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{{Short description|Passenger rail service in Queensland, Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2015}}
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{{routemap
{{routemap
|title =The Westlander
| title = The Westlander
⚫
| map = KBHFa~~[[Roma Street railway station|Brisbane]]
|map =
⚫
KBHFa~~[[Roma Street railway station|Brisbane]]
HST~~[[Corinda railway station|Corinda]]
HST~~[[Corinda railway station|Corinda]]
HST~~[[Ipswich railway station, Queensland|Ipswich]]
BHF~~[[Ipswich railway station, Queensland|Ipswich]]
HST~~[[Rosewood railway station|Rosewood]]
HST~~[[Rosewood railway station|Rosewood]]
HST~~[[Laidley railway station|Laidley]]
HST~~[[Laidley railway station|Laidley]]
HST~~[[Gatton railway station|Gatton]]
HST~~[[Gatton railway station|Gatton]]
HST~~[[Helidon railway station|Helidon]]
HST~~[[Helidon railway station|Helidon]]
HST~~[[Toowoomba railway station|Toowoomba]]
BHF~~[[Toowoomba railway station|Toowoomba]]
HST~~[[Oakey railway station|Oakey]]
HST~~[[Oakey railway station|Oakey]]
HST~~[[Dalby railway station|Dalby]]
HST~~[[Dalby railway station|Dalby]]
HST~~[[Chinchilla railway station|Chinchilla]]
BHF~~[[Chinchilla railway station|Chinchilla]]
HST~~[[Miles railway station|Miles]]
HST~~[[Miles railway station|Miles]]
HST~~[[Yuleba railway station|Yuleba]]
HST~~[[Yuleba railway station|Yuleba]]
HST~~[[Wallumbilla railway station|Wallumbilla]]
BHF~~[[Roma railway station|Roma]]
HST~~[[Roma railway station|Roma]]
HST~~[[Mitchell railway station|Mitchell]]
HST~~[[Mitchell railway station|Mitchell]]
HST~~[[Morven railway station|Morven]]
HST~~[[Morven railway station|Morven]]
Line 69: Line 68:
In the 1888 timetable the train from Brisbane to [[Roma railway station|Roma]] was officially called the ''Western Mail'', with some runs extended through to [[Morven, Queensland|Morven]]. With the opening of the line from Morven to Charleville on 1 March 1888 the train was again extended.<ref name=TravelTrain>{{cite web
In the 1888 timetable the train from Brisbane to [[Roma railway station|Roma]] was officially called the ''Western Mail'', with some runs extended through to [[Morven, Queensland|Morven]]. With the opening of the line from Morven to Charleville on 1 March 1888 the train was again extended.<ref name=TravelTrain>{{cite web
|url=http://www.traveltrain.com.au/2/about_traveltrain/about_traveltrain/history.asp|title=About Traveltrain - History
|url=http://www.traveltrain.com.au/2/about_traveltrain/about_traveltrain/history.asp|title=About Traveltrain - History
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907085037/http://traveltrain.com.au/2/about_traveltrain/about_traveltrain/history.asp
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907085037/http://traveltrain.com.au/2/about_traveltrain/about_traveltrain/history.asp
|archivedate=7 September 2008
|archive-date=7 September 2008
|publisher=www.traveltrain.com.au|accessdate=2008-08-30}}</ref>
|publisher=www.traveltrain.com.au|access-date=2008-08-30}}</ref>


[[Victorian Railways]] introduced air-conditioned trains in 1935, and [[Queensland Rail]] decided to follow suit in the late 1940s. [[Queensland Railways steel carriage stock#M series|Steel carriages]] were designed to travel to all parts of the system, meaning a maximum axle load of 9 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.
[[Victorian Railways]] introduced air-conditioned trains in 1935, and [[Queensland Rail]] decided to follow suit in the late 1940s. [[Queensland Railways steel carriage stock#M series|Steel carriages]] were designed to travel to all parts of the system, meaning a maximum axle load of 9 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|head end power]] cars, especially necessary where trains may be delayed by floods or other events, as was often the case.


==History==
==History==
The ''Westlander'' was introduced in August 1954, replacing the ''Western Mail'' and its wooden carriages with the present [[Commonwealth Engineering]], [[Rocklea, Queensland|Rocklea]] steel air-conditioned carriages. The route from Brisbane to [[Cunnamulla, Queensland|Cunnamulla]] was {{convert|973|km|mi}}, with a connecting service to [[Quilpie, Queensland|Quilpie]] from Charleville, {{convert|777|km|mi}} from Brisbane.<ref name=RailwayAge>{{cite book|author=Robin Bromby|title=The Railway Age in Australia|publisher=Lothian Press|year=2004|page=97|isbn=0-7344-0715-7}}</ref> Initially the Quilpie connecting train was not air-conditioned, so in 1967 a generator was fitted to an insulated van to provide power for an air-conditioned sitting car and mechanical refrigeration for the van to provide this comfort on the Quilpie service.
The ''Westlander'' was introduced in August 1954, replacing the ''Western Mail'' and its wooden carriages with the present [[Commonwealth Engineering]], [[Rocklea, Queensland|Rocklea]] steel air-conditioned carriages. The route from Brisbane to [[Cunnamulla]] was {{convert|973|km|mi}}, with a connecting service to [[Quilpie, Queensland|Quilpie]] from Charleville, {{convert|777|km|mi}} from Brisbane.<ref name=RailwayAge>{{cite book|author=Robin Bromby|title=The Railway Age in Australia|publisher=Lothian Press|year=2004|page=97|isbn=0-7344-0715-7}}</ref> Initially the Quilpie connecting train was not air-conditioned, so in 1967 a generator was fitted to an insulated van to provide power for an air-conditioned sitting car and mechanical refrigeration for the van to provide this comfort on the Quilpie service.


Later the ''Westlander'' was divided at Charleville, the service to Quilpie being nicknamed the ''Flying Flea'' and consisted of two passenger carriages, a guards van and power van. In August 1994 the service was cut back to Charleville.<ref>"QR's Westlander Service Truncated" ''[[Railway Digest]]'' September 1994 page 14</ref>
Later the ''Westlander'' was divided at Charleville, the service to Quilpie (3Q02) being nicknamed the ''Flying Flea'' and consisted of two passenger carriages, a guards van and power van. The remainder of the train (3V02) headed to Cunnamulla via Westgate and Wyandra. In 1970 the Flea had the honour of being the fastest train in Queensland, with an average speed of {{convert|49|km/h|mi/h}}


In August 1994 the service was cut back to Charleville.<ref>"QR's Westlander Service Truncated" ''[[Railway Digest]]'' September 1994 page 14</ref>
⚫
The return service departed Cunnamulla at 09:00 arriving in Brisbane at lunchtime the next day. Even with the line speed from Cunnamulla being {{convert|30|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}, the train was still preferred by many due to the lack of quality roads at the time.<ref name=RailwayAge/> By 1957 freight wagons were also attached to the train, including louvred steel QRX and QLX-T wagons, and MPR refrigerated wagons. Up to 16 vehicles could make up the train.<ref name=RailwayAge/> Passenger services beyond Charleville to Cunnamulla and Quilpie were withdrawn in 1994.<ref name=TravelTrain/>

⚫
The return service (3907) departed Cunnamulla at 09:00 arriving in Brisbane at lunchtime the next day. Even with the line speed from Cunnamulla being {{convert|30|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}, the train was still preferred by many due to the lack of quality roads at the time.<ref name="RailwayAge" /> By 1957 freight wagons were also attached to the train, including louvred steel QRX and QLX-T wagons, and MPR refrigerated wagons. Up to 16 vehicles could make up the train.<ref name="RailwayAge" /> Passenger services beyond Charleville to Cunnamulla (3V02) and Quilpie (3Q02) were withdrawn in 1994.<ref name="TravelTrain" />


==Today==
==Today==
[[File:Westlander route diagram.png|thumb|center|500px|Route diagram of the Westlander]]
As at October 2020 the train runs twice weekly to Charleville with a journey time of 17 hours. Connecting coach services operate to Cunnamulla and Quilpie.<ref>{{Queensland Timetables|Westlander}}</ref>
As at October 2020, the train runs twice weekly to Charleville with a journey time of 17 hours. Connecting coach services operate to Cunnamulla and Quilpie.<ref>{{Queensland Timetables|Westlander}}</ref>


The westbound service (3S86) departs from Platform 10 at [[Roma Street railway station|Roma Street Railway Station]] on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:15pm and arrives at [[Charleville railway station, Queensland|Charleville Railway Station]] at 11:45am on Wednesdays and Fridays.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Timetable|url=https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/Planyourtrip/timetable|access-date=2020-12-28|website=www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au}}</ref>
The westbound service (3S86) departs from Platform 10 at [[Roma Street railway station|Roma Street Railway Station]] at 7:15pm on Tuesdays and at 6:55pm on Thursdays and arrives at [[Charleville railway station, Queensland|Charleville Railway Station]] at 11:45am on Wednesdays and Fridays.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Timetable|url=https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/Planyourtrip/timetable|access-date=2020-12-28|website=www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au|archive-date=11 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911033801/https://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/Planyourtrip/timetable|url-status=live}}</ref>


The eastbound service (3987) departs from [[Charleville railway station, Queensland|Charleville Railway Station]] at 6:15pm on Wednesdays and Fridays and arrives at Platform 10 at [[Roma Street railway station|Roma Street Railway Station]] at 11:25am on Thursdays and Saturdays.<ref name=":0" />
The eastbound service (3987) departs from [[Charleville railway station, Queensland|Charleville Railway Station]] at 6:15pm on Wednesdays and Fridays and arrives at Platform 10 at [[Roma Street railway station|Roma Street Railway Station]] at 11:40am on Thursdays and 11:25am on Saturdays.<ref name=":0" />


Crews for the Westlander are based at Toowoomba, Chinchilla and Roma.
Crews for the Westlander are based at Toowoomba, Chinchilla and Roma.


The train currently consists of:
⚫
The dining and sleeping cars were withdrawn from 1 January 2015, with catering now provided by at seat snack packs delivered at meal times.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150220010109/http://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/RailServices/Documents/the-westlander/Westlander%20Fact%20Sheet_JAN14-15.pdf The Westlander Factsheet] Queensland Rail 3 January 2015</ref><ref>"Westlander and Inlander to lose sleeping and dining cars this month" ''Railway Digest'' January 2015 page 16</ref>


* 3 [[Queensland Railways steel carriage stock#L series|L series]] cars (1 LSCL Lounge/Staff Car, 1 LAL Sitting Car and 1 LBL Sitting Car)
== Rollingstock used on Westlander today ==
* a QPB Power-Baggage Car
The typical consist used by the Westlander today is composed of:


the QPB Power-Baggage Car was only enabled to run on this service because of the tunnel clearance-enabling works which were undertaken by [[Queensland Rail]] in early 2020.
[[Queensland Railways 2470 class|Queensland Railways 2470 Class]]/[[Queensland Railways 2300 class|Queensland Railways 2300 Class]]


⚫
The dining and sleeping ([[Queensland Railways steel carriage stock#M series|M series]]) cars were withdrawn from 1 January 2015, with catering now provided by at seat snack packs delivered at mealtimes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/RailServices/Documents/the-westlander/Westlander%20Fact%20Sheet_JAN14-15.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220010109/http://www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au/RailServices/Documents/the-westlander/Westlander%20Fact%20Sheet_JAN14-15.pdf|archive-date=20 February 2015|url-status=dead|title=The Westlander Factsheet|publisher=[[Queensland Rail]]|date=3 January 2015}}</ref><ref>"Westlander and Inlander to lose sleeping and dining cars this month" ''Railway Digest'' January 2015 page 16</ref>
QBP 1998 (replaced MPC 1450 in 2020)


On the 16 June 2021, a $1M Business case was announced by the [[Queensland Government|Queensland State Government]] to investigate replacement of The Westlander, [[Spirit of the Outback]] and [[The Inlander (Queensland Rail)|Inlander]] Services.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Three train manufacturers shortlisted for Queensland train building program|url=https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/92416|access-date=2021-08-14|website=Ministerial Media Statements|language=en|archive-date=14 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210814125858/https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/92416|url-status=live}}</ref>
LSCL 1909/LSCL 1910 (Interchangeable with [[The Inlander (Queensland Rail)|the Inlander]])

LAL 1876

LAL 1877


==Subsidy levels==
==Subsidy levels==


In 2016, the service was estimated to have carried 3,677 people in the previous financial year, with the effective subsidy paid by the Queensland State Government for each passenger amounting to an estimated $4,007 (total subsidy $14.7m)<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-28/rural-passenger-train-travel-westlander-inlander-subsidies/7667352 Rural rail subsidised by up to $4,000 a trip, prompting overhaul call] ABC News 28 July 2016</ref>
In 2016, the service was estimated to have carried 3,677 people in the previous financial year, with the effective subsidy paid by the Queensland State Government for each passenger amounting to an estimated $4,007 (total subsidy $14.7m)<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-28/rural-passenger-train-travel-westlander-inlander-subsidies/7667352 Rural rail subsidised by up to $4,000 a trip, prompting overhaul call] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201044202/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-28/rural-passenger-train-travel-westlander-inlander-subsidies/7667352 |date=1 December 2016 }} ABC News 28 July 2016</ref>

In 2021, the service carried 2,999 people in previous financial year, with the effective subsidy paid by the Queensland Government for each passenger at $4,928.90.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2021/1216-2021.pdf|title=Annual patronage and government subsidy per passenger trip for direct operating costs: Parliamentary Question on Notice|date=13 October 2021|publisher=[[Queensland Parliament]]|access-date=16 November 2021|archive-date=12 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211112185631/https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2021/1216-2021.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 02:00, 16 July 2024

The Westlander
Overview
Service typePassenger train
StatusOperational
First serviceAugust 1954
Current operator(s)Queensland Rail
Route
TerminiBrisbane
Charleville
Distance travelled740 km (460 mi)
Average journey time17 hours
Service frequency2 × per week
The Westlander
Legend
 Brisbane
Corinda
Ipswich
Rosewood
Laidley
Gatton
Helidon
Toowoomba
Oakey
Dalby
Chinchilla
Miles
Yuleba
Roma
Mitchell
Morven
Charleville

The Westlander is an Australian passenger train operated by Queensland Rail on the Main and Western lines between Brisbane and the outback town of Charleville.

Background

In the 1888 timetable the train from Brisbane to Roma was officially called the Western Mail, with some runs extended through to Morven. With the opening of the line from Morven to Charleville on 1 March 1888 the train was again extended.[1]

Victorian Railways introduced air-conditioned trains in 1935, and Queensland Rail decided to follow suit in the late 1940s. Steel carriages were designed to travel to all parts of the system, meaning a maximum axle load of 9 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.

History

The Westlander was introduced in August 1954, replacing the Western Mail and its wooden carriages with the present Commonwealth Engineering, Rocklea steel air-conditioned carriages. The route from Brisbane to Cunnamulla was 973 kilometres (605 mi), with a connecting service to Quilpie from Charleville, 777 kilometres (483 mi) from Brisbane.[2] Initially the Quilpie connecting train was not air-conditioned, so in 1967 a generator was fitted to an insulated van to provide power for an air-conditioned sitting car and mechanical refrigeration for the van to provide this comfort on the Quilpie service.

Later the Westlander was divided at Charleville, the service to Quilpie (3Q02) being nicknamed the Flying Flea and consisted of two passenger carriages, a guards van and power van. The remainder of the train (3V02) headed to Cunnamulla via Westgate and Wyandra. In 1970 the Flea had the honour of being the fastest train in Queensland, with an average speed of 49 kilometres per hour (30 mph)

In August 1994 the service was cut back to Charleville.[3]

The return service (3907) departed Cunnamulla at 09:00 arriving in Brisbane at lunchtime the next day. Even with the line speed from Cunnamulla being 30 km/h (19 mph), the train was still preferred by many due to the lack of quality roads at the time.[2] By 1957 freight wagons were also attached to the train, including louvred steel QRX and QLX-T wagons, and MPR refrigerated wagons. Up to 16 vehicles could make up the train.[2] Passenger services beyond Charleville to Cunnamulla (3V02) and Quilpie (3Q02) were withdrawn in 1994.[1]

Today

Route diagram of the Westlander

As at October 2020, the train runs twice weekly to Charleville with a journey time of 17 hours. Connecting coach services operate to Cunnamulla and Quilpie.[4]

The westbound service (3S86) departs from Platform 10 at Roma Street Railway Station at 7:15pm on Tuesdays and at 6:55pm on Thursdays and arrives at Charleville Railway Station at 11:45am on Wednesdays and Fridays.[5]

The eastbound service (3987) departs from Charleville Railway Station at 6:15pm on Wednesdays and Fridays and arrives at Platform 10 at Roma Street Railway Station at 11:40am on Thursdays and 11:25am on Saturdays.[5]

Crews for the Westlander are based at Toowoomba, Chinchilla and Roma.

The train currently consists of:

  • 3 L series cars (1 LSCL Lounge/Staff Car, 1 LAL Sitting Car and 1 LBL Sitting Car)
  • a QPB Power-Baggage Car

the QPB Power-Baggage Car was only enabled to run on this service because of the tunnel clearance-enabling works which were undertaken by Queensland Rail in early 2020.

The dining and sleeping (M series) cars were withdrawn from 1 January 2015, with catering now provided by at seat snack packs delivered at mealtimes.[6][7]

On the 16 June 2021, a $1M Business case was announced by the Queensland State Government to investigate replacement of The Westlander, Spirit of the Outback and Inlander Services.[8]

Subsidy levels

In 2016, the service was estimated to have carried 3,677 people in the previous financial year, with the effective subsidy paid by the Queensland State Government for each passenger amounting to an estimated $4,007 (total subsidy $14.7m)[9]

In 2021, the service carried 2,999 people in previous financial year, with the effective subsidy paid by the Queensland Government for each passenger at $4,928.90.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b "About Traveltrain - History". www.traveltrain.com.au. Archived from the original on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 30 August 2008.
  2. ^ a b c Robin Bromby (2004). The Railway Age in Australia. Lothian Press. p. 97. ISBN 0-7344-0715-7.
  3. ^ "QR's Westlander Service Truncated" Railway Digest September 1994 page 14
  4. ^ "Westlander & Inlander timetable" (PDF). Queensland Rail Travel. 19 September 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Timetable". www.queenslandrailtravel.com.au. Archived from the original on 11 September 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  6. ^ "The Westlander Factsheet" (PDF). Queensland Rail. 3 January 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 February 2015.
  7. ^ "Westlander and Inlander to lose sleeping and dining cars this month" Railway Digest January 2015 page 16
  8. ^ "Three train manufacturers shortlisted for Queensland train building program". Ministerial Media Statements. Archived from the original on 14 August 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  9. ^ Rural rail subsidised by up to $4,000 a trip, prompting overhaul call Archived 1 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine ABC News 28 July 2016
  10. ^ "Annual patronage and government subsidy per passenger trip for direct operating costs: Parliamentary Question on Notice" (PDF). Queensland Parliament. 13 October 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 November 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
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