Spirit of Capricorn

Last updated

Spirit of Capricorn
Dia 0373.jpg
Spirit Of Capricorn departing Bundaberg Railway Station in 1989.
In service1988 to 24 May 2003
Manufacturer Walkers
Built at Maryborough
Replaced24 May 2003
Entered service1988
Number built20 carriages
Number in service0
Formation4 × 6 carriage sets
Fleet numbers151-158
Operator(s) Queensland Rail
Line(s) served North Coast
Specifications
Maximum speed120 km/h (75 mph)
Track gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Spirit of Capricorn
BSicon KBHFa.svg
Roma Street
BSicon HST.svg
Caboolture
BSicon HST.svg
Landsborough
BSicon HST.svg
Nambour
BSicon HST.svg
Cooroy
BSicon HST.svg
Gympie North
BSicon HST.svg
Maryborough West
BSicon HST.svg
Howard
BSicon BHF.svg
Bundaberg
BSicon HST.svg
Miriam Vale
BSicon HST.svg
Gladstone
BSicon HST.svg
Mount Larcom
BSicon KBHFe.svg
Rockhampton

The Spirit of Capricorn was a long distance passenger rail service in Queensland, Australia, Operated by Queensland Rail between 1988 and 24 May 2003. It operated between Rockhampton, Queensland and the Capital of the state, Brisbane at its station Roma Street.

Contents

Route

Commencing in 1988, the route was same as the Capricornian which had been suspended from overnight services the following year. This was because of the introduction of the Spirit of Capricorn which actually used the new InterCity Express multiple unit trains. The route ran from Roma Street Station to Rockhampton Station via many stations including Nambour, Gympie North, Bundaberg and Gladstone. In 1993, The Capricornian was merged with the Midlander to form the Spirit of the Outback which ran all the way to Longreach Railway Station. Due to this, the Spirit of Capricorn became the only train operating directly between Rockhampton and Brisbane thus removing all competition.[ citation needed ]

Demise

In 1998, Queensland Rail introduced the Electric Tilt Train service which ran between Rockhampton and Brisbane and greatly reduced travel due to its 160 km/h (99 mph) operating speed which by far was superior to the Spirit of Capricorn's I.C.E carriages. [1] Due to this, the Spirit of Capricorn services were reduced to once a week.


The QR Electric Tilt Train in the paint scheme used from 1998. QR TiltTrain.JPG
The QR Electric Tilt Train in the paint scheme used from 1998.

Finally with the introduction of the Diesel Tilt Train service in 2003, the Spirit of Capricorn was suspended and made its last on 24 May. The InterCity Express trains were then used on the Sunshine Coast Line. As of November 2021, all of them have been retired from service.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inter-city rail</span> Inter-city passenger rail transport

Inter-city rail services are express passenger train services that run services that connect cities over longer distances than commuter or regional trains. They include rail services that are neither short-distance commuter rail trains within one city area nor slow regional rail trains stopping at all stations and covering local journeys only. An inter-city train is typically an express train with limited stops and comfortable carriages to serve long-distance travel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rockhampton</span> City in Queensland, Australia

Rockhampton is a city in the Rockhampton Region of Central Queensland, Australia. The population of Rockhampton in June 2021 was 79,967, making it the fourth-largest city in the Central Queensland region, as well as the eighth most-populous city in the entire state, and the 22nd-largest in Australia. Today, Rockhampton is an industrial and agricultural centre of the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queensland Rail</span> Railway operator in Queensland, Australia

Queensland Rail (QR) is a railway operator in Queensland, Australia. Owned by the Queensland Government, it operates local and long-distance passenger services, as well as owning and maintaining rolling stock and approximately 6,600 kilometres (4,101 mi) of track and related infrastructure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doomben railway line</span> Railway line in Brisbane, Australia

The Doomben railway line is a railway line in the City of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. It is the part of the Pinkenba railway line that still operates a regular passenger service. Doomben, or dumben, is the Indigenous Yuggera name for a tree fern which was prolific in the area. The railway line branches from the North Coast line at Eagle Junction, extending 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) to the industrial suburb of Pinkenba, situated on the northern bank at the mouth of the Brisbane River. It is part of the Queensland Rail Citytrain network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tilt Train</span>

Tilt Train is the name for two similar high-speed tilting train services, one electric and the other diesel, operated by Queensland Rail. They run on the North Coast line from Brisbane to Rockhampton (electric) and Cairns (diesel). Services commenced in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Coast railway line, Queensland</span> Railway line in Queensland, Australia

The North Coast railway line (NCL) is a 1,681-kilometre (1,045 mi) 1067 mm gauge railway line in Queensland, Australia. It commences at Roma Street station, Brisbane, and largely parallels the Queensland coast to Cairns in Far North Queensland. The line is electrified between Brisbane and Rockhampton. Along the way, the 1680 km railway passes through the numerous towns and cities of eastern Queensland including Nambour, Bundaberg, Gladstone, Rockhampton, Mackay and Townsville. The line though the centre of Rockhampton runs down the middle of Denison Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gympie North railway station</span> Railway station in Queensland, Australia

Gympie North railway station is located on the North Coast line in Queensland, Australia. It serves the town of Gympie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Sunlander</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sunshine Coast railway line</span>

The Sunshine Coast railway line refers to the section of Queensland's North Coast line that has regular interurban passenger services, which connect Brisbane with the Sunshine Coast and as far north as Gympie. It is the longest line on the Queensland Rail Citytrain network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rail transport in Queensland</span>

The rail network in Queensland, Australia, was the first in the world to adopt 1,067 mm narrow gauge for a main line, and now the second largest narrow gauge network in the world, consists of:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">InterCity Express (Queensland Rail)</span>

The InterCity Express was a class of electric multiple units manufactured by Walkers, Maryborough for Queensland Rail in 1988/89. They were built to operate the Spirit of Capricorn service on the North Coast line service between Brisbane and Rockhampton. Since being superseded on this service, they were used on Sunshine Coast line services from Brisbane to Gympie North until mid-2021. As of November 2021, all units have been retired from service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High-speed rail in Australia</span> Overview of the high-speed rail system in Australia

High-speed rail in Australia has been under investigation since the early 1980s. Every Federal Government since this time has investigated the feasibility of constructing high-speed rail with speeds above 200 km/h, but to date nothing has ever gone beyond the detailed planning stage. The most commonly suggested route is between Australia's two largest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, which, as of 2023, is the world's sixth busiest air corridor. Various corridors have been proposed for a potential high-speed line. The distance between them is around 800 km (500 miles), which requires very high speeds to make trains competitive with air travel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cairns Tilt Train derailment</span>

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 342 km (213 mi) northwest of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia.

In the late 1970s and 1980s, a significant rail electrification program was completed in the Australian state of Queensland. The electrified Queensland network is the largest in Australia with over 2,000 kilometres electrified, the next biggest is New South Wales with 640 kilometres, that is served mainly as passenger operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rockhampton railway station</span> Railway station in Queensland, Australia

Rockhampton railway station is located on the North Coast line in Queensland, Australia. It serves the city of Rockhampton.

The Capricornian was a passenger train that operated in Queensland, Australia between 1970 and 1993. It travelled on the North Coast line between Brisbane and Rockhampton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Midlander (Queensland Rail)</span>

The Midlander was a passenger train that operated in Queensland, Australia between 1954 and 1993. It travelled on the Central west line between Rockhampton and Winton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queensland Railways 2100 class</span> Class of 24 Australian Co′Co′ diesel-electric locomotives

The 2100 class is a class of diesel locomotives built by Clyde Engineering, Eagle Farm for Queensland Railways between 1970 and 1973.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diesel Tilt Train</span> Australian higher-speed railway services

The Diesel Tilt Train is the name for three high-speed tilting trains, operated by Queensland Rail on the North Coast line from Brisbane to Cairns as part of its Spirit of Queensland service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electric Tilt Train</span> Australian higher-speed tilting train services

The Electric Tilt Train is the name for two identical high-speed tilting trains operated by Queensland Rail for the Tilt Train service on the North Coast line from Brisbane to Rockhampton which entered service in November 1998.

References

  1. "All aboard Australia's first Tilt Train - The Queensland Cabinet and Ministerial Directory". statements.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 27 June 2019.

See also