How much does it cost to travel on the Savannahlander?

The price of a trip on the Savannahlander varies according to the different side trips and accommodation you choose. You can go for a trip with all the trimmings or if you'd like to bring your swag you can pay for trainfare only. To make it a bit easier we've put together a "how much Savannahlander can I get for my money?" page. You can also take a look at just train fares.

What's the best time of year to travel on the Savannahlander?

The Savannahlander is great all year round. The coolest, but busiest, time of the year is May to September. If you wish to travel in this period it's best to book well in advance. Towards the beginning of the Savannahlander season is a little warm but very, very green. All the rivers are running and the country looks great. Towards the end of the year can be hot but it's the storm season in the gulf and the electrical shows are spectacular.

When does the Savannahlander run?

The Savannahlander operates for 42 Weeks of the year, from the first Wednesday in March (3rd March in 2010) until the second Wednesday in December (15th Dec in 2010).

On the Easter long weekend the Savannahlander departs on Good Friday returning on Easter Monday. This service operates instead of the previous Wednesday departure. In 2010 there will be a departure on Friday the 2nd of April instead of Wednesday the 31st of March

For more details see the Savannahlander timetable.

Which station does the Savannahlander depart from?

The Savannahlander departs from Carins Station, in Cairns Central Shopping Centre, at 6.30 am Wednesday. Passengers can join the train at any of the other stations along the route including Freshwater, Kuranda and Mareeba. If you would like to join the train at a station other than Carins just let us know before departure.

Can you recommend a place to stay in Carins the night before the Savannahlander departs?

There are many great places to stay in Cairns. The Carins station is handy to most of them. We've listed a few that are quite close to the station on our Carins Accommodation page. Staying at Kuranda and joing the train there is also an option.

Do you offer pensioner discounts?

Yes, Australian Pension Card holders and Queensland Seniors card holders receive a discount on Savannahlander fares.

Is the Savannahlander air-conditioned?

No, the Savannahlander railmotor units are not air-conditioned. You can open the windows though! Most of the accommodation Savannahlander passengers stay in is air conditioned.

While I'm in Cairns should I go on the Kuranda Scenic Railway too?

The Savannahlander follows the same route as the Kuranda Scenic Railway to Kuranda so you'll be on familiar territory if you do both trips. Of course, the Savannahlander goes a lot further than Kuranda! The Savannahlander only stops briefly in Kuranda so you may wish to visit Kuranda on the Kuranda Scenic Railway and have a good look around. It will also give you a chance to catch the Skyrail cableway from Kuranda to Cairns.

Is the Savannahlander operated by the Government?

The Savannahlander is operated by a private company, Cairns Kuranda Steam, on behalf of the Queensland Government.

Will we see many other trains?

No, once the Savannahlander passes Arriga Junction on the first day it is the only regular traffic on the line. We do sometimes pass work trains but this is rare.

Who maintains the railway line?

The line is maintained by Queensland Rail. There are track gangs based in Mareeba, Mount Surprise and Forsayth and a bridge gang in Almaden.

How fast does the Savannahlander travel?

The railway line that the Savannahlander travels over has a low posted speed limit so it travels at a sedate pace. The posted speed limits on some of the Savannahlander's route may be raised after the current re-sleepering project is completed.

How old are the railmotors?

We have three railmotor units that we use for the Savannahlander. 2028 and 2026 where built in 1963 and 2053 was built in 1971.

What sort of motors do the railmotors have?

Originally 2026 and 2028 had 160 HP Rolls Royce Diesel Engines and 2053 had an AEC motor. These were removed in 2005 and replaced with a 250 HP Cummins diesel and Allison Auto gear box combination.