Tilt Train

This article is about Queensland Rail's Tilt Train service in Australia. For tilting trains in general, see tilting train.

Tilt Train is the name for two similar high-speed tilting train services, one electric and the other diesel, operated by Queensland Rail. They run on the North Coast line from Brisbane to Rockhampton (electric) and Cairns (diesel). Services commenced in 1998.

Tilt Train

Tilt Train Wordmark
Overview
Service type	Passenger train
Current operator(s)	Queensland Rail
Route
Termini	Brisbane Rockhampton Cairns
Line(s) used	North Coast
Technical
Rolling stock	Diesel Tilt Train Electric Tilt Train

v t e QR Tilt Train[1][2]
Legend
Brisbane (Roma Street) Caboolture Landsborough[a][b] Nambour[c] Cooroy[b] Gympie North Maryborough West Howard[a][b] Bundaberg Miriam Vale[b] Gladstone Mount Larcom[b] Rockhampton St Lawrence[b] Carmila[b] Sarina[b] Mackay Proserpine Bowen[b] Home Hill[b] Ayr Giru[b] Townsville Ingham[b] Cardwell[b] Tully[b] Innisfail Babinda[b] Gordonvale[b] Cairns Electric Tilt Train route

The name Tilt Train often refers to the electric train service between Brisbane and Rockhampton only.

History

Rockhampton

Electric Tilt Train seen at Roma Street prior to starting a service to Rockhampton

Commencing in 1998, the Electric Tilt Train operates from Brisbane to Rockhampton. With a top service speed of 160 km/h (100 mph) and the ability to tilt five degrees in each direction, the Tilt Train is one of the fastest trains in Australia, having a similar maximum allowed speed in revenue service to the V/Line VLocity and the Transwa Prospector railcar, that both run up to 160 km/h, and New South Wales XPT although the XPT is rarely able to achieve its maximum operating speed due to track condition and curvature. The train operates on the North Coast line and serves the intermediate towns of Gympie, Maryborough, Bundaberg and Gladstone. The electric Tilt Trains run in a multiple unit configuration. In May 1999, the tilt train achieved a top speed under test conditions of 210 km/h.^[3]

The Electric Tilt Train features 2×2 economy seating, and 1×2 business class seating, mainscreen visual entertainment along with in-seat audio entertainment. Economy class passengers have a regular trolley service and a buffet style galley food service, while business class has a frequent trolley service.^[4]

In 2016, Wi-Fi internet access was introduced to the service.^[5]

Economy Class interior of the Electric Tilt Train

Cairns

The Diesel Tilt Train, operating from Brisbane to Cairns, features a 2×2 premium economy class seating arrangement, 1×2 business class seating arrangement (Railbed), in-seat audio and visual entertainment and a TV screen attached to the headrest of the seat in front. A trolley service is available in the Railbed carriages, and a club car is available 24 hours. In October 2013, when the first refurbished set returned to traffic, the service was named the Spirit of Queensland.

Business class seating arrangement of a Diesel Tilt Train

In 2014, an additional train was delivered to replace The Sunlander between Brisbane and Cairns, meaning the only service on this 1,681 km route since that time has been the Spirit of Queensland.^[6][7]

Awards

In 2009 as part of the Q150 celebrations, the Tilt Train was announced as one of the Q150 Icons of Queensland for its role as an iconic "innovation and invention".^[8]

See also

• Queensland portal

• High-speed rail in Australia