Queensland

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Queensland Rail operates passenger services throughout the State including suburban and interurban services in South East Queensland and long distance services north to Cairns and west from the coast to Charleville, Longreach and Mount Isa.

Queensland Rail is also responsible for part of the rail network meaning they operate a range of infrastructure trains.

Queensland Rail is also responsible for the ongoing management of Queensland's heritage fleet, which includes a range of steam and diesel locomotives, railmotors, and heritage rollingstock, some of which are operational. Heritage operations are based at the North Ipswich Workshops (also home to The Workshops Railway Museum).

Queensland Rail is established under the Queensland Rail Transit Authority Act 2013 and is, in effect, owned by the Queensland Government.

Aurizon (formerly QR National) was formed by way of the separation of QRs passenger and freight operations, which led to the eventual privatisation of QR National (the freight business).

Aurizon operates coal trains throughout Queensland, including being the only operator in the West Moreton system which extends west of Brisbane. They also operate mineral trains on the Mount Isa Line and limestone trains near Gladstone.

Whilst Aurizon historically played a significant role in the intermodal sector, that part of their business was sold to Linfox. Aurizon maintained some involvement through a hook and pull contract with Linfox. Aurizon does, still however, operate a single service between Rockhampton and Winton.

As part of the sale of QR National, Aurizon was provided with a 99 year lease over the Central Queensland Coal Network which comprises the Blackwater and Goonyella systems along with part of the North Coast Line.

With the deregulation of the Queensland rail market, Pacific National, originally founded through the combination of various operations in southern States, was the first entrant to the Queensland market, to compete with the incumbent (and at the time, government owned) QR National (now Aurizon). 

Originally branded as Pacific National Queensland (PNQ), their operations initially focused on North Coast intermodal services between Brisbane and Mackay, Townsville and  Cairns. They have since developed a strong service offering in this sector, in competition to the Linfox/Aurizon services.

Pacific National has since expanded its Queensland operations into coal haulage in the Moura, Blackwater, Goonyella and Newlands systems. They also operate mineral trains on the Mount Isa line. 

Watco Australia is a unique freight operator in Queensland, in that they have no coal or other minerals trains. 

They initially started operating grain trains in south-western and central Queensland and have since expanded to regular cattle services to meatworks at Dinmore and Holmview near Brisbane and Lakes Creek (North Rockhampton).

Watco's main operational base is at Warwick, through a partnership with Southern Downs Steam Railway (DownsExplorer) while they also have maintainence capaibilites in Emerald.

Watco's approach to rural operations has seen a resurgence in this traffic and they appear to be aggressively targeting expansion.

The Spirit of Queensland operates between Brisbane and Cairns along the length of the North Coast Line, servicing regional cities and towns along the route including Townsville, Mackay and Rockhampton.

The Spirit of Queensland is operated by a diesel tilt train, which consists of two locomotives, one at each end and specially designed carriages. The Diesel Tilt Train was introduced in 2003 and ran in tandem with The Sunlander. By 2014, the diesel tilt train service was expanded to replace The Sunlander and subsequently renamed The Spirit of Queensland. 

The Electric Tilt Train operates between Brisbane and Rockhampton, with a dedicated daily service to Bundaberg. The Electric Tilt Train is an electric multiple unit and is permitted up to speeds of 160km/h, however is actually capable of going even faster, having been clocked at 210km/h in an official speed test in 1999.

In some instances the speed of this train actually makes it comparable to driving between locations, with a journey between Brisbane and Bundaberg taking 4 hours, 40 minutes.

The Spirit of the Outback is a traditional locomotive hauled passenger train that travels between Brisbane and Longreach twice a week in both directions. 

The train runs up the North Coast Line to Rockhampton and then out along the Central Line, through Emerald to Longreach. The Spirit of the Outback is the only remaining passenger on the QR network to retain traditional sleeping accommodation in private compartments.

The service was originally called The Midlander when the "lander" series of trains were setup in Queensland and ran between Rockhampton and Winton. In 1993, the service was extended to Brisbane, to provide sleeping options on this route as they were lost on other trains, while also being truncated to Longreach.

The Westlander runs twice a week between Brisbane and Charleville, servicing various cities and towns in south western Queensland including Toowoomba, Dalby, Chinchilla, Miles, Roma, Mitchell and Morven.

Originally provided as a full service passenger train, the withdrawal of the M series carriages in 2014 led to the train being reduced to sitting carriages only.

The Inlander runs twice a week between Townsville to Mount Isa, servicing various cities and towns in north western Queensland including Charters Towers, Hughenden, Richmond, Julie Creek and Cloncurry. It is the only Queensland Rail regional passenger service to not commence in Brisbane.

Originally provided as a full service passenger train, the withdrawal of the M series carriages in 2014 led to the train being reduced to sitting carriages only.

Downs Explorer (formerly Southern Downs Railway) is based in Warwick in south western Queensland and offers one of the most comprehensive heritage operations in the State. The volunteer run group runs mainline heritage tours to the north, south and west of Warwick to destinations including Toowoomba, Clifton, Stanthorpe, Wallangarra (currently closed) and Goondiwindi. The southern part of this region is particularly notable. It forms part of the original Brisbane to Sydney route, where the change of gauge (and train) occurred at Wallangarra, right on the border (the border line runs through the platform). Referred to as the Granite Belt, this area is known for its large granite outcrops and wine production. Downs Explorer operates a range of heritage rollingstock, including a restored C17 steam locomotive.

DownsSteam has quickly risen to become an important part of the heritage landscape in Queensland railways. Having commenced mainline operations in 2024, they now boast a fleet consisting of two operational steam locomotives (C16 and BB18 1/4), a 2000 class railmotor and passenger carriages. DownsSteam run tours from either Toowoomba or their operating base, just to the south at Drayton. Regular destinations include Clifton, Brookstead, Wyreema and Stanthorpe.

The Kuranda Scenic Railway is an epic journey from Cairns on the coast, across the open cane fields and up the range to Kuranda. The railway is a feet of engineering having been constructed in 1915 as a way of opening up the interior of Far North Queensland. The railway includes many scenic features including panoramic views back to the coast, Stoney Creek Falls trestle bridge and the station stop at Barron Falls. Two trains run up the range in the morning and return in the afternoon, consisting of two 1720 class locomotives and specially restored heritage carriages.

The Savannahlander journey takes passengers from Cairns on the coast, up and over the Great Dividing Range through Kuranda and Mareeba, across the farming districts around Dimbulah to the dry savannah country of inland Far North Queensland. The train is operated by a fleet of 2000 Class Railmotors run by Cairns Rail based in Cairns North. 

Note: This train does not run in the summer wet season. Click below to find out more about specific running dates.

The Gulflander operates on the "railway from nowhere to nowhere", which refers to the line between Normanton and Croydon in remote Far North Queensland gulf country. The line is the only part of the Queensland Rail network that is not connected with the balance (note however the Weipa line, which is not a QR line, is also isolated). The Gulflander is run by a historic railmotor set owned by Queensland Rail and based in Normanton. 

Note: This train does not run in the summer wet season. Click below to find out more about specific running dates.

Aussie Outback Tours operates tourist trains from its base at Longreach along the Central Line to the east as far as Ilfracombe and to the north as far as the Darr River. The tours are run using two 2000 class railmotors leased to the operators by Queensland Rail. 

The Australian Railway Historical Society (Queensland Division) runs mainline steam tours under the name Sunshine Express using Queensland Rail's heritage fleet, consisting of one or more steam locomotives and restored heritage carriages. Tours range in length from single day to multi-day, with a recent tour running from Toowoomba to Roma and return.

We offer a range of resources dedicated to Queensland railways.

We provide you with all the key locations to find information about Queensland railways.

We collate a range of railway related events in one place.