The Riverlander
Heritage Diesel hauled Slow Rail Journey to Tocumwal
Friday 8 to Sunday 10 April
Returning to Tocumwal for first time in many years, we invite you to join us on our slow rail journey to Tocumwal travelling in comfortable and private heritage sleeping carriages, hauled by heritage diesels over the weekend of the 8th to 10th April.
Join 707 Operations as we travel to Toumwal for the 2022 Tocumwal Airshow with two nights of unique overnight travel on board our comfortable heritage sleeping train consist, hauled throughout by vintage diesel locomotives. Enjoy a COVID-Safe weekend away making new-found friendships and memories that you'll not easily forget. Book your tickets here.
Departing from Melbourne's Southern Cross Station at 10.00 pm on Friday 8 April, meet your tour organisers and fellow travellers with a welcome aboard drink and nibbles in our lounge carriages as we head north to Seymour and Shepparton. Retiring to your sleeping cabin for an evenings rest as we climb up the Great Dividing Range from Wallan through Kilmore East and on through Seymour and Shepparton during the night.
After a slow journey overnight, you'll wake up in Shepparton to enjoy a hearty breakfast and coffee! Take the morning to explore the township of Shepparton at your own pace, which is only a few minutes walk from where our train will be sitting. After lunch, join road coaches for a tour along the North East Silo Art Trail. This tour will feature the works of art on the grain silos that tower over the townships of Goorambat, Devenish, St. James and Tungamah. Coaches will then take you to Katunga for a traditional country dinner, then you'll join your train carriages again for the short journey to Tocumwal. On Saturday evening, enjoy a twilight evening stroll along the banks of the beautiful Murray River, or enjoy a nightcap in Club Victoria.
After a pleasant and stationary night on the train in Tocumwal, Sunday's breakfast will be served locally, and shortly after, you'll have the chance to join complimentary shuttle coach transfers linking the railway station to the Tocumwal Airport, in time to witness the 2022 Tocumwal Airshow, and enjoy the day of flight displays which will include jets, warbirds, bi-planes and aerobatics for the day (entry included in fare).
Watch the skies over Tocumwal, along the New South Wales and Victorian border come alive as they are filled with aircraft, both old and not-so-old, during the 2022 Tocumwal Airshow!
Twinette Sleeper Roomette Sleeper Non-AC Twinette WANDO
After enjoying the day at the Tocumwal Airshow, relax onboard as our train makes a rapid return to Melbourne, departing from Tocumwal in the mid-afternoon. Enjoy the sunset views in one of Lounge Carriages or your private compartment as we make our way home again, travelling in into the evening with dinner aboard the train with short stops at Shepparton and Seymour. Your slow weekend rail cruise experience will arrive back into Southern Cross station at 10.00 pm.
We also have the option of one-way travel from Tocumwal to Melbourne on Sunday afternoon.
Our heritage train features:
- Cafe Hudson espresso bar
- Licenced Club Carriage 1 and Lounge Car 708
- Air conditioned restored 1950's carriages
- Entry to the 2022 Tocumwal Airshow
- Relaxed slow rail journey atmosphere
- Cooked breakfasts each morning, lunch on Saturday and dinner on Saturday and Sunday.
- A range of travel and sleeping options
- Off train tours on board comfortable air-conditioned (and heated) coach transport.
Travel Options
We have range of travel options for the trip (weekend trip options include all meals) including:
- The NAM Carriage: Premium Twinette private sleeping compartment for up to two people with lounge seats by day and bunk beds by night (including linen). Each compartment contains a private shower and wash basin, with private toilet facilities located in each sleeping compartment.
- The LAN Carriage: Premium Roomette private sleeping compartment for one person with lounge seat by day and bed by night (including linen). Each compartment contains a wash basin, with shared shower facilities located at the end of the carriage and shared toilet facilities located in this carriage.
- The SJ Carriage: Standard Twinette private sleeping compartment for up to two people with lounge seats by day and bunk beds by night (including linen). Each compartment contains a private shower and wash basin, with shared toilet facilities in adjoining carriages.
- WANDO Non-Air Conditioned Twinette: in our Edwardian carriage WANDO, private sleeping compartment for up to two people with lounge seats by day and bunk beds by night (including linen). Each compartment contains a private wash basin, with shared shower and toilet facilities located in adjoining carriages.
- Tocumwal/Seymour saloon seats for a one way trip to Melbourne (includes meals) Sunday 10 April.
Our train is a COVID-Safe environment in line with Victorian Government requirements, including check-in and contact tracing for all passengers, enhanced cleaning of the train during the trip and refund policies.
Saloon Carriage Seating Compartment Seating
Fares
| The NAM Carriage - Premium Twinette Sleeper (for two people) |
$945 pp - only 1 berth remaining |
| The LAN Carraige - Premium Roomette Sleeper (for one person) |
$945 pp - only 5 berths remaining |
| The SJ Carriage - Standard Twinette Sleeper (for two people) | $895 pp - limited space remaining |
| WANDO - Non-AC Twinette Sleepter (for two people) | $700 pp |
| Tocumwal to Melbourne - One Way (Sunday) includes dinner |
$200 pp |
| Seymour to Melbourne - One Way (Sunday) rail only | $70 pp |
| Motorcader Donation (1) |
$10 |
(1) For those motorcading our train to photograph, please consider donating towards the costs of running our trip - donate here.
Train Travel Times - subjct to confirmation
The following train times are approximate and subject to change. Please visit our website two days prior to departure to check for any updates.
| To Tocumwal | To Melbourne | |
| Friday 10.00 pm | Southern Cross Station |
Sunday 10.15 pm |
| ------ | Seymour |
Sunday 8.50 pm |
| Saturday 3.30 am to 1.00 pm | Shepparton | Sunday 6.40 pm |
| Saturday 9.00 pm | Tocumwal | Sunday 5.00 pm |
Please note for this trip we will not be boarding passengers at our Newport Depot.
For other information about travelling on our train - visit our frequently asked questions page.
COVIDSafe Travel
You'll also notice some subtle (but necessary) changes as you travel with us in 2022. We've adopted a COVID-Safe plan in line with Government requirements. You'll notice extra on-train cleaning, extra hand sanitising and capacity limits on all of our future journeys, as well as contact tracing documentation prior to boarding. Our volunteers will be on hand to make the check-in and travel process as streamlined as possible, but we do ask for your cooperation to follow all published guidelines when on board our trains.
The health and safety of our passengers and volunteer train staff are of utmost importance to us. For travel on any future day or overnight excursion all guests over the age of 16 must show their COVID-19 vaccination status as a condition of entry to boarding any train service. The quickest and easiest way to show proof of vaccination is by adding your COVID-19 digital certificate to the Service Victoria app.
If you don't have a smartphone or are unable to use one, there are additional non-digital proof of vaccination status options available including an official copy of your Australian Immunisation Register vaccination certificate or a printed copy of your digital vaccination certificate from myGov.
Visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au/get-your-covid-19-digital-certificate to find out more.
Refund Policy
There is no refund available for passengers who are unable to show proof of being fully vaccinated prior to boarding the train.
If you are unwell in the days prior to departure, please contact our bookings officer on 0420 806 875 for advise.
Medical Exemptions
If you have an exemption please provide it at the time of booking via email to contact@707operations.com.au and present it at the time of boarding. Please ensure your medical exemption is valid and signed by a medical practitioner.
We ask that any guests who are booked to travel with Seven-O-Seven Operations that experience cold or flu like symptoms in the week prior to our departure date please contact our office on 0420 806 820 for advice before travelling.
Revised: 25 March 2022