1. Why has Queensland Rail Travel changed some long-distance timetables?
At Queensland Rail, safety comes first. Always. That means the safety of our employees, customers and community. Our Tilt Trains are due for planned maintenance, so we need to take them off the tracks and into the workshop. The maintenance work on our Tilt Trains ensures continued safe and reliable services for our customers.
To support this work and to improve our service offering for you, Queensland Rail Travel has changed the timetable for a number of its long-distance trains, namely the Tilt Trains, Spirit of Queensland, Spirit of the Outback and the Westlander.
2. What changes are being made to the timetable?
Our long-distance coastal trains, the Tilt Train and the Spirit of Queensland and two of our outback trains, the Spirit of the Outback and Westlander have changed timetables. This timetable will be in place for up to 14 months.
3. What maintenance is required for the Tilt Trains?
There are two Tilt trains that operate the coastal route between Brisbane and Rockhampton. Like all trains, these require regular maintenance. Along with interim compliance works, the Tilt Trains are due to undergo essential traction power upgrades so they can run reliably and safely into the future. This work requires a longer time off the tracks than usual maintenance work.
4. When can I book to travel on the Tilt Train?
The booking window is open for travel on the Tilt Train until 31 August 2024. You can book your preferred date now online or by calling our reservations team. Book online here.
The booking window is also open for Spirit of Queensland until 31 August 2024. However, travel for sectors within the Brisbane to Rockhampton rail sector are only available for booking 28 days before the travel date. Be sure to plan ahead and book online.
5. What has changed for the Tilt Train timetable?
The new timetable maximises the number of journeys available for customers that can be delivered reliably and safely with one train. The Tilt Train services have reduced from 24 one-way services per week to 10 and times will also change.
All Tilt Train services now operate the full route between Brisbane and Rockhampton and are available to all customers. Customers in Wide Bay and Capricorn Coast are also able to travel on the Spirit of Queensland, operating 10 times each week through all coastal railway stations between Rockhampton and Brisbane. For customers in these areas, you can book travel on the Spirit of Queensland at Tilt Train prices when using our BQuick fares.
The arrival and departure times at stations along this route have changed. Our timetable changes also mean RailBus connections have changed. Please check our timetable for more detail before making a booking.
With fewer services available we recommend booking early to reserve seats on your preferred service.
Book online here.
6. What has changed for the Spirit of Queensland timetable?
To support coastal customers with more travel options, Spirit of Queensland services has increased from 8 to 10 one-way services each week between Brisbane and Cairns. We are offering you more opportunities to get on board and hit the coast.
Spirit of Queensland departure times have changed for every station. Please check our website for timetable information. The departure time from Cairns has changed from 8.35am to 9.35am, giving you a chance to enjoy a leisurely tropical breakfast in paradise before you travel south.
The departure time from Brisbane has changed from 3.45pm to 1.45pm giving you a chance to settle in and let us do the driving for the afternoon as you head north. You will also arrive earlier into Cairns the following afternoon ready for your Far North Queensland adventures.
Our timetable changes also mean RailBus connections have changed. Please check our
timetable information for more detail before making a booking.
Spirit of Queensland services are available to all customers travelling overnight between Brisbane and Cairns as well as shorter sectors such as Brisbane to Maryborough West, Bundaberg or Rockhampton. Customers in Wide Bay and Capricorn Coast can also travel on the Spirit of Queensland operating 10 times each week through all coastal railway stations between Rockhampton and Brisbane.
With timetable changes impacting the way customers travel, we encourage you to book early to avoid disappointment!
Book online here.
7. What has changed for the Spirit of the Outback timetable?
Some Spirit of the Outback services have a time change of up to a few hours, while others have shorter time changes at stations along the route. All services continue to operate on the same days. The changed times for travel on the Spirit of the Outback enables us to offer more reliable sevices that get you there on time.
For customers heading towards Brisbane from Longreach, you can enjoy an earlier departure, leaving Longreach at 8am on Mondays and Thursdays. For customers travelling with us to the outback you can enjoy a little more time in the city, with a later departure from Brisbane on Saturdays. You will still arrive in Longreach in time for your outback adventure.
Our timetable changes also mean RailBus connections have changed. Please check timetable information for more detail before making a booking.
8. What has changed for the Westlander timetable?
The Westlander has only minor timetable changes to ensure reliable operations for our services. The timetable changes apply for customers boarding or disembarking some Westlander services at Corinda railway station or Roma Street railway station in Brisbane.
There are also changes to some RailBus connection times between Charleville and Quilpie.
The Thursday departure from Brisbane heading west to Charleville now departs 20 minutes earlier at 6.55pm. This service will now travel across the Merivale Bridge and through South Brisbane and Yeerongpilly before arriving at Corinda railway station and then heading west as usual.
There are no changes to the timetable for Tuesday departures from Roma Street railway station in Brisbane. This service continues to depart at 7.15pm and travel through Milton and Indooroopilly before arriving at Corinda railway station.
The Wednesday service from Charleville heading east, now arrives into Roma Street railway station in Brisbane at 11.40am. This service travels from Corinda railway station via Yeerongpilly and South Brisbane before crossing the Merivale Bridge and arriving at Roma Street railway station.
There are no changes to the timetable for Friday departures from Charleville with this service arriving in Brisbane at 11.25am. This service travels through Indooroopilly and Milton before arriving at Roma Street railway station.
Please check the
timetable and make sure you are at Roma Street railway station in time to check in and get on board for your journey.
9. Why have some train arrival and departure times changed and others remained the same?
Developing a new timetable has allowed us to factor in other impacts that have been affecting some services in previous timetables. We have worked hard to ensure the timetable changes will enable us to be as reliable as possible.
10. What benefits do the changes have for customers?
The maintenance work on our Tilt Trains ensures the safety and reliability of our trains and continued service for our customers.
Our team has worked hard to develop a timetable that offers as many long-distance train services as possible to support train travel right across our regional rail network. We have also worked hard to ensure the timetable changes enable us to be as reliable as possible.
11. Why is there no Tilt Train service from Rockhampton or Bundaberg to Brisbane on Wednesdays or Sundays?
Our previous Tilt Train timetable was delivered using two Tilt Trains. We have removed one of these trains for required maintenance works.
The
new timetable has maximised the number of journeys available for customers that can be delivered reliably and safely with one train.
12. Why isn't Queensland Rail offering coaches in the place of train services that no longer run on the new timetable?
Train customers enjoy the certainty, reliability, comfort and pace of rail travel. This timetable change is in place for up to 14 months, so our focus at Queensland Rail Travel is on what we do best - delivering the best rail services possible for customers.
13. With fewer Tilt Train services will I still get a seat on a train?
Our team has worked hard to develop a
timetable that offers as many long-distance train services as possible to support train travel right across our regional rail network. We have also worked hard to ensure the timetable enables us to be as reliable as possible.
While our Tilt Train and Spirit of Queensland services have long been popular and subject to high demand, there is capacity available. To ensure travel on your preferred service, please book early as demand may be strong for some services.
Book online here.
14. Have long-distance rail fares also changed?
At Queensland Rail Travel we are keeping long-distance fares unchanged while we deliver maintenance works.
For customers travelling between Rockhampton and Brisbane on the Spirit of Queensland, we have adjusted the Economy Seat fares to match those previously provided on the Tilt Train services that have been removed temporarily. Book online here.