NEW FOOTAGE
• Queensland Rail launches new campaign during Disability Action Week to make train travel choices easier for everybody.
• New materials for customers include updated website information like interactive virtual tours of trains, carriage layouts, accessible maps, station descriptions and informative videos to improve journey planning.
• Immersive and informational audio tours of long-distance and tourism trains and website information in various accessible formats will also be available.
Just like every Queenslander, each station and train on the Queensland Rail network is different, which is why new, accessible virtual tours and videos of various stages of rail travel are making it easier for everybody to plan their train journey.
To mark Disability Action Week, Queensland Rail has launched virtual tours of the South East Queensland (SEQ) train fleet, as well as accessible carriage descriptions of all trains, and detailed ‘how-to’ guides.
These features are designed to help customers of all abilities familiarise themselves with train travel before they set out.
The pin-point accurate virtual tours of New Generation Rollingstock (NGR) and an upgraded Interurban Multiple Units (IMU) 160 series allow customers to plan, navigate and orient themselves ahead of their journey.
Accessibility groups and customers with disabilities were engaged to inform and test the online journey planning resources and campaign, which aim to help make travel choices easier for all customers.
The Queensland Rail website now has more information on station access and facilities, assisted boarding services and what to expect while you’re on the train, with information available in multiple accessible formats.
Complementing the existing virtual tours of long-distance trains including Spirit of Queensland, Tilt Train and Spirit of the Outback, new accessible audio descriptions, and additional immersive ‘how-to’ audio guides as well as content for blind, low-vision and neurodivergent customers will soon be available.
The new campaign also complements concurrent accessibility upgrades underway at Banyo, Buranda, Morningside and Lindum stations, and the recently completed upgrades at Bundamba, Dutton Park and Burpengary.
It’s all part of Queensland Rail’s commitment to making train travel more accessible for everyone right across the state.
Quotes attributable to Queensland Rail Head of Corporate Affairs Nev Conway:
“Everybody’s journey is different, just like our fleet and our stations.
“Catching the train should be easy for everyone, from journey planning to the destination – which is why having accessible information and accessible infrastructure are really important.
“With population growth, our patronage increasing and the world’s eye turning to Queensland for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032 we’re committed to improving our network.
“The new accessible information available on our websites about stations, our fleet, our virtual tours and guides on how we can better assist you on your journey is key to that commitment.
“To help plan your journey, head to our websites where we have all this information available in a number of accessible formats.”
Further information
Improvements on Queensland Rail’s website relating to SEQ journeys
• Plan your journey information – starting at home with information on tickets, companion passes and more
• Station access – what to do and expect when you arrive at the station
• Boarding the train – how to board, both assisted and independent
• On the train – on board experience including accessible virtual tours of NGR and IMU
• Service changes – what to do it your train is delayed.
Improvements on Queensland Rail Travel’s website and services relating to long distance journeys
• Virtual tours, also with text descriptions
• Carriage maps
• Multiple booking channels – online, via phone or in person at Travel Centres
• Immersive and informational audio tours (Kuranda Scenic Railway is ready with more to come)
• Easy read documents for people with cognitive and intellectual disabilities (coming soon)
• Visual stories for people who are neurodivergent (coming soon)
• Station maps including audio descriptions (ongoing rollout)
• Alt text for all five travel and tourism social media channels
• Braille and large format menus (coming soon)
• Sensory advice and sensory kits (coming soon).
ENDS