Great Southern (train)

This article is about an Australian rail service. For the train operator formerly known by a similar name, see Great Southern Rail (Australia).

The Great Southern is an Australian experiential tourism train operated since 2019^[1][2] by Journey Beyond between Adelaide and Brisbane. It runs both ways during the summer months of December to February.^[3]

Great Southern

The Great Southern passing through the Cullerin Ranges in 2023.
Overview
Service type	Transcontinental passenger service
Status	Running, December to February
Locale	Australia
First service	6 December 2019
Current operator(s)	Journey Beyond
Route
Termini	Adelaide Parklands Terminal Brisbane Acacia Ridge Rail Terminal
On-board services
Seating arrangements	No
Sleeping arrangements	Yes
Technical
Rolling stock	Commonwealth Railways stainless steel carriage stock
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Route map Legend Adelaide South Australia Victoria The Grampians (Stawell) Greater Melbourne disembark Broadmeadows re-board Inverleigh Victoria New South Wales Canberra disembark Yass Junction re-board Goulburn Hunter Valley disembark Maitland re-board Broadmeadow Coffs Harbour New South Wales Queensland Brisbane This diagram: view talk edit

NR30 and NR31 pulling Great Southern at Greenbank QLD, 4th Dec 2022

Similar to Journey Beyond's other luxury rail holidays on The Ghan and the Indian Pacific, the Great Southern is a slow journey across the country with a series of off-train guided tours along the route. The Adelaide to Brisbane service takes three days and features guided tours of the Grampians National Park in Victoria, Canberra and beaches along the northern coast of New South Wales. The Brisbane to Adelaide service takes four days with beachside dining in northern New South Wales, a guided tour of the Hunter Valley and Newcastle, and a stop at the Twelve Apostles.^[1][4]

Although Brisbane's Roma Street station handles all other long-distance rail services, the length of the train precudes the Great Southern from terminating there. Instead, the service terminates at a freight terminal in the southern suburb of Acacia Ridge.^[5]

References

1. "Great Southern explores new territory". Great Southern Rail. 23 November 2018. Archived from the original on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
2. Siebert, Bension (20 November 2018). "Great Southern Rail to launch Adelaide-Brisbane service". InDaily. Archived from the original on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
3. "Ready to book?". Journey Beyond. 2024. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
4. Meacham, Steve (24 November 2018). "Great Southern train from Adelaide to Brisbane: Australia's new luxury train unveiled". Traveller. Archived from the original on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
5. Dennis, Anthony (10 February 2020). "The new Great Southern train service links Adelaide and Brisbane". Traveller. Archived from the original on 18 August 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2022.