Tilt Train

The Tilt Train is the name for two similar high speed tilting train services operated by Queensland Rail along the coast of Queensland, from Brisbane, the state capital, through to regional centres Rockhampton and Cairns.

History

QR introduced Australia's first pair of tilting trains in 1998. The Electric Tilt Trains have operated on the Brisbane to Rockhampton corridor for over seven years, reducing travel times by around twenty per cent.^[1][2]

After 1.5 million passenger journeys, the two trains underwent an $8.3 million refurbishment program at Mayne Depot in Brisbane, receiving new carpet, flooring, seat covers and curtains, LCD screens, new reading lights, upgraded audio-visual units, high visibility handrails, seat-back grab rails, and signage to meet Disability Discrimination Act requirements.

The City of Maryborough was overhauled and returned to revenue service, working Tilt Train #Q301 to Rockhampton on 4 May 2006; The City of Rockhampton was withdrawn from service for overhaul the same day.

Following a derailment of the Cairns Tilt Train in November 2004, all Tilt Train services were limited to 100 km/h until track upgrades and the start of Automatic Train Protection allowed full speed operation to resume with a new timetable on 18 June 2007.

Diesel Tilt Train Power Car DTD 5404 performed Driver Training and Design Acceptance Testing of WESTECT ATP Version 25 on the North Coast Line between Brisbane and Townsville from 30 March to 8 April 2006. The Locomotive was permitted to operate at speeds up to 100 km/h (62 mph) in the Brisbane Suburban Area, 160 km/h (99 mph) Caboolture to Rockhampton, and 100 km/h (62 mph) Rockhampton to Townsville in accordance with existing speed boards. ATP Supervisory equipment was fitted to the Locomotive during Driver Training and On-Track testing. During the ATP On-Track testing period a series of tests will be conducted including overspeed, signaling and rollaway.

Routes

Rockhampton

Starting in 1997, the Electric Tilt Train ran from Brisbane to Rockhampton. With a top service speed of 160 km/h (100 mph) (with a maximum achieved and an Australian rail speed record of 210 km/h (130 mph) set in May 1999^[3]), and the ability to tilt five degrees in each direction, the Tilt Train became the fastest train in Australia. The train operates on the main North Coast Line and stops at a few major cities such as Gympie, Maryborough, Bundaberg, Gladstone and Rockhampton. The electric tilt trains run in a multiple unit configuration.

The Rockhampton Tilt Train features 2x2 economy seating, and 1x2 Business class seating. It features mainscreen visual entertainment along with in seat audio entertainment. Economy class passengers have a regular trolley service and a buffet style galley to purchase food from, while business class has a trolley service and passenger attendants to tend to the needs of Business Class Passengers.

Cairns

The original electric Tilt Train could only run as far as Rockhampton because the tracks past there were not electrified. To counter this limitation, a diesel version began development from 1999 that could run to Cairns. In contrast to the Rockhampton Tilt, the Cairns Tilt is a push-pull locomotive based train, although the two are superficially similar in design to the untrained eye.

Cairns Tilt Train features a complete 1x2 Business class seating arrangement. It features in seat audio and visual entertainment, with a TV extending on an arm in the seat. A trolley service is available, and a club car is also available on board this Tilt Train service.

References

External links

• QR Tilt Train