The Solar Train Byron Bay runs three hundred sixty-four days per year, excluding Christmas Day, a return service is conducted on the meticulously restored 1949-era two-car historical train. All owing to a power source that is 4.6 billion years old, the Sun! The three-kilometre coastal path connects the Byron Town Centre to the North Beach district and the Byron Arts Estate. The trip takes ten minutes one way and twenty-five minutes round trip from North Beach Station.
Relax on classic lounge seats in first class or converse with fellow passengers in coach class as you travel through the rainforest, endangered coastal wetlands, and over the breathtaking tea tree Belongil Creek, which is a component of Cape Byron Marine Park.
The train offers space for 92 seated passengers, additional standing passengers, plus free luggage space for bicycles, strollers, and surfboards, thus advance reservations are not required. This is carbon neutral travel, Byron fashion.
The 2 Platforms
North Beach Station, home of the Byron Solar Train, is located on Bayshore Drive. There is enough free parking, a restroom with disability access, shelter, seats, and bicycle racks. Within walking distance are The Sun Bistro, Elements of Byron Resort, Habitat, Sunrise Beach, and a variety of unique to spectacular shopping opportunities.
The Byron Beach Platform is located at the Shirley Street grade crossing in the town of Byron Bay, between the First Sun Caravan Park and the Simmos Caltex Service Station. There are benches, a canopy, bicycle racks, and ample paid parking. From this location, you may stroll to the town centre, Main Beach, Belongil Beach, and more beaches for the more daring.
Solar Train Schedule/Timetable
The train runs every hour from North Byron Station (apart from the added 12.30 trip) with the first train leaving at 10am from North Byron and the last leaving Byron Beach at 5.45. More details here.
Fares
Adult $5 one way, $10 return
Child 6 – 13 years $3 one way, $6 return
Child 0 – 5 years free
Adult 10 trip saver $40
“Ride in Style” package $30
(Return adult train ticket and lunch the North Byron Hotel)
History
The first stretch of the Murwillumbah line (which is utilised by the Byron Bay Train) opened between Lismore and Murwillumbah, linking the Richmond and Tweed rivers. From Byron Bay, passengers and cargo were transported to Sydney through coastal shipping. Nine years later, a connection between Lismore and Casino was inaugurated (and later south to Grafton – it was not until 1932 that the line was fully connected to Sydney). In 1930, when the North Coast line was expanded from Kyogle to South Brisbane, the route became a branch line. The Casino-Murwillumbah railway was discontinued in 2004, with the final NSW CountryLink XPT train departing Murwillumbah on May 15, 2004.
Private investment at a cost of around $300,000 per kilometre completely rebuilt the segment of track north of the town centre. The section’s track construction began on May 23, 2016, and concluded in late November of the same year. In April 2017, new platforms and a storage shed were finished. Early in January 2017 it was confirmed that the train would be solar-hybrid powered. It is believed that the solar service is a world first.
Operations began on December 16, 2017. In the first 19 days of operation, more than 10,000 passengers utilised the service. In January 2019, a year later, the train carried its 100,000th passenger.
FAQs
Where does the Byron Bay train go?
During daylight hours, the train operates a return shuttle service for the three-kilometer, 10-minute trip between ‘North Beach Station,’ the nearby Elements, and the ‘Byron Beach’ platform, adjacent to the Shirley Street level crossing, around the corner from Main Beach.
Does Byron Bay have trains?
Byron Bay Train. The Byron World First Solar Train is accessible to anyone, and the local community and travellers are encouraged to ride. Three hundred sixty-four days per year, excluding Christmas Day, a return service is conducted on the meticulously restored 1949-era two-car historical train. All owing to a power source that is 4.6 billion years old.
Can you use the train for weddings?
No, there are not special events permitted currently on the solar train.
