North Queenslanders are being encouraged to hop aboard the iconic Kuranda Scenic Railway (KSR), with Queensland Rail offering up to 25 per cent off fares for locals.
Queensland Rail CEO Nick Easy said the KSR fare for local residents was being extended to North Queenslanders from Townsville and North-West Queensland to the tip of Cape York, coming into effect from 12 October.
Mr Easy said the offer was a great opportunity for locals to plan a regional getaway and experience one of the country's most iconic railway journeys.
"After what's been a tough year for everyone, it's great to be able to lead into the summer months with discounted KSR fares for locals and support our regional communities," he said.
"Cairns locals have access to 20 per cent off KSR fares all year round, but we're extending the offer to allow more North Queensland residents to experience this rainforest journey to Kuranda at a discounted price.
"North Queenslanders who travel on the Spirit of Queensland long distance train to Cairns will receive 25 per cent off KSR fares during this period, which is a great deal for those travelling by train."
Mr Easy said the offer was also a great way to support tourism in regional communities as they bounced back from the impacts of COVID-19.
"Regional communities have been doing it tough during COVID-19, with many businesses struggling to keep their doors open," he said.
"We hope Queenslanders take advantage of this offer, bringing some much-needed tourism to the region and helping our communities get back on their feet.
"Travel is safe on our long-distance services with social distancing measures in place and heightened cleaning taking place both onboard and at stations."
The offer will run from Monday 12 October to Friday 11 December 2020.
To adhere to social distancing capacity requirements, bookings for all Queensland Rail's Travel and Tourism services are essential.
To be eligible for the discounted tickets, residents must provide identification with their local address at the time of ticketing.
For more information, call 1800 KSRAIL (577 245), visit the Cairns Travel Centre or www.ksr.com.au.