This is a video of Queensland Rail's electric tilt trains taken in various locations along the North Coast railway line in Queensland. These are the only regional electric passenger trains in Queensland.
The electric tilt trains operate between Brisbane and Rockhampton 8 times a week. Also they operate between Brisbane and Bundaberg 12 times a week. Therefore providing a daily fast passenger rail service to all communities between Brisbane and Rockhampton. A journey from Brisbane to Bundaberg take 4 hours and 30 minutes and Brisbane to Rockhampton takes 7 hours and 45 minutes. This is about 2 to 3 hours quicker than the diesel locomotive hauled carriage sets that operated train services between Brisbane and Rockhampton before the electric tilt trains.
The electric tilt trains are configured in permanently coupled 6 carriage units that consists of a single business class carriage with a 1 + 2 seating layout, two economy class and buffet carriages with a 2 + 2 seating layout, three economy class carriages with a 2 + 2 seating layout. These trains are comfortable to travel on. This is one of the best regional daylight long distance train in Australia.
The electric tilt trains were built in 1998 by Walkers Limited in Maryborough Queensland. The trains are based on a design similar to the Japanese Railways Shikoku 8000 series. The electric tilt trains are the fastest trains in Australia at 210kph a record set in 1999 also they are the fastest narrow gauge trains in the world to this day. However in regular service they reach a maximum speed of 160kph. The electric tilt trains run on 1067mm narrow gauge tracks. The tilt mechanism provides upto 5 degrees of tilt through curves thus allowing higher speeds and a smoother ride. The electric tilt trains are powered by 25KV 50Hz overhead catenary wires.
During the electric tilt trains 24 years of service they have undergone two refurbishments once in 2006 and in 2016 thus extending the trains operational life. As of 2023 the electric tilt trains are undergoing their third major refurbishment and as a result a reduced train service is currently operating with only 5 services a week in each direction. Currently Queensland Rail has no plans to replace the electric tilt trains any time soon. So enjoy your travels on them for many years to come.
The footage in this video was produced between 2017 and 2023.
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11 сен 2024
