validate: function() { } How do you return from Cairns when trip finishes I believe it finishes at night. var email = document.getElementById('signup_email');
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. Stay up to date with the latest travel info and destination deals! The customer service was fantastic - the staff very clearly enjoy doing a good job and the food that was served us was delicious. Let us customize a dream holiday for you. input.placeholder = ''; text = this.submit.getAttribute('data-choose-list'); A staff member told me the beds cost $100,000 each. this.isValid = false; Dear Aussieart,We thank you for providing feedback on your Spirit of Queensland journey with us recently.We are disappointed to hear that your experience was marred by one or more Queensland Rail Travel staff members. 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 if (dropdown.value) { Dear TDK1962,Many thanks for your kind review. After leaving the urban sprawl of Brisbane, we passed by pineapple farms, rainforests, and the Glasshouse Mountains. input.className = 'required invalid'; if (field.className.indexOf('invalid') === -1) field.className += ' invalid'; If there is one drawback with this type of sleeper it is lack of privacy. In the evening the onboard team convert the seat to a lie-flat bed with all linen provided. } In March 2019, my ticket cost AUD 389.25 / USD 268.54 / CAD 371.38, covered by 37,138 Scotia Rewards. 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. Thanks for sharing Nicki. I have a little service dog and want to know if he can travel with me, I Googled Queensland Rail service dog and the following site was at the top of the search results: https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/Pages/Assistance-Animals.aspx. We found out that while the menu was different in the Gallery Car, where Economy customers ate on their journey, everything served on the Spirit of Queensland Train was fresh with a paddock to plate focus. I also wonder why I cant find the call button to contact a member of staff, and then realise this isnt a plane and there isnt one, except for wheelchair customers. more. But the best thing is, that you can really take your time and make a few pit stops along the way, the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsundays, and Townsville before arriving at your final destination of Cairns. We opted for a Caprese salad, roasted pork loin and tiramisu cake. Copyright 2022 Adventures All Around |, London to Paris in Eurostar e320 business class style, Travel to Machu Picchu in style on Belmonds Hiram Bingham train, Read: 20 incredible Queensland holiday homes and Airbnbs, Read: Farm stay fun in Guyra, New Englands highest town. Hi splumpf,Thank you so much for your wonderful review on our Spirit of Queensland train service. You can easily plan your trip with the full Spirit of Queensland timetable. new Mimi.Signups.EmbedValidation(); } Even the 2nd Class Sleepers in Thai railways have curtains. }, 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). Its still all fresh Queensland produce but its mostly been prepped on land before its finished on board. Looking for an airfare only? Kuranda Scenic Railway winds through a tropical rainforest, past rugged mountains, waterfalls tumbling and deep ravines of the Barron Gorge. Review of Queensland Rail. 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. updateSubmitButtonText: function(text) { The bathroom was spacious and worth the experience of showering to the rocking on the rails. } The sun is preparing to come up over the mountain range, theres mist everywhere, and kangaroos are hopping beside the train. 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. 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, Not only is Cairns a hub of vibrant city life full of great cafs, markets, art galleries, and nearby beaches, but its also. } this.removeTextFieldError(input); Trip in August 2014 between Innisfail and Gladstone. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. 'submit' : 'disabled'; As my train / airline experience blurs a little I sometimes forget where I am, and think oh, a little turbulence as the train moves. 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. That was also the experience of the others in our tour party. Im glad you enjoyed your Spirit of Queensland adventure as much as I did. Meals will be delivered directly to Railbed guests and the 24 hour Club Car is available for additional purchases. Your email address will not be published. On the plus side the staff and meals were excellent. Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, Croc Express to Australia Zoo from Brisbane. The final product was among a number of options put to testers and was selected as the most comfortable option. The seats in Premium Economy are pretty spacious and recline just enough for you to feel relaxed. Last year I travelled on the Spirit of Queensland (Diesel Tilt Train) Premium Economy Class from Townsville to Cairns, I thoroughly enjoyed my trip therefore I wanted to travel from Cairns all the way to Brisbane one day. Hot breakfast consisted of a three cheese omelette served with pork chipolata, bacon and tomato wedge (there was also a vegetarian option available). The three meals were delivered on a trolley to each seat. There are slightly different food options depending on your ticket type, but there is a good general selection of seasonal dishes, with gluten free, dairy free and veggie options. } RailBeds - There are 2 accessible RailBeds, however, there is no provision to park a non-collapsible wheelchair. a budget airline" was the reply from one of the assistants as the other two just laughed. }, Two of them, dinner and lunch, included a complimentary soft drink, juice, water, beer, or wine. instance.onSelect = function(){ _this.validate() }; this.initialize(); along the way. 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. On the south-to-north service, the stop in Tully was long enough for passengers to stretch their legs on the platform. A small train compared to that of other epic rail journeys such as The Ghan, it has two locomotives and just seven carriages. The whole thing rattled and vibrated constantly, and lurched from side to side, so that sleep was virtually impossible. var _this = this; }, running along the North Coast between Brisbane and Cairns. It took longer to get from Cairns to Townsville than it did fifteen years ago.fieldAndListValidation: function() { 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. text; if (this.isValid || !invalidFields) { Your email address will not be published. Toilet seats have become loose and generally a good refurbishment program would work wonders. For anyone who loves train travel, Queensland Rails Spirit of Queensland is a fabulous choice. For dinner, we once again had a choice of a 3-course meal. The drawstring bag included shampoo, conditioner, face mist, lip balm, body lotion, face cloth, eye mask, earplugs, and headphones. This was one of the stops we made during our journey from Brisbane to Cairns by train. },
We had tickets from Roma St to Cairns. There was a good selection of movies, tv shows, kids programmes or music channels available in the in-seat entertainment. There are windows throughout the carriage so youll be able to see that view. this.textValidation(input); Before leaving home Id already decided I was going the PJs route and had packed my Singapore Airlines sleep suit. var inputs = fields[i].getElementsByTagName('input'); The next morning I wake up, look out the window and smile. Stroll along the Cairns Esplanade or visit the unique Daintree Rainforest. Each passenger received an amenities kit of Queensland organic products. The magazine for world travellers. Enjoy the trip! Customer service is one of our highest priorities and the vast majority of our staff take great pride in their customer relationships. We look forward to welcoming you onboard a Queensland Rail Travel service again soon.Kind Regards,Customer Service - TravelQueensland Rail Travel. Disclaimer: Our trip on the Spirit of Queensland train was provided courtesy of Queensland Rail Travel, but as always all opinions expressed in this article are our own. var fields = this.form.querySelectorAll(".mimi_field.required"), is definitely worth a stop along your Spirit of Queensland journey. At busy times, it was possible to buy a drink and take it back to the comfort of your seat. } } The main lights were turned off at 21:30, but each pod had individual reading lights. Further north were cattle stations, wetlands, sugar cane fields, and mango and banana plantations. 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. Thanks for sharing. Cost: A$0 (2 Passengers) . 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. 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 may have grown up on a farm where kangaroos were commonplace but the sight puts a big smile on my face. (function(global) { TERRIBLE Service bad attitude from Supervisor so no point complaining. If youre travelling solo, reserve a seat in the single bed aisle at the time of booking. Our brochures are loaded with great ideas. Collapsible wheelchairs can be stowed at the end of the carriage. We stopped for 5 days, enjoying some time in Airlie Beach, in the Whitsundays and on the Great Barrier Reef. The staff on the train were just fantastic very professional and they just couldnt do enough for the passengers. var name = this.form.className; showConfirmationText: function(html) { if (invalidFields.length || invalidFields[0].className.indexOf('checkgroup') === -1) { Heres a quick look at the other trains and their destinations. Enjoy 35 degrees of recline and a wide flat 18.5 inch screen with on-demand . Good luck! return name += ' mimi_invalid'; } removeTextFieldError: function(input) { Tiny hessian bags full of travel comforts are waiting for you along with welcoming hosts. 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. 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. 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. A small train compared to that of other epic rail journeys such as The Ghan, it has two locomotives and just seven carriages. } else { This plush seat offers ample recline for comfort along with a state-of-the-art touch screen personal entertainment system for on-demand movies, music and even audio books. In the evening the onboard team convert the seat to a lie-flat bed with all linen provided. Enjoy our online presentations from the comfort of your home. 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. A Spirit of Adventure Menu is in your seat pocket when you get on board, and you are given options, including vegetarian for the three meals served during the trip. Another is that its an opportunity to take in the scenery. } else { input.placeholder = input.getAttribute('data-required-field'); 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. textAndDropdownValidation: function(field, type) { The RailBed is a spacious and comfortable seat by day that includes a state-of-the-art personal entertainment system and 240v powerpoint. this.form = document.getElementById('ema_signup_form'); The Spirit of Queensland service operates from Brisbane to Cairns, a distance of 1,681 kilometres (1,045 miles). this.dropdownValidation(field, input); This three-day itinerary describe these suggestions and a host of other ideas. But Ive never travelled on a train like this anywhere else in the world. Lunch was a 2-course meal served at around midday. Its beautiful out there, and I feel lucky to be seeing this part of Queensland in a completely new way. submitForm: function() { 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. Your email address will not be published. My bag weighted 20.1kg, 100 grams over weight. Hi Tom, Im glad youve experienced this one for yourself and that you love the staff on the trains. 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. 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. var inputs = field.getElementsByTagName('input'), The Service fell down at the Dinner Service ex Townsville, Good food spoilt by over heating. if (response.success) { this.submitForm(); updateFormAfterValidation: function() { No access to the Club Car is available from the RailBeds for wheelchair customers. Tilt Train customers receive an in-seat Trolley Service throughout their journey. 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!for (var i = 0; i < dropdowns.length; ++i) { The Spirit of Queensland is a long distance passenger rail service running along the North Coast between Brisbane and Cairns. A direct flight back to Brisbane offers a quick return. I took a Queensland Rail train form Brisbane to Maryborough and it was very affordable. Our Railbeds are an Australian first designed to provide our customers with a smooth and relaxing ride. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. After all, there are lots of great stops and things to do between Brisbane and Cairns. See queenslandrailtravel.com.au - Traveller An unanticipated problem. The Spirit of Queensland combines modern seating and entertainment options.
if (this.validEmail.test(email.value)) { }, We experienced USB ports that didnt work, and ear-hone jacks that didnt work. Unlike the Sunlander where meals are all freshly prepared in the kitchen, here theyre more airline food style. Hi LoisOK,We are sorry to hear that you were less than impressed with your recent trip on board the Spirit of Queensland.The Railbeds are an Australian-first innovation and are a modern alternative to traditional rail travel. You can take the Spirit of Queensland train to Proserpine and then take a RailBus Connection to Airlie Beach, the gateway to the Whitsundays Islands and the Great Barrier Reef. selected = true; We never got bored looking at the stunning scenery outside of our windows, but when it got dark, and we had to amuse ourselves before getting some shut-eye, the entertainment options on board the Spirit of Queensland were plentiful. } Well, one of my things. In our opinion, it is, especially if you take it as an opportunity to stop along the way and break up your journey. this.form.addEventListener('submit', function(e){ How much were you paid for this review? 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. Cairns is an excellent base and launching point for exploring Far North Queensland. Planning your next trip? _this.onFormSubmit(e); this.fieldAndListValidation(); For breakfast, there was a choice of hot or cold option served at around 7 am. } else { Queensland Rail Limited ABN 71 132 181 090. Your email address will never be shared. I highly recommend it. Besides, when compared to air travel, its a more sustainable method of transportation. The bathroom was kept impeccably clean throughout the trip. As for what to wear to bed?
htmlEmbedDropdownValidation: function(field) { Sorry to hear yours wasnt what you were hoping for. The wait is over!! if (this.isValid) { It was really good value considering it is overnight accommodation, travel and three hearty meals! A call button is available to contact the onboard staff for assistance } else { I travelled from Roma St to Ayr and return on the Spirit of Queensland 'Rail Bed'. this.form.attachEvent('onsubmit', function(e){ this.form.className += ' mimi_submitting'; top.location.href = this.formUrl('html'); Cars B and C are becoming old. for (var i = 0; i < instances.length; ++i) { But even then it felt like such an old-fashioned thing to do. The entertainment schedule changes regularly, but you can check it ahead of your trip via the Spirit of Queensland entertainment guide. Check out the Queensland Rail site for options. This trip was not! The Staff on the Queenslander are EXCELLENT! Spirit Of Queensland. While the Spirit of Queensland can and does do 160 kilometres per hour at times, she doesnt stick to that speed the whole way.
function extend(destination, source) { }, Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. A speedier trip isnt the only change between the two, as while the Sunlander had private sleeping compartments, the Spirit of Queensland has two classes and both remind me of something youd usually see in the sky. Any other drinks and snacks can be purchased from the club car, which is where premium economy passengers buy their meals. destination[prop] = source[prop]; I travelled from Roma St to Ayr and return on the Spirit of Queensland 'Rail Bed'. },
} On 10 September 2021, I finally boarded this train once more and experienced Railbed Sleeper from Cairns to Brisbane. Cost: A$0 (2 Passengers) Not Available. 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. Our FREE AUSTRALIA Travel Guide is a great resource for planning a trip to Australia! Oksana had the vegetarian noddle salad option. } this.isValid = false; Instead, you flew from Sydney to Brisbane for $22 and from there took the train to Cairns for $389? 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. top.location.href = result.redirect; Apparently the galley crew don`t understand how to heat food. Hi Lee, I remember being able to use my iPad and other electrical devices, but youre best to call Queensland Rail and ask to find out for sure in case anything has changed, or in case it isnt set up the right way for you. . It worked just fine. There are also savings from the cost of getting to and from airports, and baggage and seat selection fees associated with air travel. A selection of Queensland wines and beverages is also available. field.className = field.className.replace(/ invalid/g, ''); } } Disembark here to enjoy the crystal clear blue waters on the shores of the Noosa National Park. The overhead bin was large enough for my carry-on travel bag.