🇦🇺Riding Australia's Hidden First Class Sleeper Train from Sydney to Brisbane | The XPT

◆NSW TrainLink: The XPT Sleeper Cabin (Sydney Central Station→Roma Street Station)
◆I'm a Japanese train enthusiast and stayed in the Australia🇦🇺 and New Zealand🇳🇿 for 3 weeks.
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[@elizabethmorris197]

I took this trip back in 1983 from Brisbane to Sydney. It was my first solo trip. I wanted to go by train so I could see more of the country. Back then it left in the afternoon and got into Sydney around 8amish. I had a sleeper too. I felt extremely sophisticated!

[@russellmoore1533]

When you did the trip it would not have been the XPTs, see my post here about them.

[@christinescott]

Did you ever take the old night train from Sydney through New England Area?

[@rick7081]

I’ve travelled on this sleeper train. Yours is a very very generous review.

[@candocan1668]

That's a brutal arrival time! Nuts.

[@downunderrob]

I can't see what the point of it is. But it was obviously someone's bright idea.

[@ph89787]

@@downunderrob QR Signal controllers hate the XPT because, between Sailsbury and Roma Street, it shares tracks with the Gold Coast and Beenleigh Line trains. Which slows things down for the morning peak hour.

[@downunderrob]

@@ph89787 Figures.

[@ph89787]

​@@downunderrob​ If the XPT is more than an hour late. The train gets terminated at Casino, and the Passengers are taken the rest of the way on coaches.

[@ph89787]

@@smantle11 That train ends at Casino and it’s a coach the rest of the way to Brisbane.

[@TheCecilia1122]

I always fibd the staff on XPT out of Sydney amazing ....I fravelked with my 100 year old blind mother......I said I woukd need help with alighting, getting to taxis,getting food from buffet to my mother.The head bursar on train provided and organized so much support.....to the extent mother found air conditioning too cold so they heated up some cotton blankets for us both . All bags picked up by trolley bus upon arrival in Central at 8 30pm and we were driven to taxi rank on station. ..two sttion hands waited to handle our suitcases onto taxi. I to give them hm a tip but the boys refused and said they were not allowed to accept" tips" as this service for the disabled wasthi job. Very gratifying experience.....yes flying is quicker,noisier, cumbersome and no scenery ....... XPT very much a country experience...... I am quite converted to rail.

[@sunnesunne4039]

Oh wow definitely brings back memories to my Sydney Uni days....I didnt drive in my first three years of university and this was kind of my only option to get to my hometown in northern NSW....dad would pick me up from the station, always felt like an epic trip, and reminds me of the summer holidays.....so nostalgic.

[@pm2886]

No matter how "rustic" it is, it beats flying. It's quite the adventure, and you some beautiful country.

[@ph89787]

The Brisbane XPT passes my house in Kyogle at 2:45 in the morning, heading north and nearly 8AM heading south. I usually take it south, but recently, I have taken the northbound trip to Brisbane from Kyogle. Kyogle station is also unattended, so when I have either had to take the train or pick people up, it is often similar to the set of a horror movie at night. Kyogle (my home town) is a request stop for the XPT. So it only stops if people are booked to head on or off. The station is also the last one before Queensland and was the original end of the line. You definitely didn't see it on the trip. But north of Kyogle near the Queensland Border is the Cougal Spiral. Or the Border Loop. Where the line at the end of Gradys Creek loops back over itself to climb the hill. Before entering a 1 kilometer tunnel to pass into Queensland.

[@andyyu5957]

Interestingly we have an acquaintance who lives in Kyogle and runs a motel with her partner. We were planning to visit them at the end of last year and considered using the train, but I eventually concluded that getting off in the early hours with elderly parents would be too much risk (although this may just be a figment of my imagination because it is a small village with only about 2500 residents) and inconvenience to our acquaintance (who may feel obliged to pick us up at this ungodly hour). Anyway, the trip did not happen in the end.

[@ph89787]

@@andyyu5957 that’s interesting. As my family runs the 2 motels in Kyogle.

[@andyyu5957]

@ph89787 From the website of the Kyogle motel (not sure about the name of the other one), I can see that you share the same surname as the proprietors. If 1 of them is originally from Hong Kong, then this is the right person I have in mind. In this case, please give my regards to the proprietors. They should know who I am and give you my contact details if you wish to continue the discussion offline. I watched this video knowing that this is the train which we were considering taking, but never expected to possibly end up communicating with a relative of the person we were hoping to visit. It is a small world indeed!

[@ph89787]

@@andyyu5957 the owners are my parents. I’ll pass your regards onto them.

[@alisonbrandt5901]

Been there, done that, got the t-shirt! >10 years ago now, but had rellies in Gosford, Kyogle and outside of Gympie. The only thing worse than the 2:45 departure from Kyogle was stumbling through Roma St at silly o'clock (a bit of a dive, at least back then) to get the first Gympie North train of the day.

[@sepruecom]

that chicken curry is sensational. The first time I've seen veggies look more dead than the meat...

[@rachkate76]

$470 to go one way from Sydney to Brisbane? Domestic travel costs continue to be highway robbery in Australia. No wonder we’ve seen more of overseas than our own country.

[@Neville60001]

@rachkate76, you and other younger (I presume) Aussies know what to do to improve it and work to get HSR built in Australia, then. And, you and other Aussies better get cracking, because (as somebody who doesn't believe in HSR being built in the United States told me), electric jet airliners are coming in 2040; when they do, it will be the end of any initiative to build HSR in nations that don't have any.

[@bradleyfield3944]

I think he paid for both beds to guarantee a cabin to himself?

[@rachkate76]

@@bradleyfield3944 true, but a flight between the two destinations is about $160 and a one hour journey. It’s still ridiculously expensive to travel around this country and even moreso if you’re going outside of the stereotypical Bris-Syd-Melb three main capital cities. To go to the state next door in the NT for example is about $1000 return. I could virtually go overseas for that. It comes down a bit in the wet season but you have to go in the wet season for the price to be worth your while.

[@MaxineBlueMtns]

@@bradleyfield3944yes he did, because I’ve done exactly that on the same train

[@MitchellBPYao]

​@@bradleyfield3944rich boy

[@obus7800]

Crazy arrival time...they need to adjust departure and arrival times...or let you sleep onboard after train arrives.

[@FromtheWindowSeat]

Not possible unfortunately because they have to get the train in and out of Roma Street before peak hour starts, as the train shares tracks with the Beenleigh and Gold Coast suburban/interurban trains, which QR gives priority to.

[@SuperNathan90]

@@FromtheWindowSeat same if the tilt train went to Sydney

[@matty_isthemotto]

Sleep before the train arrives

[@Lillith444]

​@@FromtheWindowSeatthat's fair enough but what amenities are available for the arriving passengers at 4am at Roma St station? Is there a waiting room at least? Very unsafe (not to mention uncomfortable) to be stuck at a train station in the dark with motels and car hire closed.

[@claireb9430]

My husband and I did the same journey pre Covid as a change from flying. The smell from the diesel engine was strong at times and the train's horn blasting at every railway crossing did not make for a good night's sleep. The amenity kit is exactly the same.

[@Blackheathenly]

Welcome to Queensland. Raining one day. Pissing down, the next.

[@NotSoMLG_OCE]

especially in summer when this was filmed. Good old cyclone season

[@aussieskates]

A decade ago I decided to take a last minute vacation to Sydney. Finding out that flight prices were through the roof, I thought it would be fun to go by the XPT Sleeper from Melbourne instead. (Comparing both fares side by side, it was going to be about $200 cheaper return by train). What I hadn't counted on was that the poor rail maintenance made it impossible to sleep. (I had been allocated an upper bunk). But what's worse, it was a bit unnerving having to share my cabin with a total stranger. My first trip was okay (at least they didn't snore). The return home was a nightmare, as the arrogant young man who shared the cabin had the nerve to vape. If I had reported it, he probably would have killed me!

[@user-qy8xl6wo2u]

Maybe old and often late but it beats walking from Sydney to Brissie.

[@dick1123]

Fly or drive 😢

[@labazetta]

😂

[@user-hz2hp7yn4d]

Did you hear about Matt Lawson, he WALKED from Melbourne to Brisbane!

[@Luigi-uj5ml]

Here in Italy, 1st class couchette cars with 4 couchettes and 2nd class couchette cars with 6 couchettes were available. Instead, the compartments of the sleeping carriages could have from one bed up to 3 beds. For a compartment with 3 beds you needed a 2nd class ticket, for a compartment with 2 or with one bed you needed a 1st class ticket.

[@Vinod-cz7sn]

Another new train vlog, "on point," Kuga 🙂

[@MC-bw5fc]

Thanks!

[@kugastravel5180]

Thank you!🤝

[@user-jt1od3oj8j]

This was very informative - thankyou!

[@sneaks01]

Great video! It’s also so nice to get a glimpse of you! 😊

[@littlemiss_76]

I have never been on the XPT but I have seen enough reviews on it. I hope NSW gets better service soon.

[@Sleepysod]

Saw it and immediately thought it was an old Inter-City 125 - was amazed that they managed to export that model/design - xpt must be getting on a bit now. Also the station gates are identical to uk 😮

[@christophe77700]

Thanks for this beautiful discovery. Having a night train arrive at 4 a.m. is not reasonable, they can stop it in one or 2 intermediate stations to delay the arrival time.

[@mark123655]

As per comment above, one of the reasons is the lack of train paths into Brisbane terminal, so the need to get in before the Brisbane suburban peak begins

[@petert3355]

​@mark123655 Also remember the return Sydney trip starts at 8am. That is a 4 hour turnaround in Brisbane.

[@user-hz2hp7yn4d]

It's so people can avoid peak hour traffic and not become part of it 😊

[@razorheadinjapan73]

I live in Japan now, but did this train a few times back in my Brisbane days. My god it was slow with hardly any straight bits of track. Why depart at 2.41 pm for a 3.53 am arrival?? Why not 4.41pm for 5.53am arrival ?

[@garryferrington811]

It's Australia, mate.

[@willx9352]

@@garryferrington811It is Queensland Rail that disctates the time slot into Brisbane.

[@mezanian]

That direct line is mostly for cargo trains, only 2 XPT daily. Other way is rail bus connection from Brisbane to Casino then XPT and it's awful long meandering village crawl all the way.😅

[@jay.andrae]

Queensland during summer the sunrise is at 5AM.

[@Melchior171]

The arrival time into Brisbane is a little less punishing April - September when daylight savings is not in effect in NSW (QLD does not observe DST so is an hour behind for 6 months of the year). A 5am arrival is at least a bit more respectable 😂. I lived in Canberra for 5 years and visited family in Brisbane semi-regularly - the NSW Train link rail pass made it financially feasible because you can pay just the sleeper surcharge of $88 - just like when I use a JR pass on Sunrise Izumo, I just have to pay the room fee and limited express charge (I know Nobi Nobi seat would be included free, but I've done carpet car on Hamanasu and feel no great need for a repeat experience) 😂

[@buttercuppy269034]

I love your videos! Thank you for sharing

[@CB-sx8xh]

The recent upgrades to Sydney central station are fantastic!

[@bodnica]

What about trains?

[@Male666chauvinist]

What’s that got to do with the price of fish you GRONK

[@stephenterrilltraveller]

I'm a XPT travel legend. It's a good network that this service covers.

[@WaiferThyme]

Mood gorning! 😂

[@patrickaltmann72]

thank you very much for the beautiful video. Greetings from Germany

[@858493]

Thanks Kiuga really enjoyed it regards Doc..the loco Driver

[@juliodefreitas157]

Awesome video, thank you for sharing your train ride ❤❤

[@timkelly2901]

Thanks Kuga for an honest and scenic trip report. The XPT is over 40 years old and although slow, is looking good for its age. I look forward to your next report

[@CityandNatureEscapes]

The train arrives at 4:00AM due to having to share train lines in Queensland.

[@bradleyfield3944]

Nah, it's because Queensland and New South Wales can't work together to solve a problem.

[@johnkesby]

🎉🎉 Mood Gorning! Enjoyed this video even more than I was expecting to 🥳🥳very interesting to see this option in your own country when usually just think of flying or driving. definitely something I would consider next time because by the time you added cost of fuel and the hit and miss nature of motel accommodation; delay by roadworks, construction, renovations and outdated hotel rooms! Worth a look! And always loved XPT

[@user-oy1ll5sf7t]

Прекрасное путешествие!!!

[@gemmel3197]

Wow this service stopped decades ago I had no idea that the service was still running. Thank you very much I'll be changing some travel plans.

[@gregpies1649]

Even Indonesia has a bullet train and we still have these old slow dinosaurs and it's almost impossible to sleep on them because of the rattling and noise.

[@user-kc1tf7zm3b]

The numerous impediments of Australia building a high speed rail network are fundamental and can never be resolved. The $130 billion cost is truly astronomical, HSR is not economically viable due to the small population base stretched out over the vast 1,750km distance between the 3 eastern seaboard capital cities, the perceived regional connectivity benefits are not real, and HSR will do little to reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2050.

[@TROYBALLER]

Australia 🇦🇺, the laughing stock to train 🚆 systems worldwide 😮

[@MaxineBlueMtns]

Wow, this brings back memories. I did this trip, as a single person in the sleeper carriage. I couldn’t get any sleep as it was rocking too much. The sun was rising when I got there, so maybe it was when nsw had daylight saving and qld didn’t… or something!

[@jacqudace]

Very interesting!

[@kugastravel5180]

Thank you!🤝

[@MC-bw5fc]

Have fun.. 😊

[@itsmebrenda]

how exciting ! I want to try this sleeper train one day

[@shanequinn8356]

Great video, thanks. I have also travelled this train twice Return and by day seat. After your 3:50am arrival it goes out 8km to Clapham yards near Yeronga, for cleaning and reset then returns (on the NSW 4'8.5" rail) to load the 6am day service back to Sydney. Early to allow 4 coal trains to deliver thru Ipswich to Port of Bne and all before the daily commuter trains that fill the system. The climb loop thru the Border Ranges at the border is beautiful all the way to Grafton so the Day return is worth it too.

[@michaelcollins8330]

The reason it gets in so early is because it goes back to Sydney in the day .NSW trains has been starved for upgrades for decades.

[@NotToLookAt]

You're a brave man! Aussie trains are outdated derelicts! You couldn't pay me to travel on them.

[@sz9443]

Thanks for the tip!! Now I know if I want to reserve a room to myself I need two tickets 😂 sharing a cabin with a total stranger is too much for me!

[@andrewfraser4347]

Unfortunately Australian railways and trains stopped advancing in the 1980’s, now they are just an embarrassment. You paid first class that didn't even include a meal. We really need to lift our game.

[@AlphaGeekgirl]

Well, I can see you’ve never travelled by rail in the US. Their first class has the most appalling food and the prices are more than double that of Australia.

[@papasmurfette007]

It's unlikely to get much better (interstate services). WAY too expensive to run and maintain for the distance, which is why it's so expensive and slow. The billions/trillions required to upgrade the infrastructure to modern high speed trains is out of the question, as voters prefer tax cuts to major spending, and even government run services must make an operating profit (or at least an acceptable loss). We've been 'promised' a high speed train from Sydney to Canberra for decades now, and this is the shortest route that could be anywhere near feasible...

[@andrewfraser4347]

@@papasmurfette007 I don’t want to get political on this young man’s KZbin site but governments have squandered our wealth. Cost should not be an issue. National building stopped here decades ago, now we are left behind with no major infrastructure projects planned apparently always due to cost. We used to be a wealthy country.

[@papasmurfette007]

@@andrewfraser4347 How can cost not be an issue? I love trains, but the fact is the few people who use interstate services (other than those whose houses are serviced by the route) will never make it worthwhile to any government. This "governments have squandered our wealth" line is just a cop out - most of the wealth is owned by private mega corporations who don't pay their share of tax. Voters vote for tax cuts every time rather than infrastructure expenditure, so governments MUST spend money where it does the most good. It's unfortunate and frustrating, but it's simply maths...

[@MrMattw975]

You want to travel on UK trains, ridiculously expensive, not on time & often just cancelled. The service we use from Central Coast to Sydney is a dream in comparison. I took the overnight from Sydney to Brisbane, first class recliner & it was fine for $95.

[@cherylsemrau7100]

Thank you.

[@Rossk58]

I've fond memories of travelling in the sleeper Kyogle-Sydney-return several times as a teenager in the late 70s. It was long train pulled by diesels back then. Needed two stops on several stations. Recall it was called the Brisbane Limited Express. In those days there was another similar train called the Gold Coast Motorail that also carried cars Sydney to the Gold Coast and back. It diverted from the main line at Casino and headed to Murwillumbah via Lismore. Alas it and even that line are gone now.

[@DomingoDeSantaClara]

The one time you want the train to arrive late!

[@tranmere292]

I suspect the NSW railways will take the opportunity to get rid of sleeping accommodation when the new trains arrive, so it's worth trying it now if you're interested. Re the early arrival, I understand it's because at that time the XPT won't interfere with Brisbane's morning commuter rush.

[@user-hz2hp7yn4d]

This is a lovely, polite video. :) I think the xpt is a useful, affordable option (except for the cost of food) and it helps connect alot of country folk to family, friends and specialist medical appointments which may require travel to higher population density areas.

[@garryferrington811]

A very nice video, and, yes, food's the favorite segment. Lavish meal on Australian trains: microwaved pre-packaged chicken curry!...yum. I guess.

[@creativecontent99999]

I once experienced a sleeping car back before xpt a silver train Sydney central to Cooma for the snow season . It was old but nice warm feel not built with anti vandalism features and had a great trip and sleep. I would not think once to ever use a xpt sleeper

[@2eleven48]

Very odd travel times. Sod that for a lark.

[@ph89787]

QR Signal controllers hate the XPT because, between Sailsbury and Roma Street, it shares tracks with the Gold Coast and Beenleigh Line trains, which slows things down during the morning peak hour.

[@Iluthra]

Looks nicer than our Amtrak, unfortunately. Beautiful countryside though. Thanks for sharing your adventure.

[@willx9352]

@@Iluthra Amtrak is better!

[@Iluthra]

@@willx9352 Is it? I have only ridden it twice and the only way to go is a room(ette). This video, the room looked cleaner. The food better.

[@willx9352]

@@Iluthra I have travelled on both. I wouldn’t say one is better than the other. The issue is both could be improved!

[@seanmcdonald5859]

The reason the train leaves so early has more to do with congestion on A bridge in Brisbane, the Merivale bridge, because Qld rail only has two tracks crossing the river and they want to avoid congestion. It's just easier and cheaper to fly because there are so many deals.

[@newbris]

Yes waiting on the two new tunnels to open now!!!

[@johnryan1386]

The fact we didn’t build high speed rail between Melbourne ,Sydney,and Brisbane baffles me. Could have regional hubs and cheaper houses

[@yindyamarra]

Ust went down to Sydney and as a bush bunny the new upgraded central station is brilliant and user friendly

[@darcybowyer5743]

You weren't too far away from me when you made it to Brisbane, I'll say breakfast of Cornflakes and a Just Juice is what I had as a kid. Simple but does the job! Good luck in your travels. 😊 🚄🛳️🚠🛩️ The Land Rover Bloke.

[@gavinthomas4239]

For the money you should get a dinner menu and delivered to your room

[@Padesso2012]

Love all your videos! Thank you!

[@reesadeamer]

I've never done the sleeper trip. I used to be a pensioner. My baby son travelled for free and if I paid full price for my ticket ($100), I paid $1 for each of my older kids (4 of them). We would go between lismore and Newcastle return in economy for $210. Its 10hrs each way and my kids learnt patience and were mostly well behaved on these journeys. TBH, I kinda miss it

[@scottlewisparsons9551]

Thank you for an interesting video. I might actually try this one day. All the best from Sydney

[@MrLaprius]

What I will say is don't count on mobile coverage more than 2km into and out of each stop. There's so much metal in the window tint it blocks EVERYTHING! 😆 It'd probably withstand a nuke!

[@plonss]

A night train arriving at 4 AM while leaving in the afternoon ? One would think that departure in the early evening would have been more practical .... Crazy

[@ph89787]

The reason for that schedule is the QR signallers hate it.

[@mikeymutual5489]

@@ph89787 How many times are you going to post this? Nobody cares, even if they understood it.

[@ph89787]

@@mikeymutual5489 as many times as I see the same comment.

[@mikeymutual5489]

@@ph89787 Excellent. Be boring as many times as you want.

[@bfv8]

@@mikeymutual5489he will stop posting this comment when people stop asking the dumb question, you can tell when people don’t read

[@Abnerbandanovotempoinscrito1mi]

Boa viagem de trem cama show

[@papasmurfette007]

I LOVE trains and live in Sydney, but the only time I ever used a 'sleeper' service taught me to NEVER do so again! Sydney to Melbourne 1992. Booked two seats (not cabins) in non-smoking. We got bumped to smoking as the seats were double-booked (apparently this happened regularly back then), and a lady said she had asthma, so we were asked if we minded moving. Worse night of my life (I know, first world problems) - carriage smelled like an ashtray and people were lighting up all through the night, and too cold to open a window. I'd only ever consider the Indian Pacific or the Ghan now, although they are not cheap...

[@Pyjamarama11]

I should try this sleeper next time i visit Sydney I used the Luxor to Cairo 13 hour sleeper. The beds were east west and the train slowed for every cow, crocodile and level crossing the entire journey One of the worst sleeps in my life ! Ps. I'm working on the HSR project so you should be able to vlog that journey soon (in about 30 years)

[@DanTuber]

I did this a couple of times from Melbourne to Sydney when i was a kid.. The experience was fun to do it once but a flight is only 1 hour so quicker and cheaper to fly.

[@kfsn1904]

I had hoped, you would be able to stay on the train untill 7 or 8 am!

[@3goldfinger]

Did a trip fron Casino to Sydney a few years ago, never again, too slow.

[@MrLaprius]

OMG Kuga-San, I can't believe you went on it!! Our shameful rail!! 🫣

[@Neville60001]

There's _nothing_ that bad about it, Mr. Lapirus; Kuga seemed/seems satisfied with his meal and with the amenities kit/provided snack (as well, somebody said that this was better than Amtrak, but I disagree; it looks the same as what's on Amtrak.)

[@bradleyfield3944]

​​@@Neville60001 Nothing bad about it? Obviously you don't travel on them often. I can't even count on two hands how many times I've had "bus replacement" on these trains. And what's with the night service not running from Brisbane? Seriously, we're supposed to be a first world nation and we can't even run a twice daily service from our 1st and 3rd largest cities.

[@Neville60001]

@@bradleyfield3944, there's bus replacement in the United States when and if you take a train to San Francisco (the train doesn't go into the city, so the train stop at a point outside of the city, and a bus takes you into the city.) If you or anybody else here from Australia wants to see an improvement in passenger railways (say, to the standard of what Kuga uses when he's doing trips in Japan) you & they have to get together and _work_ to get HSR built and for this particular bottleneck to be removed (you and others like you in Australia and other nations with similar complains about the railway have to start working in earnest _soon_ , because electric jet planes are coming, and when those come on line, it'll be the end of any attempts to get HSR built, and the majority will just insist on flying even more than taking the train.)

[@bradleyfield3944]

@@Neville60001 they've been talking about HSR for decades here. But it never eventuates no matter which political persuasion is in government.

[@MrLaprius]

​@@Neville60001the problem is every engine every carriage is 40 years old, there's been no innovation or thought to bring regional rail travel in NSW out of the 80's and really it's a bit of a disgrace. I've ridden that train more times than I can remember.

[@ellyneilsen2865]

13 hours from Sydney to Brisbane isn’t bad considering it takes 5 hours from Pomona (Sunshine Coast) to the Gold Coast and two to two half to drive!!

[@user-lc4cb4ym5s]

December 2023 - shocking experience. Never, ever again. Travelling Brisbane to Sydney (return). Had to travel Brisbane to Grafton by bus, then board the train. I needed reliable electricity connection for my CPAP machine. Even after we were moved from one first class sleeping compartment to another one - still no reliable electricity supply, so a sleepless night. No water supply in the toilets so they shut all the toilets on our whole carriage. That meant no showers working either. On the return trip an announcement (one of way too MANY) advised us that to get to Brisbane we would have to detrain at 2am to finish with a 4 hour bus trip into Brisbane. Once again, no reliable electricity supply for my CPAP, so I waited up all night ready to detrain at 2am. At 1.30am an announcement came over the P.A. that we were continuing right through to Brisbane!! While it was a relief not to have that 4 hour bus trip, why couldn't they have let us all know at a reasonable time, instead of half an hour before we were to get off the train. We will never EVER use this train again.

[@sandyneedham6499]

What a crazy time to arrive - why do they not leave later and arrive in Brisbane at a civilized time?

[@user-iy4vg7kt6k]

Because Queensland Rail wants the train to arrive extremely early so it doesnt disrupt peak hour morning services. Not sure why Melbourne XPT is allowed to come in at 7.30pm tho?

[@anjelkaa4380]

That would require a modicum of intelligence

[@anjelkaa4380]

And the rail schedulers must be pretty pathetic if they cannot accommodate one extra train.

[@realjohnboxall]

The replacement train won't have sleepers, and is a horrible design with under-floor engines... will be much noisier in the cabin.

[@MitchellBPYao]

But comfortable to be by yourself

[@jasonhayward6965]

I remember when they first come out and they were brand new

[@noelkelly4354]

This 80s rolling stock is due to be replaced in 2024. No sleepers are planned for the new rolling stock. There is public pressure for sleeper, so if the new rolling stock has any, it'll be pods or less, not twin shared rooms. I used this service in Dec 23. No idea if it' will still be there in Dec this year (conference on 8 Dec).

[@mariongordon4199]

I'm feeling motion sickness just at the thought of travelling all that way sitting backwards! I avoid the Tangara trains where possible, in case I can’t find a forward-facing seat, and that’s for a journey of less than an hour.

[@Thanatos50029]

The one train I haven't seen at Roma St yet (thanks to ridiculous times)

[@dalemiller5893]

Been there done that but all i heard was clicky clack clicky clack day and night so take some ear plugs 😂😂😂

[@davidstevens4388]

did you get some shud eye dueing the night on the train was it bumpy on the way down from sydney to brisbane

[@Paul-kp1tu]

I like our old trains, I just relax and go with the flow, yes in terms of modern efficiencies they are well past it but with our lack of tax paying population and vast distances we are unlikely to have any fast trains soon. So in the mean time I enjoy the pace, the history and the views. They do need to reduce the costs significantly if growth in any sector , fast or slow is to survive.

[@noppppe1314]

I've done that trip twice up to Qld. Cheaper then flying..

[@wrestlcub]

I don't get it. Why doesn't this train operate like... I dunno... three hours later? Ridiculous arrival time.

[@aussieskates]

Insane arrival time. I thought the point of getting an overnight train would be to avoid the extra cost of getting a hotel room on arrival. You might as well take a daylight service instead.

[@rbaxter286]

But, where's the high speed Silver Emu that Tony and the NBA promised?!

[@papasmurfette007]

In Rhonda's waste paper basket...

[@Aprilsraven629]

The worst about arriving at 4am it that you can't check in to a hotel, unless you pay for that day, check in on the train let reception know your arrival time, then you can go check in and back to bed .... otherwise your a zombie till 2 pm...not a convenient service really

[@darylovaltine]

Not sure if its just the camera work but this train seems unbelievably quiet and steady

[@willx9352]

@@darylovaltine It isn’t, particularly on this route.

[@jameslaidler2152]

Oh hey, we finally saw your face in a video! You're rather cute. In any case, thanks for being kind about our silly trains. Hope the new one has a bigger shower, that wet room gave me the horrors. $500 and that is the experience? Yikes. I'd sooner fly. Most awkward arrival time ever too. Was your hotel able to receive you? My goodness.

[@blktom]

I will never understand why a 14 hour over-night trip like that has to be leave in the early afternoon and arrive at such a early hour in the morning. Why not leave 3 hours later?!?

[@JLR1957]

Because it is less busy! Really it's common-sense. Because Australia is so vast, with a smaller population, there's not as much rail infrastructure.

[@blktom]

@@JLR1957 Not common sense when you don't know that apparently there is only one track.

[@pixies646]

It's an awful time to arrive somewhere. What is open at 4am? You can't check into a hotel. Ridiculous timetabling

[@gazza1858]

Done this journey twice to and from Sydney-Brisbane it’s one of most horrendous train journeys Iv experienced, no sockets to charge anything up no onboard internet overpriced food having to get off early to catch a coach to Brisbane i would never ever do this journey by rail again

[@pinkpolice266]

This is nothing compared to trains in india

[@ozziadventurer]

Yeah i agree the food is atrocious for the price, And they get all that money every year from people buying ticket they REALLY NEED TO Upgrades those trains

[@princephilip-v5t]

@@ozziadventurermost people who travel on trains ride free or subsidised tickets.

👍👍👍👍

[@arokh72]

The early arrival was decided in the 80s, when the service started. Basically the Queensland Government, at the time, didn't want the XPT arrival to interfere with local peak commuter services at Roma St Station, thus the early arrival (4am during NSW DST, 5am outside of DST) was agreed to. Despite the early arrival, it does mean some lovely sub tropical coastal views as you make your way up the NSW Central Coast and North Coast during daylight.

[@petert3355]

Yeah, and yet the return Sydney leg, which runs on the same track, leaves Roma St at 8am, right in the middle of those morning peak commuter services.

[@papasmurfette007]

Yeh, in the 80s. Sir Joh didn't want "those southern communists" coming in, so would make it as hard as possible...

[@newbris]

@@petert3355 I could only see a 6am train, or am I doing it wrong?

[@wendyarnold5256]

❤

[@neilwilliams7479]

Not seen a fold up cup like that for many a year

[@pepelemoko01]

Check-in time at most hotels is 2.00pm, that's 10 hours, to wait.

[@Seiskid]

Exactly. You can't even go to a cafe and have breakfast at 4am.

[@bobmetcalfe9640]

"Gift"? More accurate to say "included in the price."😁

[@florianluo8131]

Way more expensive than a plane, absolute insanely stupid scheduling and tickets can only be purchased at station or by phone, well done, car and plane lobby :D

[@CherylelaineRayment]

The train I believe is based on our hst in England. Class 43

[@geoganicus7238]

How do you hide a train? Especially one that has been going up & down the same line for at least the past 35 yrs.

[@Bluerose888]

Okay this is confusing, if it only sleeps two, why are there three seats? That rainy morning also looked cold.

[@dcanmore]

Overnight sleeper is booked for two people max. Three seats for shorter non-sleep day travel.

[@Bluerose888]

@@dcanmore Got it. thanks.