Brisbane airport is connected to Brisbane city by speedy electric railway. Trains operate regularly (15 to 30 minutes apart), and the journey takes about 20 to 25 minutes. Trains call at South Brisbane, Roma Street, Brisbane Central and Fortitude Valley stations. Most trains to and from the Airport continue to or originate from the Gold Coast. There are two stations at Brisbane airport: one at the Domestic terminal, the other at the International terminal. All travel on these trains is covered by the GoCard system. If you don't have a GoCard you can buy one at the airport or at your local Brisbane railway station. Travel to and from either of the airport stations does attract a surcharge to the normal GoCard fares. There is plenty of room for luggage on airport line trains and seats are not reserved, so simply ensure you have enough credit on your GoCard, tap on at the station, hop on board your train and tap off at the destination.
The modern Spirit of Queensland train departs Brisbane Roma Street Station for Cairns five days per week in the mid afternoon (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday). It travels northwards through the evening, overnight and through the next day before arriving at Cairns station late the following afternoon. This is arguably Australia's most modern and technologically advanced passenger train, however its sleeping accommodation is in the form of lie-flat rail-beds rather than sleeping compartments that more traditional overnight trains have. The whole journey from Brisbane to Cairns takes a little more than 24 hours. Tickets must be pre-booked in advance.
Twice each week, Queensland Rail's Westlander train departs Brisbane Roma Street Station for Toowoomba, Roma and Charleville. The train departs Tuesday and Thursday evening and arrives in Charleville at midday the next day after an overnight journey. The train does not carry sleeping berths, it offers seating accommodation only, but food and drinks are available on board. All seats are reserved, so you should book in advance. At Charleville the train connects with co-ordinated road buses that carry passengers onward to Cunnamulla and Quilpie.
From any of Brisbane's downtown railway stations (Fortitude Valley, Brisbane Central, Roma Street and South Brisbane) you can catch a QR Gold Coast line Citytrain which will call at Helensvale, Nerang, Robina and Varsity Lakes stations in the Gold Coast suburbs. Generally speaking, there are two trains every hour, and depending which station you travel to and from, the journey takes 60 to 90 minutes. If you want to travel to downtown Surfers Paradise or to Southport or Broadbeach, you should get off the train at Helensvale station then change to the connecting Gold Coast Light Rail that departs from right next to the station platforms at Helensvale. Trams leave every few minutes and takle about 30 minutes to reach downtown Surfers Paradise. All travel on Brisbane to Gold Coast trains and on Light Rail trams is covered by the GoCard system. If you don't have a GoCard you can buy one at your local Brisbane railway station before boarding the train. Seats are not reserved, so simply ensure you have enough credit on your GoCard, tap on at the station, hop on board your train and tap off at the destination (and tap off and on again if you change to the tram at Helensvale).
Twice each week, Queensland Rail run the Spirit of the Outback train direct from Brisbane to Longreach. The train departs Brisbane Tuesday evening and Saturday afternoon, runs north through the night to Rockhampton, then turns inland and runs through Emerald and Barcaldine before arriving in Longreach a little over 24 hours later.
This train is the very last of QR's great 'Lander' trains with all the luxuries you are entitled to expect - including a dining car, sleeping cars, club car and lounge car. All seats and sleeping berths are fully reserved and you should book in advance to avoid disappointment. If you are travelling onward to Winton, you can change to the connecting QR bus at Longreach.
Late every morning (Except Wednesdays), QR operates a Tilt Train from Brisbane's Roma Street station to Rockhampton. The train is the pride and joy of QRs fleet, and is technologically the most advanced train in the nation. The train journeys through the subtropical countryside before arriving in Rockhampton a little under 9 hours later in the early evening. On Tuesdays and Sundays, a second Tilt Train leaves Brisbane in the late afternoon and will get you to Rockhampton after midnight. Rockhampton trains also pick up at Caboolture and stop at major cities along the way including Gympie, Maryborough West and Bundaberg. These trains offer economy and business class seats and have an onboard galley car from which you can purchase meals, snacks and drinks. All seats are reserved, so you need to book in advance.
NSW Trainlink's Brisbane XPT train runs once each day from Brisbane Roma Street
station to Sydney Central station. The train departs Brisbane early in the morning,
travels through the day then arrives in Sydney in the evening. The journey takes about
fourteen hours. You can also get off this train at Strathfield or Hornsby station in
Sydneys suburbs, at Broadmeadow in Newcastle or at one of many other stations
along the way.
You can also travel to Sydney overnight by catching a NSW Trainlink bus to Casino
via the Gold Coast which connects at Casino with the Casino XPT train to Sydney
Central station. The whole journey takes fifteen and a half hours - of which only the
first three hours are on the bus. The bus departs Brisbane Roma Street station every
day in the evening, and the connecting train arrives at Sydney Central station late the
following morning. You can also get off the train at Strathfield or Hornsby station in
Sydneys suburbs, at Broadmeadow in Newcastle or at one of many other stations
along the way.
The modern Spirit of Queensland train departs Brisbane Roma Street Station for
Cairns five days per week in the mid afternoon (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday
and Saturday). It travels northwards through the evening and overnight before arriving
at Townsville station early the following morning. This is arguably Australias most
modern and technologically advanced passenger train, however its sleeping
accommodation is in the form of lie-flat rail-beds rather than sleeping compartments
that more traditional overnight trains have.
Check out our list of train journeys from major Australian Cities. Each page has links to timetables and online ticket booking for journeys to country and interstate destinations.
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