Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Half-price concession fares are available to kids under 16 years of age, and students with an International Student
Identity Card (ISIC) can get discounts of up to 40%. There are also discounts for seniors and pensioners.
Reservations
Book online or by phone via
Queensland Rail
( 1800 872 467;
www.queenslandrail.com.au
)
. There are also
Queensland Rail travel centres throughout the state. These booking offices can advise on rail travel, sell tickets and put
together rail-holiday packages: see the website for locations.
Train Services
GULFLANDER
The
Gulflander
is a strange, snub-nosed little train that travels once a week along the 152km line connecting the remote
Gulf of Carpentaria towns of Normanton and Croydon - a unique and memorable five-hour journey. Fares are $69/115
one-way/return. Departs Normanton on Wednesday; departs Croydon on Thursday.
INLANDER
The
Inlander
runs from Townsville 977km east to Mt Isa (economy seat $179, single/twin/triple sleeper per person
$375/375/250, 20 hours) on Sunday and Thursday. Returns from Mt Isa Monday and Friday.
KURANDA SCENIC RAILWAY
One of the most popular tourist trips out of Cairns is the
Kuranda Scenic Railway
( 07-4036 9333;
www.ksr.com.au
)
- a spectacular 1½-hour trip on a historic steam train through the rainforest to Kuranda, 34km west of
Cairns. Fares from $49/79 one-way/return; runs daily.
SAVANNAHLANDER
A classic 1960s train, the
Savannahlander
(
www.savannahlander.com.au
) makes the two-day, 229km trip between
Cairns (departs Wednesday) and Forsayth (departs Friday). Trains run between March and December. The journey costs
$227/381 for a single/return trip.
SPIRIT OF QUEENSLAND
Introduced in 2013, this service runs 1681km from Brisbane to Cairns (25 hours, Monday and Friday), with flashy re-
clining 'railbed' seats and premium economy seats. Fares are $369/519 premium economy seat/railbed. Railbed fares in-
clude food. Returns from Cairns Wednesday and Saturday.
SPIRIT OF THE OUTBACK
The
Spirit of the Outback
travels the 1325km northwest from Brisbane to Longreach via Rockhampton (economy seat
$235, triple/1st-class sleeper per person $315/569, 24 hours) on Tuesday and Saturday. A connecting bus service oper-
ates between Longreach and Winton. Returns from Longreach Monday and Thursday.
SUNLANDER
The
Sunlander
travels the 1681km from Brisbane to Cairns three times a week (economy seat $219, single/twin/triple
sleeper per person $499/499/349, Queenslander class $899, 31 hours) on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Returns from
Cairns Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
