Soaring demand at Queensland Rail Travel saw the organisation break a number of sales records in April and across the third quarter of the financial year.

Figures have received a major boost thanks to a large increase in the number of interstate travellers using Queensland Rail Travel services.

Some 1,535 customers from outside Queensland made trips on the travel network throughout the third quarter, which represents a 584 per cent increase on the previous record for the same period.

Queensland Rail Travel general manager, Max Kruse, said the results show the organisation had turned the corner after some lean years for long-distance rail travel in the early part of this century.

“These numbers are quite phenomenal and they show that we’re heading in the right direction when it comes to making Queensland Rail Travel a successful business,” Kruse explained.

“In April, we had $4.42 million in sales, which is more than half a million dollars above our previous best figure for that month, set in 2011.

“Overall revenue for the quarter was also up 13.37 per cent on the old mark, reaching $12.71 million.”

Tourism Queensland chief executive, Anthony Hayes, was equally enthused by the strong passenger numbers.

“This is fantastic news for not only Queensland Rail Travel, but for our industry as a whole,” Hayes added.

“I congratulate Queensland Rail Travel for their leadership linking all of our wonderful experiences and marketing our great state to Australia and the world.”