CONFUSION reigns over the current status of the iconic Westlander after savage cutbacks to regional and rural passenger train services across the State.
Announcing sweeping changes to timetables, effective from this week, Queensland Rail’s Scott Cornish pointed the finger at the railway union and its industrial action.
“These ongoing disruptions are a result of impacts from union-protected industrial action, with this reduced timetable necessary to ensure most long-distance services can continue,” he says.
The changes include cutting back on the Spirit of the Outback between Brisbane and Longreach, which now has only one weekly service in both directions, compared to two previously.
QR’s cuts to services in the bush come six weeks after the Westlander, commissioned in the 1950s, was involved in an accident at a level crossing on the Darling Downs.
It has not been seen since although Murweh Shire Council Mayor Councillor Shaun ‘Zoro’ Radnedge believes there is no need to panic after meeting with the State Government in Longreach.
“The train is coming back,” the chairman of the Outback Queensland Tourism Association told 4RR-FM listeners last Friday after talks with Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg.
Interestingly, QR insists the Westlander will “continue to be replaced by road coaches” even though there were no regular coaches provided after that accident near Jondaryan.
For the record, at the time of writing, the timetable for the Westlander had not been updated since August last year.
PHOTO: The Westlander, east of Charleville, heading back to Brisbane for the last time before it was struck by a vehicle at a level crossing.
POSTED: Wednesday, June 3, 2026