Advice needed for AUSTRALIA trip ~

[JR 500系]

Hi guys!

 

I have booked my airline tickets to Australia Sydney next year! I'm trying to visit and cover as much of Australia as i could, but i cannot find a really suitable rail pass to use. After much discussion and filtering, we decided to travel on the east route; from Sydney to Brisbane to Cairns. Would that means i will need the East Coast Discovery route? I will definately want to travel on the tilt train. 

 

The thing is, i'm having some confusion trying to understand the rail pass.

http://www.acprail.com/rail-passes/australia/east-coast-discovery-pass

 

It states, unlimited travel in one direction only, North or South. Does this mean i have to buy 1 for NorthSouth and 1 for Southbound? I have to travel up to Brisbane and Cairns and then back down to Sydney for home flight.

 

Thanks in advance for your advices and do help me to recommend more interesting sights to see in Australia! Cheers!

[Eisenbahn]

Hi JR500

I am based in Brisbane but had never heard of this rail pass before.

It appears this rail pass is one way only.

 

It would be simpler and cheaper to go by train in one direction and fly the other.

Jetstar www.jetstar.com does the Sydney-Cairns sector in 3hours for A$90-A$150.

 

Two different Diesel trains go between Brisbane-Cairns (3ft6 gauge- Queensland Rail). The Sunlander was introduced in 1953 and has Economy & Business class seats & sleepers and does the run in about 30 hours . The new Diesel Tilt train does it in 23hrs55min. However it now operates as a Business class only train. The Queensland Rail website will have all the details.

 

There is also a new Electric Tilt Train running between Brisbane-Rockhampton. (The line was only electrified to there) I think this train has both Economy & Business seats. Check Queensland rail website.

 

It would be important to read the fine print of this rail pass to see if it included Sleeper berths. If is just economy seats then you could only use the Sunlander.

 

The Sydney -Brisbane (Standard gauge- NSW Rail) run takes 14 hours in a Diesel XPT (Similar to the British Intercity125 if you are familiar with that loco)  www.countrylink.info

There is a second NSW train which runs between Sydney-Casino and then a bus to Brisbane.  Casino is the name of a town. I dont think they have a casino there.

It would be important to read the fine print of the railpass to see which trains could be used.

By the way January & February is the wet season in Queensland....Floods & track washouts etc etc

Good luck with planning your trip....cheers....Eisenbahn

[Davo Dentetsu]

Ah boo, no one ever visits the West.  I'd let you borrow my trains even*. :P

 

*-Maybe

[westfalen]

I agree with eisenbahn's observations.

 

Looks like the pass is good only for economy seats and you have to pay the difference for first or business class or sleepers. It could be good value if you add up the fares of individual journeys. One thing to remember is that unlike Japan and Europe/UK long distance trains in Australia don't have unreserved seats so everything has to be pre-booked. I've lost touch with this side of things a bit after changing from the station master's grade to train crew.

 

I'd consider trying to get on the Sunlander for at least part of the trip as the train only has a couple of years to run.

 

If you have time while in Brisbane consider heading out to Ipswich for a look at the Workshops Rail Museum.

[JR 500系]

Thanks eisenbahn & westfalen for the infomation!

 

Yes indeed i thought of flying into Cairns direct from Sydney and then using the rail pass slowly travel downwards back into Sydney, within say 8 days? I have a total of 10 days, and would love to spend say about 2-3 days in Sydney itself.

 

In Cairns, would probably wanna visit the Green Island and take the underwater boat for viewing the Great Barrier reef...

 

Probably take the tilt train to Brisbane and perhaps spend about 2-3 days there?

 

Travel back to Sydney for some more sightseeing before flying back home.

 

Some tentative planning based on preliminary studies. Any good suggestions as to where else to visit? Perhaps a train hobby store somewhere near Ciarns/ Brisbane/ Sydney will be nice! 

[JR 500系]

Ah boo, no one ever visits the West.  I'd let you borrow my trains even*. :P

 

*-Maybe

 

Sorry, but it seems there is only Perth in the West, and we are not really into beaches nor adventures...

 

But the train-borrowing sounds....  tempting... 

[westfalen]

Ah boo, no one ever visits the West.  I'd let you borrow my trains even*. :P

 

*-Maybe

 

Sorry, but it seems there is only Perth in the West, and we are not really into beaches nor adventures...

 

But the train-borrowing sounds....  tempting... 

A couple of mates and I are thinking of heading over to the Pilbara next year to go chasing the iron ore trains, but that's a trip for the hard core railfans.

 

As for hobby shops in Brisbane I get most of my stuff from ones in Baltimore and Tokyo. Not that there aren't two or three but they don't have anything you can't get somewhere else cheaper and not exactly handy to public transport, you're probably best seeing other things if you're only here for a few days.

[JR 500系]

Thanks westfalen for the info!

 

After some research, i discover it is indeed ALOT cheaper and also faster to fly instead of taking the rail... The Tilt train takes 24 hours to travel from Cairns to Brisbane alone, and i dont think the Mrs would like a FULL day on the train... Besides, the cost of the rail pass is indeed on the high side. With AUD$349 i can actually fly from Sydney to Cairns to Brisbane and back to Sydney... In less than 10% of the time required...

 

Much i would love to take trains, seems like flight is the way to go for city visiting in Australia... Await the days of the high speed rail! 

[westfalen]

Unfortunately I tend to agree with you, and I get a free pass.

 

I've never traveled on the Cairns Tilt Train myself, sitting up doesn't for 24 hours doesn't appeal to me either. At least on the Sunlander you can get a sleeper and walk around the train, spend time in the lounge car and eat in a proper dining car. And don't get me started on New South Wales's XPTs, or Xtra Pathetic Trains as some of us called them when they replaced the much loved Brisbane Limited Express.

 

Maybe you could look at doing some shorter journeys like Cairns to Townsville or Bundaberg to Brisbane.

[KVH1]

Just read this post. Notes posting date. When do you plan to arrive in OZ?

[JR 500系]

Hi KVH1!

 

I've booked the tickets to arrive in Sydney on the 16th March 2013, then directly flying again to Cairns on the same day. Spend about 4 days in Cairns itself, visiting the Great Barrier Reef and of course taking the Kuranda Railway. Leaving Cairns on the 20th to Sydney, forgo-ing Brisbane as i'm going to visit someone special in Sydney ~ 

 

Probably the only train i'm gonna take in Australia would be the Kuranda Railway.. And of course Sydney Metro trains.. Hoping to see the beautiful sights of Australia, esp the Kuranda Railway and Great barrier reef soon!

[marknewton]

Sydney Metro Trains? Jeez, I hope not!  :)  I'm still getting used to our latest corporate name.

 

When I started on the job back in 1975 it was the NSW Public Transport Commission. Then we became the State Rail Authority of NSW. Then just StateRail. That was followed by RailCorp. Now we're Sydney Trains and NSW Trains - until the next coven of witchdoctors come into power!

 

Cheers,

 

Mark.

[westfalen]

If you're going to ride one train in Australia the Kuranda line is as good a choice as any. It's a bit touristy but is still the closest to the Queensland Railways of old running today and with good scenery to boot. Pity you have to miss Brisbane but maybe you'll like what you do see that much that you come back one day to see the rest.

[JR 500系]

Hi Mark! Hhhmm i thought the rails in Sydney are called 'City Rail'? I think i'm confusing the Metro with the trains, right?

 

Thanks westfalen! I thought so too, thinking the Kuranda has the best looking scenry to boot. Would love to travel on the tilt train and also the Ghan and the Sunlander, but is a little too rush for time and wouldnt want the Mrs to be on a train for 24 hours... Apologises for advance, but i dont foresee myself going to Australia a second time as being a Japan rail fan + a poor salary man like myself, the sum set aside for this Australia trip itself could easily cover almost 14 days in Japan including the rail pass... That would mean so much more trains i would love to ride on including all my fav trains like the series 485 Hana, Super Hitachi, DE-10 Nostaglic view train, E5 hayabusa and so on just to name a few, + plently of Japanese food which i loved + of course plently of hobby train kits to buy!

[Eisenbahn]

Best wishes on your Cairns Trip.

 

Here are a couple of shots I took at Cairns Station a few months ago.

One is a carriage from the historic Kuranda Train as it was pulling out of Cairns Station and the other the Diesel Tilt Train just prior to its departure to Brisbane

 

[westfalen]

Hi Mark! Hhhmm i thought the rails in Sydney are called 'City Rail'? I think i'm confusing the Metro with the trains, right?

 

Thanks westfalen! I thought so too, thinking the Kuranda has the best looking scenry to boot. Would love to travel on the tilt train and also the Ghan and the Sunlander, but is a little too rush for time and wouldnt want the Mrs to be on a train for 24 hours... Apologises for advance, but i dont foresee myself going to Australia a second time as being a Japan rail fan + a poor salary man like myself, the sum set aside for this Australia trip itself could easily cover almost 14 days in Japan including the rail pass... That would mean so much more trains i would love to ride on including all my fav trains like the series 485 Hana, Super Hitachi, DE-10 Nostaglic view train, E5 hayabusa and so on just to name a few, + plently of Japanese food which i loved + of course plently of hobby train kits to buy!

I know what you mean, 14 days in Japan would be cheaper for me than a week travelling around Australia too. And I live here! Also agree with your point about all the trains, 14 days in Australia would almost be enough to ride every train and line in the country but in Japan would hardly scratch the surface of Tokyo.

 

If it makes you feel better I've never ridden the Cairns Tilt Train or been to the 'new' Cairns station.

Edited February 23, 2013 by westfalen

[JR 500系]

Thanks for the well wishes and the pictures Eisenbahn! Very nice tilt train pic!

 

Westfalen - yes, Australia is, unfortuantely, expensive to travel in. I would believe it is by far, one of the most expensive country i have been to, Sweden was even more expensive with just a plate of normal fish and chips costing almost 40 Euros! Luckily for me it was a company trip so... Been regretting too much now, and that negetive impacts on the Mrs. Bad of me as i'm susposed to be positive and all Sammy-Sunshine for the trip. After making the iternary, i do feel much better about the trip itself, and the sights and sounds that i would be visiting. Still, the 'come-back' options lingers far back on the mind with the shinkansens running around it...  

[marknewton]

Hi Mark! Hhhmm i thought the rails in Sydney are called 'City Rail'? I think i'm confusing the Metro with the trains, right?

 

Sorry, I was being facetious! :)

 

At the moment we are still CityRail, but by June we will be in a new organisation to be called Sydney Trains...

 

Cheers,

 

Mark.

[VJM]

We'll just assume that by "Metro" he means metropolitan trains.

 

Just like "Metro" in Melbourne isn't remotely a metro rail system, no matter how much the PTV PR people insist.

[marknewton]

No, but the mob who are currently running trains there use it as a brand-name.

[Eisenbahn]

Mark,

 

When I was at one of the (Sydney) underground stations in the city last month I noticed a blue signal light and a railway staff member on the platform with a blue flag .

 

Most places I have travelled , platform flags are red or green and signal lights are red green amber.  Is blue in widespead use on the New South Wales network?

 

When I first saw the guy with the blue flag I made a joke that he must be a NSW football referee or supporter who was lost.

 

(For the benefit of International forum members, Blue is the State sporting colour for NSW and is used as the States rugby league football colours in the three annual matches against Queensland who use maroon as its colour.  Queensland Rail also used to paint its trains maroon but now has a brighter red.)

 

 

feeling blue.......Eisenbahn

[marknewton]

Eisenbahn, the staff you saw with the blue flag are known as "repeaters", they are used at the underground CBD stations and Central during peak hours when visibility along the platform is reduced by crowding. 

 

You would have noticed that the employees with the blue flag were at the ends of the platform, and that there would be another employee roughly in the middle of the platform with a white flag. That employee is responsible for giving the guard the "right-of-way" signal. Once the repeaters use their blue flags to indicate that there are no more passengers entering or leaving the train, the ROW employee then gives the guard the white flag, and then the train can proceed.

 

 

The blue light is a guard's indicator. See page 8 of this document:

 

http://www.railsafe.org.au/railsafe_docs/pdf/8079/NSG_604_v7.pdf

 

Guard's indicators aren't signals themselves, they show the guard that the signal at the departure end of the platform is displaying a proceed indication. They're used throughout the suburban electrified area, even in locations where the signal is normally clearly visible to the guard. They're very useful at stations on the underground, as the signals are mounted low on the tunnel walls, and are often obscured from view by the passengers standing on the platforms. When illuminated, they give both the guard and the ROW employee assurance that the departure signal is not showing a stop indication.

 

Having said all that, when the employee is giving a right-of-way signal to a loco-hauled train, the procedure differs, and they will have a red and green flag as well.

 

All the best,

 

Mark.

[JR 500系]

Interesting! Didnt know the Sydney trains had these features!

 

I never saw a conductor in my Sillypore metro system, unless until it breaks down and they all come out from their hiding den...  

[Eisenbahn]

Hi Mark,

 

That is very interesting. Thanks for explaining it. I wasnt even there on peak hour and the platform was packed with people who were waiting for a following train. The guy with the flag mid platform had trouble pushing through waiting passengers.

The blue light and flag system will have to be rethought if the network goes driver-only.

 

cheers....Eisenbahn