Originally to be called "The Tropical Explorer"[2][3] with a colourful tropical livery reflecting "the sun, blue sky, beach and palms",[4] the name was soon quietly dropped and instead called the "Cairns Tilt Train" similar to its earlier electric version, with a simple, plain yellow and maroon striped livery along its stainless steel body.

Using the experience of its many years of railway operations, QR developed a series of methods to reduce the risk of accident to its tilt trains.

Services were three times a week, departing Roma Street railway station, Brisbane on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 6:25 pm, arriving Cairns railway station Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 7:20 pm; returning from Cairns on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8:15 am, arriving Brisbane at 9:10 am on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

[6] The train departed Roma Street railway station in the Brisbane central business district on time at 6:25 pm[7] on service VCQ5 to Cairns.

The first change of crew was at Bundaberg; the drivers of the first part of the journey found no defects with the train and reported the trip as uneventful.

At 11:55:24 pm, close to the 60 km/h (37 mph) speed limit sign, the driver moved the train's throttle to zero power, then to emergency braking less than one second after.

Lead power car 5403 came to rest 108 m (354 ft) past the point of derailment parallel to the track after skidding onto its right side.

North Coast Control identified this as where the tilt train was travelling through, and tried to contact the driver a number of times by radio but did not receive a response.

At the same time, a passenger from the derailed train called emergency services on his mobile phone and raised the alarm of the incident.

[8] The release of this information angered the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Employees, which covers train crews including drivers, which threatened a 24-hour strike on Friday, pending a telephone hook-up with members on Thursday night.

[7] The report also found that the driver may have left the driving position for a moment to get food from his bag or the mini fridge, under the belief that it was safe to do so.

The moon had set at 7:23 pm, over four hours earlier, and was 26° below the horizon, meaning that while visibility was good the area was in complete darkness.

About 120 m (390 ft) of track and sleepers was damaged, and three stanchions supporting the overhead power lines and associated wiring were destroyed and had to be replaced.