Byron Solar Train

Attraction
Among The Elements
Crossing the Creek
North Beach Station Aerial
Crossing Belongil Creek
Along the Track
First Class 1949 Style
Gallery showing 6 of 6 images

About

Take a journey on the world's first solar-powered train that runs for 364 days a year. Buy a return ticket and you'll ride the 3 kilometre track between the centre of Byron and North Beach Station, taking you through part of the Cape Byron Marine Park.

You'll pass littoral rainforest, endangered coastal wetlands and the tea-tree-bordered Belongil Creek before you can either head back on your return journey or disembark to explore the surroundings.

The restored 1949 two-car 600 series train has capacity for 92 seated passengers, with room for prams, luggage, bikes and surfboards. Operating purely on the sun's energy, the train represents net-carbon-positive travel and a great way to see the stunning natural beauty of the region.

Hours

See listed hours

Daily: 10:00–17:00

Facilities and visitor features

4 features
Disabled access available, contact operator for details.

Reviews & Ratings

Thomas N Wyndham

Thomas N Wyndham

Google review

Visited from Brisbane on a drizzly Monday with two railway and transit enthusiast mates specifically to ride the train. The train is very nice, a very well kept diesel rail motor pair, we were told one coach from the 1940s, and the other the 60s. While the diesel engine remains as a backup (and we are told regularly run on Wednesdays to keep it working), the train instead has been converted to run on battery power. This makes for an incredibly smooth and quiet journey. Absolutely staggering that it manages to be even quieter than our electric trains in Brisbane. The train takes only 10 minutes each way, and while primarily tourist focused, does cater for locals, we’re told being used for some commutes, or people traveling into town but wishing to avoid the traffic or parking woes. It would be wonderful if the can one day be extended along the disused railway. Between trips it plugs in at North Beach station, using standard EV charging cables used by many cars, recharging using mainly solar power generated on site. Both stations are fairly simple, with a toilet at North Beach. I’m sure all three of us will be back one day not least because they also offer a ‘driver for the day’ experience. Made for a great day out, and shines a light on the possible future of railway preservation as we move away from fossil fuels.

Price range

From $7 To $140 per person

Where you'll be

Bayshore Drive

Byron Bay NSW 2481