The Inland Rail is a freight rail line connection between Melbourne and Brisbane.
The route will be approximately 1,700 km in length and include over 1,000 km of major upgrades and enhancements and 600 km of new track via regional Victoria, NSW and Queensland.
Comprising 13 individual projects, seven of which are based in NSW, Inland Rail is the largest freight rail infrastructure project in Australia. The route involves:
- using the existing interstate rail line through Victoria and southern NSW
- upgrading about 400 km of existing track, mainly in western NSW
- providing about 600 km of new track, mainly in western and north-western NSW, and south-east Queensland.
The Inland Rail proposal aims to complete the backbone of the national freight network by providing for a transit time of 24 hours or less for freight trains between Melbourne and Brisbane.
These projects are parts of Inland Rail that have obtained planning approval or are currently progressing through the planning assessment process.
The Albury to Illabo section of Inland Rail consists of upgrade works to 185 km of existing rail corridor from the Victoria/NSW border to Illabo in regional NSW.
The Illabo to Stockinbingal section of Inland Rail is 42.5 km in length, consisting of 39 km of new, single track standard gauge railway in regional NSW.
186 km of upgraded track and 2.3 km of new track between the towns of Narrabri and North Star, via Moree.
A new section of rail, made up of approximately 306 km of new track.
Construction and operation of a 30 km rail corridor between North Star and the NSW/Queensland Border, including a new rail track of approximately 25 km.
106 km of upgraded track and 5.3 km of new rail track at Parkes, to connect to the Broken Hill railway line.