53-578: The Sunlander was a long distance passenger rail service operated by Queensland Rail on the North Coast line between Brisbane and Cairns in Queensland between June 1953 and December 2014. It has been replaced by the Spirit of Queensland . From December 1924, when the North Coast line was completed, a steam hauled non air-conditioned train provided the service. In 1935, a new train named
106-694: A Federal Court judgement, Aurizon's intermodal and trucking business was acquired by Linfox for A$ 7.3 million. In October 2021, Aurizon agreed terms to purchase One Rail Australia . The transaction was approved in July 2022 by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) after the commission accepted Aurizon's court-enforceable undertaking to dispose of the seller's Hunter Valley coal haulage and Queensland coal haulage business to maintain competition levels. The ACCC Chair, Gina Cass-Gottlieb, said: "We are also satisfied that
159-738: A Queensland Government -owned company, it was privatised and floated on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) in November 2010. The company was originally established in 2004–05 when the coal, bulk, and container transport divisions from Queensland Rail were brought under one banner as QR National. In 2019, the company operated in five Australian states ; on an average day it moved more than 700,000 metric tons (690,000 long tons) of coal, iron ore, other minerals, agricultural products and general freight – equating to more than 250 million tonnes annually. Aurizon also managed
212-456: A Board of three Commissioners was appointed to reduce political influence. This was reduced back to a single Commissioner in September 1895. Note: from 1 July 1991 the position of Commissioner for Railways ceased to exist, replaced by a Chief Executive Officer, reporting to a board of Directors. QR operates urban and interurban rail services throughout South East Queensland as part of
265-514: A Queensland Rail group. Under the revised arrangements Queensland Rail Limited retained assets and liabilities and staff were transferred to the QRTA. As a result of transferring the staff to the QRTA, the government moved those employees from the federal industrial relations system to the state-based industrial relations system, giving the state more control over industrial arrangements. In November 2013, five labour unions commenced legal proceedings in
318-526: A contract from Duralie Colliery to Stratford Mine. Another coal contract was won in late 2003 for the haulage of coal from Newstan Colliery, Fassifern to Vales Point Power Station . In 2004, Interail began running Brisbane to Melbourne and Sydney to Melbourne intermodal services. In June 2005, Queensland Rail acquired the CRT Group . In June 2006, the Western Australian business of
371-564: A premium First Class experience, with premium toiletries packs, bath robes, premium bedding and meals included, made up with carriage stock formerly used on the Queenslander service. Facilities and accommodation of Queenslander Class were as follows: Facilities and accommodation on the Sunlander portion of the train from 2003 onwards were as follows: With the widespread retirement of the M Series carriages, several carriages allocated to
424-418: A train. The carriages were designed to travel to all parts of the system with a maximum axle load of nine tons, which was a challenge for the dining cars. New features included showers in the sleeping cars, roomettes in first class and head end power cars, especially necessary where trains may be delayed by floods or other events, as was often the case. The Sunlander commenced service on 4 June 1953, replacing
477-596: Is a railway operator in Queensland , Australia. Queensland Rail is owned by the Queensland Government , and operates both suburban and interurban rail services in South East Queensland, as well as long-distance passenger train services connecting Brisbane to regional Queensland. QR also owns and maintains rolling stock, in addition to approximately 6,600 kilometres (4,101 mi) of track and related infrastructure. Queensland Railways
530-783: The Australian Railroad Group was purchased. QR was responsible for all Queensland freight services, and from 2002 operated interstate services under the Australian Railroad Group , Interail and QR National brands. These were all spun out into a separate entity in July 2010, and later privatised as Aurizon . In June 2009, the Queensland Government announced the privatisation of Queensland Rail's freight business. This resulted in Queensland Rail's freight assets being transferred to QR National (now Aurizon ) from 1 July 2010. In April 2013,
583-625: The Australian federal government supply A$ 220 million in funding to repair and upgrade the Eyre Peninsula Railway lines . The proposal included re-opening the Port Lincoln–Wudinna and Cummins-Kimba lines and upgrading the outloading facilities at Viterra's Lock, Wudinna, Cummins, Kimba and Rudall sites. An annual target of at least 1.3 million tonnes of grain haulage was estimated. Aurizon and Viterra planned to have
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#1732797578368636-476: The Geraldton region since mid-2021. In February 2022, Aurizon commenced a five-year contract to haul mineral sands from Broken Hill to Kwinana for Tronox , to be extended 320 km east to Ivanhoe , where a new loading facility has been constructed. Following a vote by its shareholders, in 2012 QR National was rebranded as Aurizon. The CEO at the time, Lance Hockridge, said the new name derived from
689-715: The High Court of Australia alleging that the QRTA was subject to the federal industrial jurisdiction rather than the state system. In April 2015, the court ruled the QRTA was subject to the Fair Work Act 2009 and the federal industrial relations jurisdiction. The Commissioners of the Queensland Railways were: Note: from 29 April 1869 to 15 July 1870, the Secretary for Public Works was appointed Commissioner for Railways. Note: from 29 July 1889
742-569: The Queensland Parliament passed the Queensland Rail Transit Authority Bill 2013 that restructured Queensland Rail. The explanatory notes published for the bill outlined that the existing Queensland Rail Limited entity would remain although no longer be a government-owned corporation and that entity would become a subsidiary of a new Queensland Rail Transit Authority (QRTA), in effect creating
795-707: The Sunshine Express was introduced. This train of wooden carriages featured varnished timber internal panelling made from natural Queensland timbers. Comforts for that period included electric fans, electric lighting, and leather upholstered seating. Accommodation included sleeping berths for first and second class passengers and seating only carriages. In December 1949, Queensland Railways placed an order with Commonwealth Engineering for eight M series carriage sets totalling 99 carriages to introduce air-conditioned rolling stock to its long distance services. In addition QR's own North Ipswich Railway Workshops built
848-557: The Sunshine Express . This new air conditioned train was hauled by a diesel locomotive and by eliminating steam locomotive servicing stops, the transit time to Cairns was reduced from 45 to 41¼ hours. By the time it ceased in December 2014, the time had been cut to 31 hours with many infrastructure upgrades having taken place. As further rolling stock was delivered, a second weekly service commenced on 30 November 1953 building up to five on 9 December 1955. The much delayed Ipswich built set
901-658: The Translink network. Rail services operate on twelve lines, Beenleigh , Caboolture , Cleveland , Doomben , Exhibition , Ferny Grove , Gold Coast , Ipswich-Rosewood , Redcliffe Peninsula , Shorncliffe , Springfield and Sunshine Coast . QR operate these with the Electric Multiple Units (EMU) , Suburban Multiple Units (SMU) , Interurban Multiple Units (IMU) and New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) class electric multiple units . Queensland Rail operate five long-distance passenger rail services, under
954-460: The 2670 kilometres (1660 miles) Central Queensland coal network that links mines to coal ports at Bowen , Gladstone and Mackay ; it was the largest haulier of iron ore outside the Pilbara . In 2021, a major corporate change was foreshadowed when Aurizon sought to acquire rail operator One Rail Australia . The corporate regulator, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission , approved
1007-566: The Brisbane network with the coal networks via the North Coast line . The project was to be carried out in four stages: In September 1999, Queensland Rail was rebranded as QR. In March 2002, Queensland Rail purchased Northern Rivers Railroad and rebranded it Interail , fulfilling a long-held ambition of expanding beyond its state borders. In March 2003, Queensland Rail entered the Hunter Valley coal market when Interail commenced
1060-491: The North Coast line was electrified in 1989 with the 3900 class operating the service south of Rockhampton . Following the cessation of electric locomotive working on the North Coast line, The Sunlander was again diesel hauled throughout. Following the reorganisation of Queensland Rail's freight operations in preparation for privatisation , the locomotives were provided by QR National . On 1 July 2014, this function
1113-568: The Sunlander have been preserved. The Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway at Swanbank were gifted six M-class cars following their retirement. Of those, three had been formerly used on The Sunlander: Four of the M-class cars (including two of those listed above) have now undergone work to return them to traffic as the Queensland Pioneer Dinner train over the seven kilometres scenic railway outside Ipswich , and are sporting
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#17327975783681166-1125: The United Kingdom, Baldwin Locomotive Works of the United States, as well as Australian manufacturers Clyde Engineering , Evans, Anderson, Phelan & Co , Islington Railway Workshops , Newport Workshops , Phoenix Engine Company, Toowoomba Foundry and Walkers Limited . It also built some in-house at North Ipswich Railway Workshops . In 1936, the company owned 750 locomotives, 67 railcars, 998 coaches, 94 mail cars , 177 brake vans and 18.699 goods wagons. Dieselisation commenced in 1952 with early purchases being imported from GE Transportation and English Electric , before standardising on locally made products from A Goninan & Co , Clyde Engineering, English Electric and Walkers Limited. Electric locomotives were purchased from Clyde Engineering, Walkers Limited and Siemens . Electric multiple units have been purchased from Walkers Limited, Downer Rail and Bombardier Transportation ,
1219-803: The blue and white livery they first wore in 1953. These cars had their first trip as the Queensland Pioneer Dinner Train on 22 July 2017. The Q Train is a fine dining restaurant on the Bellarine Peninsula in Victoria . It operates on the Bellarine Railway . They acquired a large number of Sunlander coaches and renovated them to become Australia's only dedicated fine-dining rail experience. [REDACTED] Media related to The Sunlander at Wikimedia Commons Queensland Rail Queensland Rail ( QR )
1272-804: The brand name Queensland Rail Traveltrain: Connecting road coach services are operated. Annual patronage all travel and tourism servies in 2022-23 was 690,000. In 2007/08, the subsidy for the Brisbane-Cairns route (NCL) was $ 130 million, or $ 900 per passenger. In 2001/02 it was $ 270 million. Queensland Rail also operate two tourist services: Queensland Rail operated many named trains including: QR sourced steam locomotives from many manufacturers including Armstrong Whitworth , Avonside Engine Company , Beyer, Peacock & Company , Dübs & Co , Kitson & Co , Nasmyth, Wilson & Co , Neilson and Company , North British Locomotive Company , Vulcan Foundry and Yorkshire Engine Company all of
1325-546: The coastal strip between the beaches and the Great Dividing Range passing diverse country including the Glasshouse Mountains , the sugar cane country of North Queensland and the tropics beyond Townsville . The Sunlander was operated by M series carriage stock. From the early 1980s this was supplemented by L series stock. Motive power was provided by diesel locomotives throughout until
1378-526: The decision was made, it is understandable. The network evolved as a series of isolated networks. It wasn't until the completion of the North Coast line in December 1924 that all were joined. The exception was the Normanton to Croydon line which always remained isolated. At its peak in 1932, the network totaled 10,500 kilometres (6,524 mi). Changing transport patterns resulted in the closure of many development branch lines from 1948 onwards, but at
1431-416: The divestment of One Rail's east coast business would preserve it as a potential competitor to Aurizon for the supply of non-coal bulk rail haulage in the future, and Aurizon would continue to be constrained by a number of existing bulk rail haulage competitors.” The sale was completed on 29 July 2022, and Aurizon took over One Rail Australia's South Australian, Northern Territory and interstate operations
1484-490: The entire mainland other than the Northern Territory when their first Melbourne – Perth intermodal container service started. In August 2008, QR National took over the operation of Melbourne– Horsham container service for Wimmera Container Line, after Pacific National withdrew its service. In 2009, the Queensland Government announced that Queensland Rail 's commercial activities were to be separated from
1537-706: The fleet and retiring of the remaining EMU and ICE units. 4 Stored 1 Under overhaul QR owned locomotives include 1724, 1725 (stored), 1732, 1734 (overhaul)*, 1738, 1744*, 1746, 1751 (stored)*, 1752 (stored), 1754 (stored), 1764*, 1771* and 1774* *Locomotives in Kuranda Scenic Railway livery 2 Rebuilt 1 Rebuilt 1 Stored 1 Under construction 1 Planned 1263 donated by ARHS(QLD). Stored in Townsville pending transport. SXV from Set 38 stored in bogie shop. 1650 donated by ARHS(QLD). Stored in good condition after partial restoration initiated by
1590-412: The following day under the brand, "Aurizon Bulk Central". In December 2022, Aurizon agreed to an offer by Magnetic Rail Group Pty Ltd to purchase the divested assets. The buyer was to pay about $ A425 million ($ US284.3 million) – the equity value of the east coast business – and assume existing debt facilities, which originally totalled $ A500 million. Proceeds$ , A125 million of which
1643-472: The forefront for the repairs and maintenance of the fleet. Notable incidents involving Queensland Rail include: Aurizon Aurizon Holdings Limited ( / ə ˈ r aɪ z ən / ə- RY -zən ) is a freight rail transport company in Australia, formerly named QR National Limited and branded QR National . In 2015, it was the world's largest rail transporter of coal from mine to port. Formerly
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1696-498: The government's core passenger service responsibilities, formed into a new company named QR National Limited, and privatised . The new company was incorporated the following year, taking: QR National obtained a 99-year lease over the 2300 kilometres (1400 miles) Queensland coal network, comprising: On acquiring the lease, QR National became responsible for the maintenance of the coal lines. The rolling stock workshops at Redbank , Rockhampton and Townsville were included in
1749-413: The government's desire for the fastest possible construction timeframe at the least cost. This resulted in the adoption of sharper curves and a lower axle load than was considered possible using the standard gauge, and an assessment at the time put the cost of a narrow gauge line from Ipswich to Toowoomba at 25% of the cost of a standard gauge line. In a colony with a non-indigenous population of 30,000 when
1802-465: The largest non-coal contract in the history of the company. The company stated that services would begin in April 2023 and that by April 2024, five weekly services would run east–west (Melbourne–Sydney–Adelaide–Perth); two would run north–south (Brisbane–Sydney–Melbourne). The first revenue service of this contract departed Melbourne for Perth on 8 April. In March 2023, Aurizon and Viterra proposed that
1855-700: The latter of two which are still present in Queensland to this day. With the closure of many rural branch lines in the 1990s there was excess motive power on the QR and it was chosen to standardise by using Clyde based diesel locomotives. Most, if not all of the English Electric locomotives were withdrawn by 2000. In June 2021 QR announced that it had shortlisted 3 applicants ( Alstom , CAF and Downer Rail ) to manufacture 20 (later expanded to 65) new electric multiple units . These will allow for expansion of
1908-494: The line largely followed the alignment surveyed by a private company, the Moreton Bay Tramway Company , which had proposed to build a 1,435 mm ( 4 ft 8 + 1 ⁄ 2 in ) standard gauge horse-drawn tramway but had been unable to raise funds to do so beyond an initial start on earthworks. The adoption of a narrow gauge was controversial at the time and was largely predicated by
1961-601: The network reopened within 12 months if funding were approved. In February 2023, Aurizon inaugurated two Melbourne–Perth containerised freight services and in September 2023 a weekly return container service on the Melbourne-Sydney - Brisbane corridor in collaboration with its customer, Team Global Express . On 23 February 2022, as part of the 2022 eastern Australia floods , freight train Y279 derailed at approximately 3:30am due to flash flooding that had resulted in
2014-449: The networks, an ageing diesel-electric locomotive fleet and the increase in diesel fuel costs. By early 1983, a decision had been made to electrify the networks and by early 1984, contracts were already starting to be let for the new locomotives and other works for the project. The decision was made to electrify with the 25 kV AC railway electrification system as used on the Brisbane suburban network. This would allow future connection of
2067-564: The previous custodian. 1651 donated by ARHS(QLD). Stored pending restoration. This table only includes locomotives owned by Queensland Rail. QR also hires locomotives from Aurizon as required. From its inception, QR's primary workshops were the North Ipswich Railway Workshops . It was replaced by the Redbank Railway Workshops in the 1960s. The Mayne Yard rail precinct is now
2120-481: The price that it should be allowed to charge its clients – for example when the Authority used a lower weighted average cost of capital that did not account for the risk that clean energy poses to fossil fuel. On 20 February 2023, Aurizon announced it had re-entered the interstate intermodal market on being awarded a A$ 1.8 billion 11-year contract with Team Global Express (formerly Toll Global Express ) –
2173-485: The privatisation. The float took place in November 2010. In August 2021, Aurizon signed a six year agreement with CBH Group (with two options to extend for a further two years) to provide rail haulage services for their grain trains. Although scheduled to transition in May 2022, all parties agreed to bring the handover date forward to September 2021. Aurizon had already been informally providing rail haulage services in
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2226-575: The sale subject to One Rail Australia's coal-haulage business in New South Wales and Queensland being divested . Aurizon's purchase of One Rail Australia's assets not subject to divestiture occurred in July 2022. Divestiture of the remaining assets occurred on sale to Magnetic Rail Group on 17 February 2023. The company in 2023 was Australia's largest rail-based transport business, transporting more than 250 million tonnes (246 million long tons) of commodities per year. The QR National brand
2279-506: The same time the main lines were upgraded to provide contemporary services, and from the 1970s an extensive network of new lines was developed, particularly to service export coal mines. Commencing in November 1979, the Brisbane suburban network was electrified . In 1978, discussions were commenced on the possible electrification of the Blackwater and Goonyella coal networks. This was due to an expected increase in coal traffic across
2332-559: The same year, QR National acquired logistics company CRT Group , for which it already provided line haulage. In 2006, QR National acquired Australian Railroad Group (ARG), which operated in New South Wales , South Australia and Western Australia . ARG remained a separate subsidiary operation until it was rebranded as QR National in 2011. In 2007, the company acquired the Golden Bros Group. In 2019, after
2385-415: The service was gradually replaced by the Spirit of Queensland using extra Diesel Tilt Trains . From 13 October 2014, the number of weekly services was reduced from three to one, with the last service departing Cairns on 31 December 2014. The route followed the North Coast line from Brisbane in the sub tropical region of South East Queensland through to the tropical north region. The train travelled
2438-476: The words Australia and horizon . Marketers opined that the name was "a nearly perfect example of all that can go wrong with a rebranding" and that it was "a classic case of people making a weird hybrid name to try and make it unique and interesting so that people will remember it. This is not true: people don't remember made-up words." In 2005, QR National incorporated a subsidiary, Interail , which had been acquired in 2002 and operated in New South Wales. In
2491-544: Was commissioned on 10 May 1961, allowing the service to build up to six services per week, this was reduced back to five on 8 November 1970 to release stock for the Capricornian . This was further reduced when the luxury Queenslander commenced operating on the Brisbane to Cairns route. On 29 February 1992, a motorail service was introduced. The Queenslander was later merged in with the Sunlander to offer "Queenslander Class" accommodation on selected services. In 2014,
2544-487: Was established in the 2004–05 financial year when Queensland Rail 's coal, bulk and containerised business units were brought under one banner. The company's major traffic at the time was coal, both for export and domestic power generation, in Queensland. In 2005, QR National started to operate export coal services in the New South Wales Hunter Valley . By 2008, its operations extended across
2597-574: Was seen as a priority. As adequate river transport was already established between the capital Brisbane and the then separate settlement of Ipswich , the railway commenced from the latter locality and the initial section, built over the relatively flat, easy country opened to Bigge's Camp , at the eastern base of the Little Liverpool Range , on 31 July 1865. Called the Main Line , the only significant engineering work on that section
2650-522: Was taken over by Queensland Rail. Facilities and accommodation onboard remained generally consistent throughout the history of the train, although some changes were made over time with the addition and removal of carriages. Facilities and accommodation after the refurbishment of carriages in the 1990s featured: From 2003 through to the last service, the Sunlander service was merged with the Queenslander train and provided two levels of "First Class" accommodation on selected trains. Queenslander Class featured
2703-624: Was the bridge over the Bremer River to North Ipswich. Tunneling excavation through the Little Liverpool Range delayed the opening of the next section to Gatton by 10 months, but the line was opened to Toowoomba in 1867, the ascent of the Main Range being the reason for the adoption of narrow gauge. Built by the Queensland Government to the unusual (for the time) gauge of 1,067 mm ( 3 ft 6 in ),
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#17327975783682756-427: Was the first operator in the world to adopt a narrow gauge (in this case 1,067 mm or 3 ft 6 in ) for a main line, and this remains the system-wide gauge in Queensland. The colony of Queensland separated from New South Wales in 1859, and the new government was keen to facilitate development and immigration. Improved transport to the fertile Darling Downs region situated west of Toowoomba
2809-538: Was to be deferred for 12 months, would be used initially to reduce Aurizon's debt and would form part of Aurizon's available capital. After the ACCC gave regulatory approval, the sale was completed on 17 February 2023. As Aurizon's infrastructure was a monopoly, it was subject in 2018 to regulation by government organisations including the Queensland Competition Authority . Aurizon disputed
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