As for what to wear to bed? With the beds all made up, the lights dimmed and the curtains closed, the RailBeds feel like a fun slumber party. There are also savings from the cost of getting to and from airports, and baggage and seat selection fees associated with air travel. input.placeholder = input.getAttribute('data-required-field'); We traveled from Brisbane to Cairns in RailBed seats and were impressed with the comfort and service level in RailBed Class. for (var i = 0; i < elements.length; ++i) { }, Review our onboard menu options for your service by selecting a train below.. }, The Spirit of Queensland fleet will provide guests with a fast, value for money modern rail experience. Perhaps Ill give it another chance. You also get an amenities pack which included all organic products. submitButtonText: function() { See queenslandrailtravel.com.au - Traveller An unanticipated problem. var fields = this.form.querySelectorAll('.mimi_field'); input.className = 'required'; You could have flown business class on points, on a direct flight from Sydney to Cairns for $25 in taxes and fees. initialize: function() { The Ultimate Guide to Australia on a Budget, The Ultimate Sydney to Brisbane Drive Itinerary, Where to Stay in Brisbane: Guide to Neighbourhood and Best Hotels in Brisbane, The Best Things To Do in Port Douglas, Australia. window.attachEvent('onload', function() { There are stops for passengers to board and disembark. . for (var i = 0; i < fields.length; ++i) { Thanks for sharing Nicki. The Tilt Train takes you from bustling Brisbane to some of Australia and Queenslands most popular destinations, including the Southern Great Barrier Reef, Capricorn Coast, Bundaberg, and Fraser Coast. } else { dropdown.onchange = (function(){ _this.validate(); }); do the single railbed seats at the front and back of the carriage have a window? I travelled in the RailBed from Cairns to Brisbane and the whole experience was exceptional - I enjoyed every second of it. } showConfirmationText: function(html) { I took a Queensland Rail train form Brisbane to Maryborough and it was very affordable. The fold-down seat had a pocket for reading material and assorted items. this.fieldAndListValidation(); };
if (this.validEmail.test(email.value)) { It was so much better than what we had ever gotten on a plane. First meal was around mid-day on Day One, quite a serviceable chicken noodle dish with a sticky-date pudding for dessert. }); Or possibly first class, depending on who youre flying with. By day the seat was hard and the footrest reached no further than behind my knees, which was not at all comfortable. this.isValid = false; A 24-hour journey from Brisbane to Cairns on the Spirit of Queensland train will set you back by $370 per seat for a Premium Economy Seat and over $860 for a RailBed seat. Phone: 1800 872 467 is bookings for Queensland Rail Travel. for (var i = 0; i < fields.length; ++i) { Premium Economy from $221, Railbed from $389. this.textFieldError(email); document.body.appendChild(script); Any other drinks and snacks can be purchased from the club car, which is where premium economy passengers buy their meals. Another is that its an opportunity to take in the scenery. Thats great that youve let them know so they can take care of you. } If you enjoy train travel, it might be for you. this.updateFormAfterValidation(); Here in Australia Ive gone north to south on the Ghan and east to west on the Indian Pacific, travelled out to Longreach on Queenslands Spirit of the Outback outback and was able to experience The Sunlander train before she became an Australian travel memory. 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. Copyright 2022 Adventures All Around | Website by Liveby5. This three-day itinerary describe these suggestions and a host of other ideas. It has everything you need, from beds, showers, galley car, all-inclusive dining option, in-seat entertainment and much more! The seats in Premium Economy are pretty spacious and recline just enough for you to feel relaxed. You can also get connecting coach services to Quilpie and Cunnamulla. Its still all fresh Queensland produce but its mostly been prepped on land before its finished on board. The USB ports are useless for charging so I plug mine into the power point beside the bed. A heavy label was attached and I was then told that I could have taken it on board myself. } Enjoy the trip! It was a welcome break from the frenetic pace of busy airports, enhanced security-screening measures, and cramped aircraft space. You feel connected to the rails, and as the train tilts, so do you. 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. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all included in your RailBed ticket, with one glass of complimentary wine with your evening meal. Which is why an eye mask and earplugs are a good thing to have in your bag so you can do that plane-like sleep (as hard as its getting to remember what thats like!). 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. Where: Brisbane to Cairns, Queensland, Australia. this.submit.className = 'disabled'; Oksana had the vegetarian noddle salad option. Club Car - The licensed Club Car allowing guests to purchase light refreshments, confectionery and beverages throughout the journey. Take your pick from the Great Barrier Reef. this.form.attachEvent('onsubmit', function(e){
emailValidation: function() { Long-distance rail travel in Victoria: https://youtu.be/_OX0sTjdBaUQantas QF2 B787 Business Class Darwin to Sydney - a domestic international flight! } Most people seemed to have pyjamas for sleeping. Pros Great staff, own cabin, nice lounge with a bar, nice restaurant, great views, great showers, nice to meet other people and share experiences, easier than flying, excellent food and plenty of it. 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. 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. Customer service is one of our highest priorities and the vast majority of our staff take great pride in their customer relationships. Orders were taken in advance of the meal. top.location.href = result.redirect; } A video trip report of Railbed (first) class on QR Travel's new Spirit of Queensland tilting train. for (var i = 0; i < instances.length; ++i) { , or one of the many wildlife and nature experiences just outside of the city. Required fields are marked *. return 'text_field'; return action + '?callback=' + this.callbackName + '&' + serialize(this.form); We hope to see you on board again soon.Kind Regards,Customer Service - TravelQueensland Rail Travel. var inputs = field.getElementsByTagName('input'), } The magazine for world travellers. Meanwhile the RailBeds are reminiscent of business class seats on an airline. The bed at night was SERIOUSLY uncomfortable. if (input.value) { 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. if (input.id === 'signup_email') return;
if (!Mimi) var Mimi = {}; Let us customize a dream holiday for you. and were really impressed by its quality.
fieldAndListValidation: function() { The RailBed is a spacious and comfortable seat by day that includes a state-of-the-art personal entertainment system and 240v powerpoint. While the Spirit of Queensland can and does do 160 kilometres per hour at times, she doesnt stick to that speed the whole way. Each seat had a standard power point, USB port, and earphone socket. Your email address will not be published. if (invalidFields.length || invalidFields[0].className.indexOf('checkgroup') === -1) { this.disableForm(); 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. If you are thinking of going from Brisbane to Cairns, fly there! It arrives at 4:30 pm. }, We took the Queensland Class train from Cairns to Brisbane to give us a chance to see Australia and give us a break from internal flights. },
So really the choice is up to you, and whatever you feel comfortable doing.if (input.value) { Cons Cairns is an excellent base and launching point for exploring Far North Queensland.
function extend(destination, source) { The RailBed ticket for the Spirit of Queensland train includes all-inclusive meals which are served directly to your seat. The Spirit of Queensland has a maximum speed of 160km/h and the entire trip takes 24 hours.. this.textValidation(input); more. On our recent trip to Australia, we discovered the beauty of traveling around the East Coast of Australia by train and its now an experience that we highly recommend to others. 50+ Reasons Why to Go Downunder with Goway, All main meals served directly to your seat, Personal entertainment featuring a large screen with on-demand movies, music and audio books, Seat features include reading light, footrest, drink holder, 240v power adapter and USB charging, Towel and personal amenity pack with Queensland organic and sustainable products, All bed linen provided (sheets, duvet & pillow), RailBed customers may check in two (2) items of luggage not exceeding 20kg each (44 pounds), plus one item of carry on hand luggage free of charge, Carry on luggage for under-seat or overhead compartments is maximum size of 23cm x 34cm x 48cm and a maximum weight of 20kg. Dear Talknsmile,It is always great to hear about another happy customer onboard our trains. It had been over fifteen years since I travelled from Brisbane to Cairns on this service. We acknowledge their spiritual connection to the lands and waterways and ask their ancestors to watch over us as we tread lightly on Country. You can take the Spirit of Queensland train to Proserpine and then take a RailBus Connection to Airlie Beach, the gateway to the, . } else { for (var prop in source) { this.htmlEmbedDropdownValidation(field); the only improvement seems to be more leg room and a bigger toilet/shower room. Hot breakfast in RailBed Class on the Spirit of Queensland train Lunch was a 2-course meal served at around midday. The Spirit of Queenslands RailBed experience was one of the most relaxing journeys Ive ever had. Tilt Train customers receive an in-seat Trolley Service throughout their journey. A light sweater or pashmina will help combat fluctuations in air temperature. 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. 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. Spirit of Queensland - Brisbane << View all Brisbane City Centre tours & cruises. A staff member told me the beds cost $100,000 each. You can easily plan your trip with the full Spirit of Queensland timetable. this.form.addEventListener('submit', function(e){ this.onSelectCallback(input); The main stops en route between Brisbane and Cairns are Maryborough (where you can get a connecting . } 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. It was a very bad crossing on a ship without stabilisers, with screaming banshees all night. In-seat wine and dine service and entertainment aboard the Spirit of Queensland. Cars B and C are becoming old. Hop off the Spirit of Queensland train and hop on a ferry from Hervey Bay to Fraser Island, the largest sand island in the world. },
updateSubmitButtonText: function(text) { Staff made them up, and returned the beds to seats, on demand. var dropdown = dropdowns[i]; } else { this.formSubmitting(); . Never again!..textValidation: function(input) { In fact, I used Scotiabanks Scotia Rewards to cover the cost of the Spirit of Queensland fare from Brisbane to Cairns. Hi Tom, Im glad youve experienced this one for yourself and that you love the staff on the trains. Its also a good idea to pack your own entertainment. Showers & Toilets - Showers and toilets are located at the end of all passenger carriages. But it actually looks really fun and glamourous! For your listening pleasure, you might want to pack your own headphones. var invalidFields = document.querySelectorAll('.invalid'), this.submit.disabled = !this.isValid; If your travel plans involve Australia, you might be interested in these other posts: Very interesting. The staff certainly have not changed. updateFormAfterValidation: function() { Your trip your way! 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. In the evening the onboard team convert the seat to a lie-flat bed with all linen provided. If I had known about the collection procedure at Townsville station, I would have done this. destination[prop] = source[prop]; A small train compared to that of other epic rail journeys such as The Ghan, it has two locomotives and just seven carriages. A few downloaded Netflix movies and Spotify playlists, or favourite podcasts or books might come in handy. But, theres also the train thing. A selection of Queensland wines and beverages is also available. Unbelievable prices. For $389?. 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. But, theres also the train thing. return name.replace(/\s?mimi_invalid/, ''); } While you cant feel the speed of a plane once youre up in the air, you can feel the speed of a train. var input = inputs[i]; We're looking forward to more trips with Queensland Rail. A staff member told me the beds cost $100,000 each. For dinner, we once again had a choice of a 3-course meal. 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. Our toolkit is a great place to get started. All Railbeds face the direction of travel and can not be reversed. instances = Widget.BasicDropdown.instances, This traditional diesel train journeys through the diverse and ever-changing scenery between Brisbane and Longreach with coach connections to Winston, offering the perfect outback experience. this.form.className += ' mimi_submitting'; The Spirit of Queensland service operates from Brisbane to Cairns, a distance of 1,681 kilometres (1,045 miles). However with unpredictable border restrictions and the train's popular demand, I had to reschedule this trip again and again! After all, there are lots of great stops and things to do between Brisbane and Cairns. this.removeTextFieldError(input); 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. field.className = field.className.replace(/ invalid/g, ''); 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 was more expensive than flying but an attractive option, all things considered. The Sirromet Vineyard Selection Shiraz came from Queenslands Granite Belt. var _this = this; If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. if (input.getAttribute('name') === 'signup[email]') { For dessert, I had the tiramisu cake. Pack shower shoes (e.g., thongs/flip flops), and comfortable sleepwear. We are Oksana & Max, eco-conscious travelers on a mission to inspire responsible travel practices around the world. field.className = field.className.replace(/ invalid/g, '');
onFormSubmit: function(e) { I was just wondering if towels were provided for the showers or if it was byo? Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. 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. } It took longer to get from Cairns to Townsville than it did fifteen years ago. Ive spent a lot of nights sleeping on trains and its true this one isnt like the ones Ive been on before with private cabins. Sign up for my weekly newsletter: travel tips, inspiration and a chuckle or two. For breakfast, there was a choice of hot or cold option served at around 7 am. The bathroom was spacious and worth the experience of showering to the rocking on the rails. Any other drinks and snacks can be purchased from the club car, which is where premium economy passengers buy their meals. this.callbackName = 'jsonp_callback_' + Math.round(100000 * Math.random()); What attracted me to the Spirit of Queensland was the RailBed class. if (format === 'json') action += '.json'; var name = this.form.className; 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. Delicious meals were served making this a stress free way to travel. }; instance.onSelect = function(){ _this.validate() }; The journey takes roughly 25 hours. 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! Railbeds - Spirit of Queensland. When: All year round. How much were you paid for this review? For information on the site, please see the, Ride the historic railway to the hinterland, Sydney at its best: A self-guided tour of The Rocks, the magnificent Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and points in between, Cycling around Uluru: the best way to experience Australias most recognizable natural landmark, https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/Pages/Assistance-Animals.aspx, Whats the best use of Scotia Rewards?