 Tilt Train Wordmark | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Passenger |
| Current operator | Queensland Rail |
| Route | |
| Termini | Brisbane Bundaberg Rockhampton |
| Line used | North Coast |
| Technical | |
| Rolling stock | Electric Tilt Train |
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Tilt Train is the brand name for the high-speedtilting train service operated byQueensland Rail. The service runs on theNorth Coast line fromBrisbane toBundaberg andRockhampton, serving the intermediate towns ofGympie,Maryborough andGladstone. The service operates usingElectric Tilt Train rolling stock.
On 6 November 1998, Australia's first pair of tilting trains entered service betweenBrisbane andRockhampton. Simply marketed as theTilt Train, the journey time was reduced from nine hours to seven hours. In July 1999, a second daily service was introduced between Brisbane and Bundaberg. In May 2003, theTilt Train service completely replaced the Spirit of Capricorn service.[citation needed]
With a top service speed of 160 km/h (100 mph) and the ability to tilt five degrees in each direction, theElectric Tilt Train is one of the fastest trains in Australia. The train has a similar maximum allowed speed to theV/Line VLocity, theTranswa Prospector railcar and theNew South Wales XPT, although the XPT is rarely able to achieve its maximum operating speed due to track condition and curvature. In May 1999, the train achieved a top speed of 210 kilometres per hour (130 mph) under test conditions.[3]
The Electric Tilt Train features 2×2 Economy class seating and 1×2 Business class seating. All seats include an audio and visual entertainment system. A trolley service is provided in Business class, and an onboard cafe is available on some journeys.[4] Wi-Fi internet access was introduced in 2016.[5]
In 2009 as part of theQ150 celebrations, the Tilt Train was announced as one of theQ150 Icons of Queensland for its role as an iconic "innovation and invention".[6]
