I took this trip back in 1983 from Brisbane to Sydney. It was my first solo trip. I wanted to go by train so I could see more of the country. Back then it left in the afternoon and got into Sydney around 8amish. I had a sleeper too. I felt extremely sophisticated!

That's a brutal arrival time! Nuts.

@downunderrob

5 күн бұрын

I can't see what the point of it is. But it was obviously someone's bright idea.

@ph89787

5 күн бұрын

@@downunderrob QR Signal controllers hate the XPT because, between Sailsbury and Roma Street, it shares tracks with the Gold Coast and Beenleigh Line trains. Which slows things down for the morning peak hour.

@downunderrob

5 күн бұрын

@@ph89787 Figures.

@ph89787

5 күн бұрын

​@@downunderrob​ If the XPT is more than an hour late. The train gets terminated at Casino, and the Passengers are taken the rest of the way on coaches.

@ph89787

4 күн бұрын

@@smantle11 That train ends at Casino and it’s a coach the rest of the way to Brisbane.

The Brisbane XPT passes my house in Kyogle at 2:45 in the morning, heading north and nearly 8AM heading south. I usually take it south, but recently, I have taken the northbound trip to Brisbane from Kyogle. Kyogle station is also unattended, so when I have either had to take the train or pick people up, it is often similar to the set of a horror movie at night. Kyogle (my home town) is a request stop for the XPT. So it only stops if people are booked to head on or off. The station is also the last one before Queensland and was the original end of the line. You definitely didn't see it on the trip. But north of Kyogle near the Queensland Border is the Cougal Spiral. Or the Border Loop. Where the line at the end of Gradys Creek loops back over itself to climb the hill. Before entering a 1 kilometer tunnel to pass into Queensland.

@andyyu5957

5 күн бұрын

Interestingly we have an acquaintance who lives in Kyogle and runs a motel with her partner. We were planning to visit them at the end of last year and considered using the train, but I eventually concluded that getting off in the early hours with elderly parents would be too much risk (although this may just be a figment of my imagination because it is a small village with only about 2500 residents) and inconvenience to our acquaintance (who may feel obliged to pick us up at this ungodly hour). Anyway, the trip did not happen in the end.

@ph89787

5 күн бұрын

@@andyyu5957 that’s interesting. As my family runs the 2 motels in Kyogle.

@andyyu5957

4 күн бұрын

@ph89787 From the website of the Kyogle motel (not sure about the name of the other one), I can see that you share the same surname as the proprietors. If 1 of them is originally from Hong Kong, then this is the right person I have in mind. In this case, please give my regards to the proprietors. They should know who I am and give you my contact details if you wish to continue the discussion offline. I watched this video knowing that this is the train which we were considering taking, but never expected to possibly end up communicating with a relative of the person we were hoping to visit. It is a small world indeed!

@ph89787

4 күн бұрын

@@andyyu5957 the owners are my parents. I’ll pass your regards onto them.

@alisonbrandt5901

4 күн бұрын

Been there, done that, got the t-shirt! >10 years ago now, but had rellies in Gosford, Kyogle and outside of Gympie. The only thing worse than the 2:45 departure from Kyogle was stumbling through Roma St at silly o'clock (a bit of a dive, at least back then) to get the first Gympie North train of the day.

I’ve travelled on this sleeper train. Yours is a very very generous review.

Crazy arrival time...they need to adjust departure and arrival times...or let you sleep onboard after train arrives.

@FromtheWindowSeat

4 күн бұрын

Not possible unfortunately because they have to get the train in and out of Roma Street before peak hour starts, as the train shares tracks with the Beenleigh and Gold Coast suburban/interurban trains, which QR gives priority to.

@SuperNathan90

Күн бұрын

@@FromtheWindowSeat same if the tilt train went to Sydney

I live in Japan now, but did this train a few times back in my Brisbane days. My god it was slow with hardly any straight bits of track. Why depart at 2.41 pm for a 3.53 am arrival?? Why not 4.41pm for 5.53am arrival ?

@garryferrington811

4 күн бұрын

It's Australia, mate.

@willx9352

2 күн бұрын

@@garryferrington811It is Queensland Rail that disctates the time slot into Brisbane.

@mezanian

2 күн бұрын

That direct line is mostly for cargo trains, only 2 XPT daily. Other way is rail bus connection from Brisbane to Casino then XPT and it's awful long meandering village crawl all the way.😅

@jay.andrae

Күн бұрын

Queensland during summer the sunrise is at 5AM.

Back in its heyday in the late 1980s when I used it, it was in its prime and fine. By now it is old, tired, dated and belongs in a museum.

No matter how "rustic" it is, it beats flying. It's quite the adventure, and you some beautiful country.

$470 to go one way from Sydney to Brisbane? Domestic travel costs continue to be highway robbery in Australia. No wonder we’ve seen more of overseas than our own country.

@Neville60001

4 күн бұрын

@rachkate76, you and other younger (I presume) Aussies know what to do to improve it and work to get HSR built in Australia, then. And, you and other Aussies better get cracking, because (as somebody who doesn't believe in HSR being built in the United States told me), electric jet airliners are coming in 2040; when they do, it will be the end of any initiative to build HSR in nations that don't have any.

@bradleyfield3944

4 күн бұрын

I think he paid for both beds to guarantee a cabin to himself?

@rachkate76

4 күн бұрын

@@bradleyfield3944 true, but a flight between the two destinations is about $160 and a one hour journey. It’s still ridiculously expensive to travel around this country and even moreso if you’re going outside of the stereotypical Bris-Syd-Melb three main capital cities. To go to the state next door in the NT for example is about $1000 return. I could virtually go overseas for that. It comes down a bit in the wet season but you have to go in the wet season for the price to be worth your while.

@MaxineBlueMtns

4 күн бұрын

@@bradleyfield3944yes he did, because I’ve done exactly that on the same train

@MitchellBPYao

4 күн бұрын

​@@bradleyfield3944rich boy

Maybe old and often late but it beats walking from Sydney to Brissie.

Welcome to Queensland. Raining one day. Pissing down, the next.

@NotSoMLG_OCE

4 сағат бұрын

especially in summer when this was filmed. Good old cyclone season

The one time you want the train to arrive late!

Even Indonesia has a bullet train and we still have these old slow dinosaurs and it's almost impossible to sleep on them because of the rattling and noise.

@user-kc1tf7zm3b

2 күн бұрын

The numerous impediments of Australia building a high speed rail network are fundamental and can never be resolved. The $130 billion cost is truly astronomical, HSR is not economically viable due to the small population base stretched out over the vast 1,750km distance between the 3 eastern seaboard capital cities, the perceived regional connectivity benefits are not real, and HSR will do little to reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2050.

Thanks for this beautiful discovery. Having a night train arrive at 4 a.m. is not reasonable, they can stop it in one or 2 intermediate stations to delay the arrival time.

@mark123655

3 күн бұрын

As per comment above, one of the reasons is the lack of train paths into Brisbane terminal, so the need to get in before the Brisbane suburban peak begins

@petert3355

Күн бұрын

​@mark123655 Also remember the return Sydney trip starts at 8am. That is a 4 hour turnaround in Brisbane.

Done this journey twice to and from Sydney-Brisbane it’s one of most horrendous train journeys Iv experienced, no sockets to charge anything up no onboard internet overpriced food having to get off early to catch a coach to Brisbane i would never ever do this journey by rail again

@pinkpolice266

17 сағат бұрын

This is nothing compared to trains in india

@ozziadventurer

3 сағат бұрын

Yeah i agree the food is atrocious for the price, And they get all that money every year from people buying ticket they REALLY NEED TO Upgrades those trains

I always fibd the staff on XPT out of Sydney amazing ....I fravelked with my 100 year old blind mother......I said I woukd need help with alighting, getting to taxis,getting food from buffet to my mother.The head bursar on train provided and organized so much support.....to the extent mother found air conditioning too cold so they heated up some cotton blankets for us both . All bags picked up by trolley bus upon arrival in Central at 8 30pm and we were driven to taxi rank on station. ..two sttion hands waited to handle our suitcases onto taxi. I to give them hm a tip but the boys refused and said they were not allowed to accept" tips" as this service for the disabled wasthi job. Very gratifying experience.....yes flying is quicker,noisier, cumbersome and no scenery ....... XPT very much a country experience...... I am quite converted to rail.

that chicken curry is sensational. The first time I've seen veggies look more dead than the meat...

My husband and I did the same journey pre Covid as a change from flying. The smell from the diesel engine was strong at times and the train's horn blasting at every railway crossing did not make for a good night's sleep. The amenity kit is exactly the same.

I'm a XPT travel legend. It's a good network that this service covers.

You're a brave man! Aussie trains are outdated derelicts! You couldn't pay me to travel on them.

Thanks Kuga for an honest and scenic trip report. The XPT is over 40 years old and although slow, is looking good for its age. I look forward to your next report

I have never been on the XPT but I have seen enough reviews on it. I hope NSW gets better service soon.

@Sleepysod

5 күн бұрын

Saw it and immediately thought it was an old Inter-City 125 - was amazed that they managed to export that model/design - xpt must be getting on a bit now. Also the station gates are identical to uk 😮

I like our old trains, I just relax and go with the flow, yes in terms of modern efficiencies they are well past it but with our lack of tax paying population and vast distances we are unlikely to have any fast trains soon. So in the mean time I enjoy the pace, the history and the views. They do need to reduce the costs significantly if growth in any sector , fast or slow is to survive.

I've fond memories of travelling in the sleeper Kyogle-Sydney-return several times as a teenager in the late 70s. It was long train pulled by diesels back then. Needed two stops on several stations. Recall it was called the Brisbane Limited Express. In those days there was another similar train called the Gold Coast Motorail that also carried cars Sydney to the Gold Coast and back. It diverted from the main line at Casino and headed to Murwillumbah via Lismore. Alas it and even that line are gone now.

The reason the train leaves so early has more to do with congestion on A bridge in Brisbane, the Merivale bridge, because Qld rail only has two tracks crossing the river and they want to avoid congestion. It's just easier and cheaper to fly because there are so many deals.

Oh wow definitely brings back memories to my Sydney Uni days....I didnt drive in my first three years of university and this was kind of my only option to get to my hometown in northern NSW....dad would pick me up from the station, always felt like an epic trip, and reminds me of the summer holidays.....so nostalgic.

Another new train vlog, "on point," Kuga 🙂

Unfortunately Australian railways and trains stopped advancing in the 1980’s, now they are just an embarrassment. You paid first class that didn't even include a meal. We really need to lift our game.

@AlphaGeekgirl

3 күн бұрын

Well, I can see you’ve never travelled by rail in the US. Their first class has the most appalling food and the prices are more than double that of Australia.

The recent upgrades to Sydney central station are fantastic!

@bodnica

2 күн бұрын

What about trains?

@Male666chauvinist

2 күн бұрын

What’s that got to do with the price of fish you GRONK

Here in Italy, 1st class couchette cars with 4 couchettes and 2nd class couchette cars with 6 couchettes were available. Instead, the compartments of the sleeping carriages could have from one bed up to 3 beds. For a compartment with 3 beds you needed a 2nd class ticket, for a compartment with 2 or with one bed you needed a 1st class ticket.

Mood gorning! 😂

Thanks!

@kugastravel5180

5 күн бұрын

Thank you!🤝

Thanks Kiuga really enjoyed it regards Doc..the loco Driver

The arrival time into Brisbane is a little less punishing April - September when daylight savings is not in effect in NSW (QLD does not observe DST so is an hour behind for 6 months of the year). A 5am arrival is at least a bit more respectable 😂. I lived in Canberra for 5 years and visited family in Brisbane semi-regularly - the NSW Train link rail pass made it financially feasible because you can pay just the sleeper surcharge of $88 - just like when I use a JR pass on Sunrise Izumo, I just have to pay the room fee and limited express charge (I know Nobi Nobi seat would be included free, but I've done carpet car on Hamanasu and feel no great need for a repeat experience) 😂

This was very informative - thankyou!

I suspect the NSW railways will take the opportunity to get rid of sleeping accommodation when the new trains arrive, so it's worth trying it now if you're interested. Re the early arrival, I understand it's because at that time the XPT won't interfere with Brisbane's morning commuter rush.

The reason it gets in so early is because it goes back to Sydney in the day .NSW trains has been starved for upgrades for decades.

Wow, this brings back memories. I did this trip, as a single person in the sleeper carriage. I couldn’t get any sleep as it was rocking too much. The sun was rising when I got there, so maybe it was when nsw had daylight saving and qld didn’t… or something!

Wow this service stopped decades ago I had no idea that the service was still running. Thank you very much I'll be changing some travel plans.

The train arrives at 4:00AM due to having to share train lines in Queensland.

@bradleyfield3944

4 күн бұрын

Nah, it's because Queensland and New South Wales can't work together to solve a problem.

Great video! It’s also so nice to get a glimpse of you! 😊

Прекрасное путешествие!!!

I love your videos! Thank you for sharing

A very nice video, and, yes, food's the favorite segment. Lavish meal on Australian trains: microwaved pre-packaged chicken curry!...yum. I guess.

Have fun.. 😊

Very odd travel times. Sod that for a lark.

@ph89787

5 күн бұрын

QR Signal controllers hate the XPT because, between Sailsbury and Roma Street, it shares tracks with the Gold Coast and Beenleigh Line trains, which slows things down during the morning peak hour.

Thank you.

thank you very much for the beautiful video. Greetings from Germany

Ust went down to Sydney and as a bush bunny the new upgraded central station is brilliant and user friendly

What a crazy time to arrive - why do they not leave later and arrive in Brisbane at a civilized time?

@user-iy4vg7kt6k

3 күн бұрын

Because Queensland Rail wants the train to arrive extremely early so it doesnt disrupt peak hour morning services. Not sure why Melbourne XPT is allowed to come in at 7.30pm tho?

@anjelkaa4380

2 күн бұрын

That would require a modicum of intelligence

@anjelkaa4380

2 күн бұрын

And the rail schedulers must be pretty pathetic if they cannot accommodate one extra train.

Very interesting!

@kugastravel5180

4 күн бұрын

Thank you!🤝

The replacement train won't have sleepers, and is a horrible design with under-floor engines... will be much noisier in the cabin.

@MitchellBPYao

4 күн бұрын

But comfortable to be by yourself

Love all your videos! Thank you!

I should try this sleeper next time i visit Sydney I used the Luxor to Cairo 13 hour sleeper. The beds were east west and the train slowed for every cow, crocodile and level crossing the entire journey One of the worst sleeps in my life ! Ps. I'm working on the HSR project so you should be able to vlog that journey soon (in about 30 years)

Looks nicer than our Amtrak, unfortunately. Beautiful countryside though. Thanks for sharing your adventure.

@willx9352

Күн бұрын

@@Iluthra Amtrak is better!

@Iluthra

Күн бұрын

@@willx9352 Is it? I have only ridden it twice and the only way to go is a room(ette). This video, the room looked cleaner. The food better.

@willx9352

Күн бұрын

@@Iluthra I have travelled on both. I wouldn’t say one is better than the other. The issue is both could be improved!

A night train arriving at 4 AM while leaving in the afternoon ? One would think that departure in the early evening would have been more practical .... Crazy

@ph89787

5 күн бұрын

The reason for that schedule is the QR signallers hate it.

@mikeymutual5489

4 күн бұрын

@@ph89787 How many times are you going to post this? Nobody cares, even if they understood it.

@ph89787

4 күн бұрын

@@mikeymutual5489 as many times as I see the same comment.

@mikeymutual5489

4 күн бұрын

@@ph89787 Excellent. Be boring as many times as you want.

For the money you should get a dinner menu and delivered to your room

I did this a couple of times from Melbourne to Sydney when i was a kid.. The experience was fun to do it once but a flight is only 1 hour so quicker and cheaper to fly.

The early arrival was decided in the 80s, when the service started. Basically the Queensland Government, at the time, didn't want the XPT arrival to interfere with local peak commuter services at Roma St Station, thus the early arrival (4am during NSW DST, 5am outside of DST) was agreed to. Despite the early arrival, it does mean some lovely sub tropical coastal views as you make your way up the NSW Central Coast and North Coast during daylight.

@petert3355

Күн бұрын

Yeah, and yet the return Sydney leg, which runs on the same track, leaves Roma St at 8am, right in the middle of those morning peak commuter services.

I will never understand why a 14 hour over-night trip like that has to be leave in the early afternoon and arrive at such a early hour in the morning. Why not leave 3 hours later?!?

@JLR1957

Күн бұрын

Because it is less busy! Really it's common-sense. Because Australia is so vast, with a smaller population, there's not as much rail infrastructure.

@blktom

23 сағат бұрын

@@JLR1957 Not common sense when you don't know that apparently there is only one track.

@pixies646

5 сағат бұрын

It's an awful time to arrive somewhere. What is open at 4am? You can't check into a hotel. Ridiculous timetabling

Great trip. The arrival time is definitely insane, but in my country, some kind of transportation, especially land and sometimes sea is commonly arriving around 4 in early morning. It's great you have chance to try this before it's retired.

Not sure if its just the camera work but this train seems unbelievably quiet and steady

@willx9352

Күн бұрын

@@darylovaltine It isn’t, particularly on this route.

Check-in time at most hotels is 2.00pm, that's 10 hours, to wait.

@Seiskid

Күн бұрын

Exactly. You can't even go to a cafe and have breakfast at 4am.

Did a trip fron Casino to Sydney a few years ago, never again, too slow.

Boa viagem de trem cama show

The one train I haven't seen at Roma St yet (thanks to ridiculous times)

Oh hey, we finally saw your face in a video! You're rather cute. In any case, thanks for being kind about our silly trains. Hope the new one has a bigger shower, that wet room gave me the horrors. $500 and that is the experience? Yikes. I'd sooner fly. Most awkward arrival time ever too. Was your hotel able to receive you? My goodness.

This 80s rolling stock is due to be replaced in 2024. No sleepers are planned for the new rolling stock. There is public pressure for sleeper, so if the new rolling stock has any, it'll be pods or less, not twin shared rooms. I used this service in Dec 23. No idea if it' will still be there in Dec this year (conference on 8 Dec).

❤

You weren't too far away from me when you made it to Brisbane, I'll say breakfast of Cornflakes and a Just Juice is what I had as a kid. Simple but does the job! Good luck in your travels. 😊 🚄🛳️🚠🛩️ The Land Rover Bloke.

Thank you for an interesting video. I might actually try this one day. All the best from Sydney

@MrLaprius

4 күн бұрын

What I will say is don't count on mobile coverage more than 2km into and out of each stop. There's so much metal in the window tint it blocks EVERYTHING! 😆 It'd probably withstand a nuke!

The worst about arriving at 4am it that you can't check in to a hotel, unless you pay for that day, check in on the train let reception know your arrival time, then you can go check in and back to bed .... otherwise your a zombie till 2 pm...not a convenient service really

I don't get it. Why doesn't this train operate like... I dunno... three hours later? Ridiculous arrival time.

"Gift"? More accurate to say "included in the price."😁

Not seen a fold up cup like that for many a year

Way more expensive than a plane, absolute insanely stupid scheduling and tickets can only be purchased at station or by phone, well done, car and plane lobby :D

These trains are an absolute embarrassment to our country. They are old, they are always late (if they even run!), and they have a horrible time table. 3rd world countries have better interstate train services than Australia. 😢

@cityplanner3063

3 күн бұрын

That’s why you fly

@BryanLikesCandy

3 күн бұрын

The trains aren't the problem; they can only go at the speeds the rail road allows. There are a few sections of rail that, if engineered differently, would greatly decrease the travel time. The trains are old, yes, but they are doing the best they can. And I've never found any of the staff on board to be less than perfect. They are glad to be working on the Railways. For a slow journey, they are quite neat.

@user-kc1tf7zm3b

3 күн бұрын

For an Australian perspective on high speed rail. In summary: the $130 billion cost is truly astronomical, HSR would not be economically viable once built due the small population base stretched out over the vast 1,750km distance between the 3 eastern seaboard capital cities, the perceived regional connectivity benefits are not real, and HSR will do little to reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2050. 🦘🇦🇺

@neilwilliams7479

2 күн бұрын

Hmm well it is a UK design train we exported rubbish service too

@sunnesunne4039

2 күн бұрын

They're slow absolutely but I always remember them fondly....staff were always really great. I've since travelled widely and would probably never take these again but they aren't all that different to Amtrak, Swedish intercity rail etc..,they are all very similar and not at the same level as Shinkansen or Eurostar etc ....nor are they meant to be.

I've done that trip twice up to Qld. Cheaper then flying..

👍👍👍👍

The train I believe is based on our hst in England. Class 43

I suppose one must be a true train enthusiast to spend that kind of money to arrive at odd hours 😅

did you get some shud eye dueing the night on the train was it bumpy on the way down from sydney to brisbane

13 hours that’s a long time

They said Grafton!

Did this trip a few years ago. Yes, the staff were great but the bed was so uncomfortable I hardly slept. The arrival time then was not so early but too early to do anything. 3 am is ridiculous and hardly worth even booking a sleeper. Railways need to get their act together. By the way when complementing the staff I referred to NSW staff. Queensland staff were surly, rude and unhelpful.

Should have went with Sydney to Dubbo on the "XPT". Lots of dramas. Very entertaining. 😒

That arrival time is absurd. At the very least the ticket cost should include transfer to a hotel to continue your sleep.

But, where's the high speed Silver Emu that Tony and the NBA promised?!

The amenities better than most hotel I visited. I never got folded cup in my amenities bag before. Interesting. Folded sink/folded toilet... The to washed the... waste, it needed to be folded instead of flushed out like normal toilet right? I wondered how the new XPT would look like. Will it resembled old folded ft one or will it look like other normal train?

What a ridiculous arrival time!

Okay this is confusing, if it only sleeps two, why are there three seats? That rainy morning also looked cold.

@dcanmore

4 күн бұрын

Overnight sleeper is booked for two people max. Three seats for shorter non-sleep day travel.

@Bluerose888

4 күн бұрын

@@dcanmore Got it. thanks.

Greetings from Redondo Beach 🇺🇸🇺🇸I am planning to do this when I retire. Nice video🌷🌷

lol wow! You hit the jackpot with that amenities bag!! 😂 great video Kuga! 😊

Wow. That fast if is going first to Broken Hill (just joking).

Having to get up at 4 am is bad enough, but in the pouring rain? UGH. Thanks for another great video! Buon viaggio, from Italy.

I am easily confused. Did Kaga catch a bus from Casino to Varsity then to Brisbane? I thought the line ended at Varsity. So confused 😂

I love the XPT!

KZread gave me the Japanese version yesterday by mistake and I understand this version much better! Ha!!

How do you hide a train? Especially one that has been going up & down the same line for at least the past 35 yrs.

What a weird time to get into Brisbane. Train should depart Sydney in the evening instead of 2.21pm. Must be a reason I guess. How would you go about checking into a hotel at 4am? Thought all the food offerings may be free for the cost you paid for the ticket. Looked unappetising imo. The bed does look comfortable though. I gather the new trains won’t have any sleepers which is sadly a trend