Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said there wasn’t a seat to spare in the first train of the new fleet which will provide a boost for the Queensland tourism industry.
“This marks a major milestone in our $200 million investment to deliver world-class long distance rail travel for Queensland’s famous coastal route,” Mr Emerson said.
“Since coming to government we’ve taken an aging fleet and we are delivering something truly unique by raising the bar for train travel in Australia.
“The Spirit of Queensland offers one of the most unique rail journeys in Australia, covering 1681 kilometres of Queensland’s coastline, including the picturesque mountains, cane farms, rainforest, and beautiful regional towns and cities.”
By late 2014 this train will be joined by a brand new tilt train and another refurbished tilt train as part of the Newman Government’s efforts to deliver better infrastructure and support tourism as one of the four pillars of our economy.
All passengers on the 3.45pm train out of Platform 10 at Roma St will enjoy modern, state-of-the art facilities including revolutionary lie-flat Rail Beds and personal entertainment systems.
The train will make the 25-hour journey between Brisbane and Cairns six times a week.
Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief executive Daniel Gschwind, said the Spirit of Queensland provided a unique new product for the Queensland tourism and adds a new dimension to rail travel in Australia.
“Queensland tourism directly contributes $22 billion to the state’s economy and is the second largest export earner, behind coal,” Mr Gschwind said.
“We believe tourism is a huge asset for Queensland and the state needs our sector to remain strong in a competitive market.
“The new Spirit of Queensland service is a major win for tourism in Queensland and is another drawcard for visitors to experience our state by rail.”
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