Latest news with #QueenslandRail
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Airport immigration and security is still an embarrassing shambles
Fifty years ago, as university students on very limited budgets, a friend and I used student rail tickets (valid for a month) to travel from Melbourne to Cairns and back again. In those days, there were three classes of sleeper cabins. We used third class which consisted of three, drop-down benches on the wall, upon which we rolled out our sleeping bags. In July, as I was meeting my family in Port Douglas as part of my 70th birthday celebration, I decided to recreate my rail journey by travelling on the Spirit of Queensland train from Brisbane to Cairns. There are no longer sleeper cars on this train, having been replaced by the wonderful RailBed seat – the seat converts to a full-length bed, complete with crisp linen, doona and two pillows and the seat/bed head surround allows for undisturbed sleep by blocking fellow travellers' reading lights. Three substantial and appetising meals (which compared favourably to the airline equivalent) are prepared in the adjacent cafe car and were brought to my seat during the 25-hour trip, along with wine, tea and coffee. Showers and clean toilets are easily accessible at each end of the Rail Bed carriages. Thank you, Queensland Rail for this very comfortable and enjoyable trip down memory lane. Patricia Sandell, Mildura, Vic Price is right I read your review of Ngala Tented Camp, South Africa (Traveller, August 2) and I'd like to let your readers know that they don't need to pay anywhere near the quoted price for a private Kruger safari camp experience. Dismayed at the prices when I started researching our trip, we persevered and found somewhere much more affordable. In May, we stayed at Dzuti Bush Camp, on a 12,000-hectare Kruger concession near Hoedspruit. The camp offers an authentic bush experience with only four en-suited guest tents facing a waterhole and there are no fences. It is run by Judy Meeser and her daughter Sabre who are devoted to conservation of the bush and its animals. It may be basic, but we enjoyed fabulous meals and two daily game drives. We saw many elephants, rhinos, giraffes, lions, buffalo, wildebeest and lots more, all ably guided by Sabre who grew up in the South African bush. Barbara Hilling, Watsonia North, Vic
The Age
4 days ago
- The Age
Airport immigration and security is still an embarrassing shambles
Fifty years ago, as university students on very limited budgets, a friend and I used student rail tickets (valid for a month) to travel from Melbourne to Cairns and back again. In those days, there were three classes of sleeper cabins. We used third class which consisted of three, drop-down benches on the wall, upon which we rolled out our sleeping bags. In July, as I was meeting my family in Port Douglas as part of my 70th birthday celebration, I decided to recreate my rail journey by travelling on the Spirit of Queensland train from Brisbane to Cairns. There are no longer sleeper cars on this train, having been replaced by the wonderful RailBed seat – the seat converts to a full-length bed, complete with crisp linen, doona and two pillows and the seat/bed head surround allows for undisturbed sleep by blocking fellow travellers' reading lights. Three substantial and appetising meals (which compared favourably to the airline equivalent) are prepared in the adjacent cafe car and were brought to my seat during the 25-hour trip, along with wine, tea and coffee. Showers and clean toilets are easily accessible at each end of the Rail Bed carriages. Thank you, Queensland Rail for this very comfortable and enjoyable trip down memory lane. Patricia Sandell, Mildura, Vic Price is right I read your review of Ngala Tented Camp, South Africa (Traveller, August 2) and I'd like to let your readers know that they don't need to pay anywhere near the quoted price for a private Kruger safari camp experience. Dismayed at the prices when I started researching our trip, we persevered and found somewhere much more affordable. In May, we stayed at Dzuti Bush Camp, on a 12,000-hectare Kruger concession near Hoedspruit. The camp offers an authentic bush experience with only four en-suited guest tents facing a waterhole and there are no fences. It is run by Judy Meeser and her daughter Sabre who are devoted to conservation of the bush and its animals. It may be basic, but we enjoyed fabulous meals and two daily game drives. We saw many elephants, rhinos, giraffes, lions, buffalo, wildebeest and lots more, all ably guided by Sabre who grew up in the South African bush. Barbara Hilling, Watsonia North, Vic
Sydney Morning Herald
12-08-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
How to catch a real-life Thomas the Tank Engine steam train in Brisbane
They were retired when the state's steam era ended in 1969, but Queensland Rail kept two, the 1079 and 1089, which are maintained at the Rail Workshops at Ipswich and rolled out for special events. The 1089 entered service in March 1958, and was the last main line steam train to enter service in Australia. But despite being 67 years old – retirement age for an Australian worker – this beauty has been polished up, and the coal loaded for QR celebrations, including to the general public to the Ekka on Wednesday. Steam trains have been described as like a 'living breathing' creature, with personalities all of their own. There's a nostalgic 'chugga chugga choo choo' noise as steam hisses, the wheels rumble, and the whistle shrieks. Tutor driver Peter Cohen said there was a lot of preparation involved in getting the steam train running, including a day or two of polishing. 'To line it up takes three, four hours, get it all oiled and greased, and ready to go, it's a lot of hard work, a lot of shovelling coal and keeping the water up, it's a big day,' he said. The Exhibition Station at the RNA Showgrounds was reopened this year after a renovation, and it will only operate for major events until Cross River Rail opens in 2029. People can board the steam train at Roma Street to the Ekka at 9.05am, 9.55am, 10.35am, 11.25am, 12.05pm, 12.55pm, 2.05pm, 2.55pm. Loading People can either exit at Exhibition Station, or stay on for the loop back to Roma Street, and there will be no boarding onto the steam train from the Ekka. The heritage carriages are not accessible for people in wheelchairs or using a mobility device, and boarding is via ladder style steps and a grab rail.
The Age
12-08-2025
- The Age
How to catch a real-life Thomas the Tank Engine steam train in Brisbane
They were retired when the state's steam era ended in 1969, but Queensland Rail kept two, the 1079 and 1089, which are maintained at the Rail Workshops at Ipswich and rolled out for special events. The 1089 entered service in March 1958, and was the last main line steam train to enter service in Australia. But despite being 67 years old – retirement age for an Australian worker – this beauty has been polished up, and the coal loaded for QR celebrations, including to the general public to the Ekka on Wednesday. Steam trains have been described as like a 'living breathing' creature, with personalities all of their own. There's a nostalgic 'chugga chugga choo choo' noise as steam hisses, the wheels rumble, and the whistle shrieks. Tutor driver Peter Cohen said there was a lot of preparation involved in getting the steam train running, including a day or two of polishing. 'To line it up takes three, four hours, get it all oiled and greased, and ready to go, it's a lot of hard work, a lot of shovelling coal and keeping the water up, it's a big day,' he said. The Exhibition Station at the RNA Showgrounds was reopened this year after a renovation, and it will only operate for major events until Cross River Rail opens in 2029. People can board the steam train at Roma Street to the Ekka at 9.05am, 9.55am, 10.35am, 11.25am, 12.05pm, 12.55pm, 2.05pm, 2.55pm. Loading People can either exit at Exhibition Station, or stay on for the loop back to Roma Street, and there will be no boarding onto the steam train from the Ekka. The heritage carriages are not accessible for people in wheelchairs or using a mobility device, and boarding is via ladder style steps and a grab rail.
7NEWS
11-08-2025
- 7NEWS
Queensland Rail releases shocking footage of near misses, falls, and slips at train stations
Rail operators have released confronting footage of train station accidents. After a compilation of near misses, slips and falls, Queensland Rail is warning passengers to take transport safety seriously. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today The vision shows passengers rushing at closing doors, tripping in the gap between the platform and train, and in one case, falling onto the tracks. In the last financial year, there were 350 reported injuries on the South East Queensland network. Most of these accidents occurred at Brisbane Central, Roma Street and Fortitude Valley stations. This is a significant increase from last year, Queensland Rail General Manager of Security and Emergency Preparedness Drew Brock said. 'Railways aren't playgrounds, and there can be some tragic incidents that occur when people take unnecessary risks like going trackside,' he said. 'Our overhead line equipment carries nearly 30,000 volts of electricity, so do the right thing, keep yourself safe.' Brock described the recent footage as 'shocking'. To prevent future accidents, 'rubber fingers', a filler between the platform and train, are being installed in new stations, with plans to extend the upgrade across the network. Brock emphasised the importance of allowing time for travel and prioritising safety. 'Please don't rush to a train, because there will always be another train service.' He said Rail Safety Week campaigns have improved awareness, but risky behaviours such as phone distraction remain a concern. 'People are distracted by various things and that's why it's extra important when you're on the rail network to stay vigilant.' There is a possibility of a fine for misdemeanours or hazardous behaviour in train stations. 'Authorized officers who have power under transport legislation, and they can issue fines for certain behavioral offences,' Brock said. Passengers are encouraged to stay behind the yellow line, use the lifts if carrying heavy items, and hold children's hands.
