Animal identification and other documents required
We have a list of pre-approved training organisations and assistance animal passes that we accept. If you hold an assistance animal pass issued by one of these organisations or as listed below, that is all you need to provide to travel with your assistance animal.
Queensland Rail Travel will accept documentation and passes for assistance animals that are issued by any of the below:
- Approved trainers and training institutions | People with disability | Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au) (opens in new tab).
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Translink (see note below) (opens in new tab)
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Transport for NSW (opens in new tab)
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Victorian Public Transport (opens in new tab)
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Government of WA (opens in new tab)
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Young Diggers (opens in new tab)
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Revolutionary Assistance Dogs Inc (opens in new tab)
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mindDog Australia (opens in new tab)
Queensland Rail Travel will also accept passes for assistance animals issued by organisations accredited or recognised by any of the below:
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Assistance Dogs International (opens in new tab)
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ACT Government Domestic Animals Act 2000 (opens in new tab)
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South Australian Dog and Cat Management Board (opens in new tab)
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Western Australian Government Dog Act 1976 (opens in new tab)
Note: To obtain a
Translink Assistance Animal Pass, in addition to a health professional declaration and a veterinary declaration, an applicant may provide a training declaration from a professional training organisation/individual, or an applicant may provide a training declaration if the animal is trained by the applicant or another individual. The
Translink application form states to allow up to 15 working days for the application to be processed, this time period should be considered when planning your travel with us.
Queensland Rail Travel will consider passes issued by other organisations that deliver appropriate training but are not on the above lists and links. To enable us to confirm training, we may require documentation, or request information about your training organisation. Please let us know at the time of booking if you do not hold a pass from an approved trainer or training institution as listed above.
In the absence of evidence or identification, travel with the assistance animal may not be approved. If you are unable to provide sufficient evidence that the assistance animal has been trained, please discuss with us in advance of travel.
Sample images of identification for handlers/trainers
The following images of cards issued by the Queensland Government for handlers and trainers of guide, hearing and assistance dogs will be accepted by Queensland Rail Travel.
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Translink Assistance Animal Pass dog (front)
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Translink Assistance Animal Pass dog (back)
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Translink Assistance Animal Pass cat (front)
Translink Assistance Animal Pass cat (back)
Primary Handler Identification
Puppy Carer Identification
Primary Handler Identification (requires alternate handler)
Alternate Handler Identification
Approved Trainer Identification
Employee Trainer Identification
Identification back of card
Images of identification for animals
A Guide Dog walking with a harness
A Lions Hearing Dog wearing an identifying coat and lead
Handler/Trainer responsibilities while travelling with us
Handler/Trainer responsibilities:
- To carry sufficient evidence that the assistance animal has been trained, including handler or trainer identification. This may include a Translink Assistance Animal pass.
- Trainers and handlers must display their identity card on request.
- Ensure your assistance animal wears their identification badge/medallion, coat, vest or harness if:
- an identification badge/medallion, coat, vest or harness has been issued to your assistance animal as part their training; or
- an identification badge/medallion, coat, vest or harness is required by a law of a State or Territory that provides for the accreditation of assistance animals (for example, dogs certified under the Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dogs Act 2009 (Qld) are required to wear an identifying coat).
- To ensure the assistance animal is under the direct control of the handler or a trainer at all times, this includes taking the assistance animal off the train for comfort stops.
- For their safety, the assistance animal must be seated on the floor in the space allocated by Queensland Rail Travel. Assistance animals must not be placed on an adjacent seat or impede the aisle way. These conditions also apply if the handler takes the assistance animal into a customer dining area. Assistance animals may only be placed in the lap of the handler/trainer temporarily and as necessary at the handler/trainer’s allocated seat to provide required assistance to the handler/trainer.
- To ensure the good behaviour and hygiene of the assistance animal. This includes cleaning up any mess made by their assistance animal and picking up after it when toileting in a public place. If the animal’s behaviour or hygiene impacts on the safety and wellbeing of other customers or the onboard team, the handler and assistance animal may be asked to leave the service when it is safe to do so. If this occurs, Queensland Rail is not responsible for any additional costs incurred, such as flights, coach transfers, car hire, taxis/ride share or accommodation.
- It is recommended that you supply absorbent bedding or a mat suitable for your assistance animal that is clean and in good condition.
- If a carrier is being used for the assistance animal, this must also be clean and in good condition.
- Please approach an onboard team member on the platform prior to joining your service to discuss aspects of your journey including taking the assistance animal off the train for comfort stops.
- You may be liable to pay for any damage caused to Queensland Rail property by the assistance animal, including covering the cost of cleaning, repairing or replacing the property.
How to make a booking including an assistance animal
How to make a booking that includes an assistance animal:
Bookings are required when travelling with assistance animals. They will be carried free of charge on Queensland Rail Travel services.
Bookings can be made online, over the phone or in person at a or in person at a Travel Centre, ticket office or travel agent.
Our booking system has been setup with locations on each train and in each travel option that provides space for your assistance animal. For details on these locations on each service, please visit
Carriage Layouts.
In general, these locations on each train are as close as possible to the carriage exit doors to enable easy access for the customer and their assistance animal.
The seating configuration for you and your assistance animal may change depending on the service and carriage:
Bookings in a Seat or RailBed:
- A seat or RailBed will be booked where there is adjacent floor space provided to comfortably accommodate the assistance animal.
- An extra seat or RailBed will be held (free of charge) in some locations next to the person travelling to allow for the assistance animal to sit on the floor in front of the extra seat or RailBed.
Bookings in a Sleeper:
- When booking a Sleeper, a Twin Sleeper will be held to provide floor space to comfortably accommodate the assistance animal.
If these designated locations are not available or you require a different allocation, please contact us to discuss other options.
When making a booking of this type, the travel option you require should state “includes assistance animal space”.
At the time of booking, you are required to provide the assistance animal pass type (e.g. Translink Assistance Animal Pass) or details of the training institution (e.g.
Approved trainers and training institutions | People with disability | Queensland Government (opens in new tab)).
We may need to contact you if the pass or training institution is not one that we currently accept. Refer to the tab in the menu above this section:
Animal identification and other documents required.
You must provide the above information to us for every booking, as this information is not automated to be added to new bookings.
Bookings can be made in the following ways:
Online
Telephone
- 1800 872 467 (within Australia)
- +61 7 3606 6630 (outside Australia)
- Deaf, hearing or speech impaired customers please call via the National Relay Service on 1300 555 727 (Voice Relay number) or 133 677 (TTY number).
submit a booking enquiry
Visit a Travel Centre, ticket office or travel agent
Relief areas for guide, hearing or assistance dogs or assistance animals
Guide, hearing and assistance dogs and assistance animals are welcome on-board Queensland Rail Travel services, and we understand that making sure they have a safe place to relieve themselves near the platform at stations is a very important consideration for those who travel with them.
Whilst we don’t currently have designated, specially built outside toileting areas for assistance animals at our stations, it is something we are working on.
Some of our stations are more suited for you to take the opportunity to attend to your animals toileting needs as the scheduled stop there maybe for a slightly longer duration and there is an area nearby the platform to take them. Please refer to the tables below for a list of these locations and also refer to our
timetable information for planning purposes.
On the day of travel, please let an onboard team member know in advance of arriving at the station that you are planning on doing this so they can check you return to the service safely and on time.
Note: Disrupted services with coach replacements - customers should discuss with the onboard team member for suitable locations dependent on the operating schedule of the coach.
North coast line information for Tilt Trains, Spirit of Queensland and Spirit of the Outback
Railway station name
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Location of suitable animal relief area and closest bin |
Brisbane Roma St platform 10
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Use the main exit from platform 10 turn right, walk past the taxi rank to the grassed area.
Bin is located at the entry on the way back to the platform.
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Gympie North
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Use the main exit from the station and walk across the road to the grassed area. Take care when crossing the road.
Bin is located at the entry point back to station.
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Maryborough West
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Use the main exit from the station, turn left and walk past the bus shelter to the grassed area.
Bin is located at the entry point back to station.
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Bundaberg
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Use the main exit from the station and walk through the car park to the grassed area at the centre of the car park. Take care when crossing the car park.
Bin is located at the entry point back to station.
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Gladstone
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Use either the southern or northern exit point from the station for the grassed area located opposite these exit points.
Bin is located at entry to these exit points.
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Rockhampton
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Use the main exit from the station through the foyer and cross the road using the pedestrian crossing to the grassed area. Take care when crossing the car park.
Bin is located at the entrance to the foyer.
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St Lawrence
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The grassed area is adjacent to the station.
Bin is located on the platform at the waiting shelter.
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Mackay
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Use the main exit from station through the foyer and walk across the road using the pedestrian crossing to the grassed area.
Bin is located at the entrance to the foyer.
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Proserpine
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Use the southern exit from the platform and cross the road in the car park. The grassed area is immediately in front on the grassed traffic island. Take care when crossing the car park.
Bin is located on the platform.
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Townsville
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Use the main exit from the station then turn left and walk across the pedestrian crossing to the grassed area.
Bin is located at the station entrance.
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Tully
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Use the main exit from the platform and turn left from the main exit, down the accessible ramp then cross the gravel road to the grassed area.
Bin is in this area.
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Innisfail
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Use the main exit from the platform and turn right, cross the station access road at the front of the station to the grassed area. Take care when crossing the road.
Bin is located on the platform.
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Cairns
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The closest point is adjacent to platform 2 in Bunda St. If you are on platform1, take the lift from Platform 1 to Platform 2 then use the main exit from the platform to the strip of grass area along the footpath on Bunda St.
Bin is available at Platform 2.
There is also a grassed area further away at the northern end of platform 1 past the bus stop at the end of the pathway out to the Aplin St road entrance to the shopping centre.
If you are at Platform 2, take the lift from Platform 2 to Platform 1.
Bin is available at Platform 1.
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Western service line information for Spirit of the Outback, Westlander and Inlander
Spirit of the Outback
Railway station name
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Location of suitable animal relief area and closest bin
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Emerald
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Use the main station entrance, turn left and walk to the grassed area to the side of the station entrance.
Bin is located on the platform.
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Alpha
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Grassed area is in front of the station.
Bin is in front of the station building.
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Barcaldine
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Use the main exit from the station, turn right and walk to the grassed area adjacent to the station.
Bin is on the platform near the male toilet.
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Longreach
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Use the main exit from the station, turn right and walk to the western end for the grassed area next to the driver depot office.
Bin is located on the platform.
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Westlander
Railway station name
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Location of suitable animal relief area and closest bin
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Toowoomba
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There is a grassed area to the left of toilets at the station.
Bins are located on the platform.
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Chinchilla
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There is a grassed area directly off the platform.
Bin is located on the platform.
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Roma
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Exit the station, cross the road and there is a grassed area in front of station building. Take care when crossing the station road.
Bin is located on the platform.
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Mitchell
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There is a grassed area directly off platform.
There are no bins at this station.
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Charleville
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Exit the station and turn left where there is a grassed area next to the station building.
Bins are located on the platform.
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Inlander
Railway station name
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Location of suitable animal relief area and closest bin
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Mount Isa
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Use the main exit from the station and walk across the car park to the grassed area. Take care when crossing the station road.
Bins are located on platform.
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Cloncurry
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Use the main exit from the station and walk across car park to the grassed area. Take care when crossing the car park.
Bins are located on the platform.
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Julia Creek
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Use the main exit from the station turn left and walk to the gravelled area.
There are no bins at this station.
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Richmond
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Use the main exit from the station take the ramp off the platform and walk to the gravelled area.
There are no bins at this station.
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Hughenden
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Use the main exit from the station turn left and walk to the grassed area.
Bins are located at the front of the station.
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Charters Towers
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Use the main exit from the station turn left and walk to the grassed area.
Bins are located on the platform.
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