WHAT TIME DOES THE BLUES TRAIN START AND FINISH
The Blues Train T-Bar opens at 6.30pm. The event begins at 7:00pm and concludes at 11:30pm
The Blues Train travels on 16 kilometres of fully restored track from Queenscliff to Drysdale return. As we wind our way around the picturesque Swan Bay and chug into the hills of the Bellarine Peninsula, we stop halfway to Drysdale, at the historic Suma Park homestead on Marcus Hill twice.
The Bellarine Railway is fully run by committed volunteers. Volunteer workers are the lifeblood of the Bellarine Railway. Voluntary efforts of interested persons maintain the tracks, crew the trains, restore and paint the carriages, serve refreshments, sell the tickets. Maintaining the railway is a big task, but the work can be fun and interesting, and you can learn new skills and make new friends.
No matter what qualifications the member may bring to the society, it is certain they can find work that is both rewarding and of tremendous value to the society. Even where the society already has someone performing some unique or specialised task, no offer of assistance would ever be rejected.
Visit the Bellarine Railway website for more information: www.bpr.org.au
If there are problems with the steam engine, subject to the discretion of the Bellarine Railway, we may have to use a diesel engine for the evening.
We also have to run the train with a diesel engine if its a total fire ban.
The timetable and all other details of the show remain the same. Obviously we prefer to run the steam train, but sometimes things happen that are out of our control.
Check the Dates page for all upcoming Blues Trains.
The Blues Train runs in the months between August and May.
Shows are held in the months of January, February, March, April and May. Then, August, September, October, November and December. All dates are for Saturday night shows, we also run Friday night shows in December (due to Christmas functions).
The Blues Train is also available for private and corporate at other times, such as weddings, conferences, birthdays and so on. Some people choose to book their functions on existing dates, or you can Contact Us to enquire about booking your own Blues Train for your special occasion.
The Blues Train Pty Ltd and Bellarine Peninsula Railway are businesses independent from the Queenscliff Music Festival, which is a non-profit organisation.
The Blues Train is an independent, locally run business that has been running now for 15 years.
From 1999 to 2005 the Queenscliff Music Festival incorporated a Blues Train showcase as part of their program. Over that time, thousands of festival patrons have ridden the Blues Train showcase at the QMF.
During the festival weekend, the train is run by the festival as an unlicenced family train ride as part of the festival ticket. The QMF Express is fun for all ages and music lovers and runs for the Festival weekend only. The QMF Express incorporates a diverse range of music from country to comedy.
However, many people have not experienced the full dinner-and-show that is the Blues Train. You will see four acts and experience the entire journey through the Bellarine Peninsula while listening to Australia's best blues musicians and sipping on a nice glass of vino or whatever else takes your fancy.
The Blues Train starts and ends at Queenscliff Railway Station. If you are on an evening Blues Train, you will probably want to keep on partying. Just 5 minutes walk away is the Esplanade Hotel, open until 1am. There are often live bands playing.
There is a nightclub at the Barwon Heads Hotel, about 15 km away. And Geelong also has many nightclubs and bars open until the wee hours of the morning, 30 minutes drive away.
Can it possibly get more fun? We don't think so, but we have plenty of plans for the future that involve more blues music and more good times!
We have been adding extra shows. In 2007 we added extra shows in December because of demand for our Christmas parties and April shows for 2008.
Our Train Trax volume 2 compilation CD was released mid-2007. To follow up from that, we are planning a double disk, which will include some live recordings made on the Blues Train.
We regularly offer special deals to our Blues Train members so make sure you subscribe to our website.
The Bellarine Peninsula Railway also has plans to restore some of the old rolling stock. Hopefully in the future a couple of their engines will be restored (new boilers are needed) and a new Blues Train carriage will come into service.
HOW MANY SEATS ARE AVAILABLE FOR EACH TRAIN
Each carriage can hold approximately 50 people, so with four carriages on the Blues Train, capacity is 200 people.
All tickets go on sale at the same time. Tickets sell starting from Carriage A. So, if you want your allocation to be A, B, C, D you will need to book early.
This does not mean you can't choose the carriage you want to be in as your start carriage as long as there are seats available in that section, i.e. you can start in Carriage D and work your way back from there. Everyone still swaps carriages at the stops. Everyone sees the same show.
The carriage orders are as follows:
Start Carriage A - B, C end in Carriage D
Start Carriage B - C, D end in Carriage A
Start Carriage C - D, A end in Carriage B
Start Carriage D - A, B end in Carriage C
Carriage A is a 48-seat dining car
Carriage B is a 52-seat car
Carriage C is a 52-seat dining car with a small dance floor
Carriage D is a dancing car with a stage and approximately 30 seats (capacity 52).
It is still essential, as with any event, to purchase all tickets in one transaction under one surname. However, as the individual seats in the carriage are not numbered, you can now purchase extra tickets if they are available in your chosen start carriage - as long as you make sure that whoever books the extra tickets books under the orginal surname.
everyone who wishes to will have the opportunity to sit at all times during the show. The actual seats are not allocated. All carriages have seats for every patron, except the D (dance) carriage, which has seating for 35 along the sides. Usually there are plenty of seats in D because everyone is up dancing!
Your ticket gives you an allocated start carriage, and your subsequent carriage order after that.
During the event, you will spend time in each of the four carriages (see the photos of each carriage below or check out our virtual tour of the train). Each carriage on the Blues Train is different. Some have booths with tables, some facing bench seats, while carriage D (the dancing carriage) only has seating along the sides to keep the centre space clear for dancing.
(Due to health and safety regulations, each carriage can carry a maximum of 52 passengers, and this limit is strictly adhered to, so carriages are never over-full.)
Those who book their tickets first get the best available seating, much like you would if you were booking tickets at The Arts Centre or The Rod Laver Arena. The tickets indicate the carriage in which you will begin the journey.
All tickets go on sale at the same time. The ticket system will start selling from Carriage A. So, if you want your allocation to be A, B, C, D you will need to book early.
This does not mean you can't choose the carriage you want to be in as your start carriage as long as there are seats available for sale in that section, i.e. you can choose to start in Carriage D.
Dinner is served at the beginning of the evening between 7.00 and 7.40 pm. Patrons are welcome to sit on the platform to eat their meal, or in your first allocated Carriage (this applies to all carriages).
Everyone still swaps carriages at the stops. The carriage orders are as follows:
Carriage A is a 48-seat dining car
Carriage B is a 52-seat car with no dining tables
Carriage C is a 52-seat dining car with a small dance floor
Carriage D is a dancing car with a stage and approximately 30 seats (capacity 52). Everyone starting in the D carriage will be seated for their meal - 37 in the D carriage and 15 at reserved dining tables in the alcove. Those dining in the alcove join the carriage prior to departure.
Please note these are General Admission tickets. It is vital to book tickets under one surname in one transaction, otherwise you will be allocated separate carriages. So, remember, if you want to be together, book tickets in one hit! There are no refunds, see our Terms and Conditions.
Friends enjoy the Blues Train together in the A carriageIf you are coming on the Blues Train with a group of friends, it's best to make a group booking. That way we can allocate you all to be on the same carriages throughout the night. Groups booking through Ticketek must buy all their tickets in one transaction. Seating is allocated when your ticket is issued. Capacity is approximately 50 people per carriage, 200 people per train.
The Blues Train is ticketed in a similar manner to most theatrical events, i.e. ticket allocation is divided by sections (in our case, carriages). Whilst individual seats in the carriages themselves are not allocated, the start carriage (and therefore the group of people you will be with for the rest of the evening as you progress to subsequent carriages) is allocated at the time of purchase. Therefore, it is essential that when booking, if you want to be with other people who have already purchased tickets, or who are planning to purchase tickets, you know which carriage they are starting in (i.e. A, B, C or D, indicated on their ticket) and also that you ensure that you buy available tickets for that carriage.
Friends enjoying the Blues Train in the B carriageIf you buy tickets in a different start carriage to your friends, just as with any other event, there is very little we can do on the night. You may be able to find some people to swap tickets for another start carriage, but we leave this strictly to you.
If you realise more than one month prior to the show that you have tickets in a different carriage to your friend, you can contact Ticketek Administration on 9299 9100 and ask to speak to the Blues Train event manager, who may be able to help you if sufficient tickets are available in another carriage. (Fees and charges may apply).
We do have wheelchair access, however due to the age of the heritage train carriages and the width of the doorways and arrangement of fixed seats, mobility can be limited. Please contact us to discuss your requirements and we will do our very best to ensure you have an enjoyable Blues Train. All carriages have safety ramps and a guard on board at all times who can assist with embarking, disembarking and mobility while in the carriage.
For people who require professional carers, we can organise a discount ticket for the accompanying carer (Companion Card holders).
Regarding toilets, the public toilets at Queenscliff and Drysdale station have wheelchair access. Suma Park has portaloos only. Wheelchair access portaloos will be made available at Suma Park Station for patrons requiring these facilities. To arrange, please contact The Blues Train direct on 03 5258 4343. Please note we need at least two weeks' notice to arrange this.
View our safety information and terms and conditions