AFTER an absence of almost three months, the iconic Westlander has finally returned to the South-West.
The much-loved passenger train pulled into the Charleville Railway Station just before 11.45am today – about five minutes early!
Cunnamulla man Brian Dolman, who was reportedly one of only a handful of passengers on the service, says he’s pleased to see it back.
“I catch the Westlander every month back from Brisbane. It’s a handy service,” he told 4RR-FM.
“It did miss it. Makes travelling back to Cunnamulla a little bit difficult if it’s not in service for sure.”
Mr Dolman, a well-known veteran Rugby League player for the Cunnamulla Rams, says he thought the Westlander might be gone forever.
“I was concerned that it was going to get axed,” he added before catching the connecting bus service to Cunnamulla.
Meanwhile, there has been confusion over the train’s timetable with Murweh Mayor Zoro Radnedge contradicting Queensland Rail advice.
In his latest “Weekly Wrap” on Facebook, Cr Radnedge there would be two trains arriving in Charleville every week, as was the case previously.
“We’ll have trains rolling back into Charleville on that Wednesday and Friday,” he said, as heard in our LOCAL NEWS this morning.
However, that is not the case, with QR deciding to operate only one train a week – the second service to be replaced by a coach.
The Westlander, which was involved in a level crossing accident in mid-April, departs today for Brisbane’s Roma Street station at 6.10pm.
PHOTO: The Westlander at the Charleville Railway Station this morning after an absence of almost three months.
POSTED: Wednesday, July 15, 2026