North-West NSW Inland Rail Connection Work Finalised

A freight line that will connnect with the Inland Rail megaproject has been upgraded in north-west New South Wales.

The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has finished works on the Narrabri-Turrawan freight line ahead of a predicted bumper grain harvest.

The $44.7-million upgrade of 35km of line between the Hunter Valley and Narrabi North was funded by the Commonwealth.

The upgrade includes preparing the line to carry heavier loads to allow up to 25 tonnes per axle at up to 80km an hour.

Outdated steel and timber sleepers were replaced with concrete sleepers, and civil and rail works were upgraded.

Daracon Contractors, Rhomberg Sersa, and THEE Group worked on the Narrabri-Turrawan line.

Narrabi North, about 530km north-west of Sydney, has been slated as a freight transport hub as part of the Inland Rail project. Parkes, about 380km to the south, will be the main hub connecting to South Australia and Western Australia.

Across the east coast, work is moving ahead on Inland Rail projects.

Construction is to start on the 39km Illabo-to-Stockinbingal stage of the project next year while the 185km Albury-to-Illabo section was approved in October.

Planning has begun for the section between the Ebenezer terminal for Inland Rail and the Port of Brisbane in Queensland.

▲ The route of the Inland Rail megaproject connecting Victoria and Queensland.

In June, John Holland was awarded the contract to work on the 12 Inland Rail sites in Victoria.

A review of the entire 1700km Inland Rail project was undertaken in 2022.

A report from it released in April, 2023 revealed huge cost blowouts—the total cost of the project had increased to $31.4 billion, almost double the original costing.

Clear end dates and budgets had not been created, the review found, prompting the creation of Inland Rail to oversee the project.