course meal served at around midday. Our Railbeds are an Australian first designed to provide our customers with a smooth and relaxing ride. 2 Days / 1 Night aboard the Spirit of Queensland from Brisbane to Cairns in a lie-flat RailBed with lunch and dinner. Contemporary, comfortable and designed for relaxation. Copyright 2022 Adventures All Around | Website by Liveby5. The overhead compartment contained a towel, blanket, and inflatable neck cushion. The three meals were delivered on a trolley to each seat. The Club Car is licensed to sell alcohol from 10am - 12 midnight. } It took longer to get from Cairns to Townsville than it did fifteen years ago. 5 Nights at 4-star Rydges Cairns Esplanade Resort with breakfast daily and welcome drink. The Spirit of Queensland service operates from Brisbane to Cairns, a distance of 1,681 kilometres (1,045 miles). } Surely for that amount of money something more comfortable must have been possible. } this.textValidation(input); TERRIBLE Service bad attitude from Supervisor so no point complaining. Besides, when compared to air travel, its a more sustainable method of transportation. Queensland Rail Travel is committed to supporting Queenslanders by preventing the spread of COVID-19. Our brochures are loaded with great ideas. } Glad the story helped with your travel dreaming and planning . I may have grown up on a farm where kangaroos were commonplace but the sight puts a big smile on my face. }, 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.