Sleeper berths are to be replaced by first class seats that convert to flat beds on Brisbane-Cairns route DOZE WOES: Passengers on board the Cairns-Brisbane train the Sunlander will have sleeper berths replaced by seats that convert to flatbeds. CATCHING a nap on the new Sunlander trains will be a bit trickier with the State Government doing away with sleeper berths. The latest model has omitted sleeper cabins in favour of 35 first-class seats that convert into flat beds on the Cairns-Brisbane tourist train. The current Sunlander has 115 beds in first and second-class sleeper berths, which are regularly booked out for the 30-hour trip. The feature is promoted on Queensland Rail's website, as one of the "comforts" of the Sunlander. "See the Queensland coastline unfold as you relish the comfort of a traditional train service, offering overnight sleepers, dining, lounge and club cars," the Sunlander page says. Our guests tell us the Sunlander is the highlight of their holiday. The older Sunlander trains will be retired mid next year, when replacement tilt trains arrive. Transport Minister Scott Emerson said the buying of sleeper carriages was "under consideration." "Should private suite carriages be added to the tilt train fleet, we would expect fares to be higher than railbed sleeper fares," he said. The new Sunlander tilt train models have been steeped in controversy from the start, after the previous Labor government ordered them from Maryborough firm Downer EDI, without seats. A Queensland Rail spokesman said the seats were ordered separately. Premier Campbell Newman said the new design had saved taxpayers almost $50 million, with the number of passenger carriages reduced from 12 to seven but two new locomotives added to the order. "In true Labor style the project was set to blow out from $189 million to almost $250 million," Mr Newman said. Our Sunlander will include seats and operate six times a week between Brisbane and Cairns carrying up to 172 passengers a trip. Opposition transport spokeswoman Jackie Trad said the omission of sleepers from the new trains was "just another chaotic decision from a government that cuts before it thinks." "Building a train that travels overnight between Brisbane and Cairns, without giving passengers the option of a private area to sleep is just ridiculous," Ms Trad said. Such a decision will deprive the Sunlander of any chance to succeed. Mr Emerson said extra features of the trains included "personal on-demand entertainment systems with flat screens" in every seat. The first of the new Sunlanders is due for delivery in August, with all three trains to be completed by mid-2014 when the current model will be retired. Existing tilt trains will also be refurbished with the new flat bed feature in first class. The fast trains do not include a full-recline option for passengers. The reduction in size of the new trains from original plans, was largely due to the fact a 12-carriage Sunlander would not fit into existing maintenance facilities. A spokesman for Mr Emerson said they would have had to build new maintenance areas at even greater cost.