QR Tilt Train
Encyclopedia
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The Tilt Train is the name for two similar high speed tilting train services operated by Queensland Rail
Queensland Rail
Queensland Rail, also known as QR, is a government-owned railway operator in the state of Queensland. Under the control of the Queensland Government, Queensland Rail operates the inner-city and long-distance passenger services, as well as some freight operations and gives railway access to other...
along the coast of Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, from Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, the state capital, through to regional centres Rockhampton
Rockhampton
Rockhampton can refer to:* Rockhampton, Queensland is a city in Queensland, Australia* Rockhampton City, Queensland, a suburb of Rockhampton, Queensland* Electoral district of Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia...
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.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
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display is a flat panel display, electronic visual display, or video display that uses the light modulating properties of liquid crystals . LCs do not emit light directly....
, 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and returned to revenue service, working Tilt Train #Q301 to Rockhampton on 4 May 2006; The City of Rockhampton was withdrawn from service for overhaul the same day.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
Cairns Tilt Train derailment
The Cairns Tilt Train derailment occurred at 11:55 pm on 15 November 2004 when the City of Townsville diesel tilt train derailed north of Berajondo, approximately northwest of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia....
in November 2004, all Tilt Train services were limited to 100 km/h until track upgrades and the start of Automatic Train Protection
Automatic Train Protection
Automatic Train Protection in Great Britain refers to either of two implementations of a train protection system installed in some trains in order to help prevent collisions through a driver's failure to observe a signal or speed restriction...
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 (62.1 mph) in the Brisbane Suburban Area, 160 km/h (99.4 mph) Caboolture
Caboolture, Queensland
Caboolture is an urban centre approximately north of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. Caboolture is considered to be the northernmost urban area of the greater Brisbane metropolitan region within South East Queensland, and it marks the end of the Brisbane suburban commuter...
to Rockhampton, and 100 km/h (62.1 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.
Rockhampton
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
to Rockhampton
Rockhampton
Rockhampton can refer to:* Rockhampton, Queensland is a city in Queensland, Australia* Rockhampton City, Queensland, a suburb of Rockhampton, Queensland* Electoral district of Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia...
. With a top service speed of 160 km/h (99.4 mph) (with a maximum achieved and an Australian rail speed record of 210 km/h (130.5 mph) set in May 1999), and the ability to tilt five degrees in each direction, the Tilt Train became the fastest train in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The train operates on the main North Coast Line
North Coast railway line, Queensland
The North Coast railway line is a narrow gauge railway line in Queensland, Australia. It runs from Brisbane, along the Queensland coast to Cairns in Far North Queensland. The line is electrified between Brisbane and Rockhampton...
and stops at a few major cities such as Gympie
Gympie
Gympie may refer to:* Gympie, a city in Queensland, Australia** Gympie Airport** Electoral district of Gympie** Gympie Region, its local government authority* Gympie Gympie , a stinging plant...
, Maryborough
Maryborough, Queensland
Maryborough is a city located on the Mary River in South East Queensland, Australia, approximately north of the state capital, Brisbane. The city is serviced by the Bruce Highway, and has a population of approximately 22,000 . It is closely tied to its neighbour city Hervey Bay which is...
, Bundaberg, Gladstone
Gladstone, Queensland
- Education :Gladstone has several primary schools, three high schools, and one university campus, Central Queensland University. It is also home to CQIT Gladstone Campus.- Recreation :...
and Rockhampton. The electric tilt trains run in a multiple unit
Multiple unit
The term multiple unit or MU is used to describe a self-propelled carriages capable of coupling with other units of the same or similar type and still being controlled from one driving cab. The term is commonly used to denote passenger trainsets consisting of more than one carriage...
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
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
. 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
Push-pull train
Push–pull is a mode of operation for locomotive-hauled trains allowing them to be driven from either end.A push–pull train has a locomotive at one end of the train, connected via some form of remote control, such as multiple-unit train control, to a vehicle equipped with a control cab at the other...
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.