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QROTI > Long Distance > Tilt Train > Cairns

Cairns Tilt Train Operated by QR Traveltrain Link to official page See the operator's home page for this service. QROTI recommends you check the operator's page as this summary may sometimes fall out of date. Description Three times a week, this Tilt Train makes the return journey along the Queensland coast, offering residents and holiday-makers alike more efficient and convenient access to regional centres and tourist destinations throughout Central and North Queensland. This is a completely different style of travel to existing Cairns services, and also offers improvements over the Rockhampton Tilt Train. It boasts comfortable Business Class seating throughout and suberb passenger facilities, including personal audio-visual entertainment systems. Like the Rockhampton Tilt Train, which commenced services in 1998, the new Cairns Tilt Train represents the very latest in rail technology and is the most modern passenger train in Australia. The new Tilt Train service travels the eastern Queensland coastline from Brisbane in the south to Cairns in the tropical north. The train services all the major coastal cities and communities, including St Lawrence, Sarina, Mackay, Proserpine, Bowen, Home Hill, Ayr, Townsville, Ingham, Tully, Innisfail and Cairns. With a maximum speed of 160 km/h, the full journey between Brisbane and Cairns is 24 hours and 55 minutes over a distance of 1681 kilometres, an average of 67 km/h. The existing Sunlander train in comparison takes at least 31 hours. The Onboard Experience Business Class Seating Throughout The new Tilt Train offers all passengers the comfort of Business Class. Seats are wide and comfortable, recline back 37 degrees and have built-in footrests. Personal Entertainment Systems Each seat has its own personal audio-visual entertainment system, stored in the armrest of the seat. The entertainment system allows passengers to select from a range of entertainment options including: Four movie channels, featuring late release films A lifestyle channel Six audio channels offering a wide range of music styles A Journey Progress Display, or JPD. This features "driver-cam", a map showing your location, the distance to the next station and the outside temperature. Facilities The train is fitted with toilets and has facilities for people with disabilities, including wheelchair access. Most toilets have baby change tables. Carriages feature secured overhead lockers and luggage racks. Other Features All cars are fully air-conditioned Each passenger has access to a personal power point for plugging in laptops, computer games or other personal electrical devices. Meals Travelling can be a hungry business and Tilt Train passengers can purchase from a well-stocked galley car and convenient trolley service. Passengers can arrange to have their meals served at their seat through the trolley service, or head to the galley car for a quick bite and drink. Timetables effective 1st April, 2004 until 31st March, 2005: 19th November 2004: Due to a derailment of a Cairns Tilt Train service on 15th November, services are reduced to 2 a week and speed is limited to 100 km/h. We do not have the new times yet. Trains will depart the first station on time but the full journey will take a few hours longer than scheduled below. The Wednesday service from Brisbane and the Friday service from Cairns is cancelled. QROTI suggests you re-confirm your booking with QR (details) before committing to your travel plans. Brisbane to Cairns Monday Friday Brisbane (Roma Street) dep 6:25 pm Caboolture f dep 7:17 pm Nambour f dep 8:06 pm Cooroy f dep 8:27 pm Gympie North 1 arr 8:59 pm dep 9:02 pm Maryborough West 2 arr 10:07 pm dep 10:12 pm Bundaberg arr 11:08 pm dep 11:13 pm Tuesday Saturday Gladstone arr 12:55 am dep 12:58 am Rockhampton arr 2:05 am dep 2:15 am St Lawrence dep 4:38 pm Carmila dep 5:24 am Sarina dep 6:23 am Mackay z arr 7:00 am dep 7:25 am Proserpine arr 9:06 am Shute Harbour (coach) arr 4 dep 9:11 am Bowen 3 arr 9:53 am dep 9:56 am Home Hill dep 11:07 am Ayr dep 11:25 am Giru dep 11:56 am Townsville arr 12:50 pm dep 1:05 pm Ingham arr 2:46 pm dep 2:51 pm Cardwell k dep 3:45 pm Tully arr 4:28 pm dep 4:31 pm Innisfail arr 5:20 pm dep 5:25 pm Babinda k dep 6:03 pm Gordonvale k dep 6:43 pm Cairns arr 7:20 pm       Cairns to Brisbane Sunday Wednesday Cairns dep 8:15 am Gordonvale k dep 8:47 am Babinda k dep 9:28 am Innisfail arr 10:02 am dep 10:07 am Tully arr 11:03 am dep 11:06 am Cardwell k dep 11:50 am Ingham arr 12:36 pm dep 12:41 pm Townsville arr 2:20 pm dep 2:35 pm Giru dep 3:25 pm Ayr dep 3:53 pm Home Hill dep 4:09 pm Bowen 3 arr 5:16 pm dep 5:19 pm Shute Harbour (coach) dep 4 Proserpine arr 6:05 pm dep 6:10 pm Mackay z arr 8:00 pm dep 8:20 pm Sarina dep 8:55 pm Carmila dep 9:53 pm St Lawrence dep 10:46 pm Monday Thursday Rockhampton arr 1:25 am dep 1:35 am Gladstone arr 2:45 am dep 2:48 am Bundaberg arr 4:27 am dep 4:32 am Maryborough West 2 arr 5:25 am dep 5:30 am Gympie North 1 arr 6:29 am dep 6:32 am Cooroy j dep 7:06 am Nambour j dep 7:27 am Caboolture j dep 8:25 am Brisbane (Roma Street) arr 9:10 am Timetable Notes 1 = Gympie passengers change at Gympie North station, where a coach transfer is provided. Passengers joining this train who require transport to Gympie North are to check-in at the Gympie Transit Centre, Duke Street, 45 minutes prior to the departure of the train. 2 = Maryborough passengers change at Maryborough West station, where a coach transfer is provided. Passengers joining this train who require transport to Maryborough West are to check-in at the Maryborough Station Ticket Office 45 minutes prior to the departure of the train. 3 = Bowen passengers change at Bowen station, where a transfer is provided. Passengers joining this train who require transport to Bowen Station are to check-in at the the Taxi Rank adjacent to Bowen Travel Centre, William Street, Bowen, 45 minutes prior to the departure of the train. 4 = Trainlink bus service available between Proserpine, Airlie Beach and Shute Harbour (Whitsundays) on this service. f = Stops only if pre-booked passengers are due to board the train here. You cannot book to leave the train here. j = Stops only if pre-booked passengers are due to leave the train here. You cannot book to board the train here. k = Stops only if pre-booked passengers are due to board or leave the train here. z = Also a refuelling stop. All times are Australian Eastern Standard Time. Fares effective 1st April, 2004 until 31st March, 2005: Single - Business Class - Adult Concession Brisbane to: $A $A St Lawrence    187.00    93.50 Carmila 193.60 96.80 Sarina 203.50 102.30 Mackay 206.80 103.40 Proserpine 216.70 108.90 Airlie Beach (inc. Trainlink coach) 225.50 Shute Harbour (inc. Trainlink coach) 225.50 Bowen 226.60 113.30 Home Hill 236.50 118.80 Ayr 236.50 118.80 Giru 236.50 118.80 Townsville 244.20 122.10 Ingham 262.90 132.00 Cardwell 273.90 137.50 Tully 273.90 137.50 Innisfail 273.90 137.50 Babinda 280.50 140.80 Gordonvale 280.50 140.80 Cairns 280.50 140.80 Fare Notes The Proserpine-Airlie Beach-Shute Harbour component of Business Class fares is based on an economy sitting place on the connecting road coach. Concessional fares are applicable to Children four years and under sixteen years of age. Children under four occupying a seat must pay the child's fare. Students in possession of a Queensland Secondary or Tertiary ID Card or International Student's ID Card. Queensland resident Pensioners and Senior Citizens in possession of their respective Concession Cards. Discounts of 25% off the rail fare apply to interstate Pensioners and Senior Citizens. Conditions apply. Cancellation or rebooking fees may apply if travel is cancelled or amended. Fares do not include refreshments, except for Tilt Train Business Class. Fares include GST (Goods and Services Tax) Travel Facilities and Services The Cairns Tilt Train is a fully air-conditioned service. It uses a diesel power car at both front and rear, similar to the XPT services in New South Wales. Carriages can tilt up to an extra 5° to allow greater speeds through curves at the same level of passenger comfort as traditional trains. The consist is: Power Car A - Luggage Car B - Sitting Car (39 seats) C - Sitting Car (39 seats) D - Sitting Car (39 seats) E - Club Car (Galley Car) F - Sitting Car (25 seats and 3 wheelchair spaces) G - Sitting Car (25 seats and 3 wheelchair spaces) Power Car The train has features for people with disabilities. Note, there are no sleeping cars on this service. Sitting Cars Seats are arranged in a 2-aisle-1 formation. They feature secured overhead lockers and luggage racks. Each seat has built-in footrests and individual audio-visual screens. Power points are available to each row of seats for low-current devices such as laptop computers. Entertainment Easy-to-use headsets are distributed on board. Entertainment is available through individual seat controls. A video information system is available, providing details on the current speed, the expected time of arrival, and 'driver cam' - a view from the front seat. Meals A food and drink service is available to your seat, or alternatvely you can stretch your legs and collect from the Club Car (Galley Car). Toilets Each Sitting Car has 2 toilets. Most toilets have baby change tables. Passenger's Luggage All passengers may have conveyed free of charge two items of luggage not exceeding 25 kilograms (55 pounds) each, plus one piece of hand luggage. Where 'check-in' facilities are available, luggage must be presented at least 45 minutes prior to the scheduled departure time. The liability for loss or damage is limited to $200. Unchecked luggage is carried at the owner's risk. Identification tags should be affixed to all items including hand luggage. Cancellation or Rebooking If travel is unable to be undertaken after the tickets have been issued, cancellation or rebooking fees may apply. Therefore it is imperative that unwanted reservations be cancelled promptly. Reservations May be made up to 325 days in advance. Restrictions do apply for short journeys. Smoking Is not permitted on any QR service. Conditions are subject to change without notice, and other conditions may apply. HOW TO BOOK AND TRAVELTRAIN CONTACT DETAILS