Transforming the Nation’s Freight Backbone
Spanning more than 1,600 kilometres, Inland Rail is Australia’s largest freight rail project and one of the most significant infrastructure programs in the world. Once complete, it will link Melbourne and Brisbane through the nation’s heartland, connecting regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland via a world-class, high-capacity freight corridor.
Across its 12 sections and 30 local government areas, the program will upgrade 1,000 km of existing rail line and build 600 km of brand-new track, creating a continuous, standard-gauge link that will cut travel time by nearly a third—from 33 hours down to less than 24. This will make rail freight competitive with road transport while removing tens of thousands of trucks from highways every year.
Phase 2: Nearing Key Environmental Approvals
Inland Rail has made substantial progress on the Narrabri to North Star Phase 2 section, finalising the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and working closely with the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) to respond to final requests. The proposal has now been submitted to the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces for assessment, with a decision expected in the coming weeks. Once approved, it will move to the Australian Government for review under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
This section is part of a larger corridor stretching from Narrabri to Camurra, enhancing flood-plain resilience and enabling double-stacked, 1.8 km freight trains to operate—each carrying the equivalent of up to 110 B-double trucks.
Field Investigations & Regional Engagement
Over the past few months, Inland Rail has been actively engaging with northern NSW communities while continuing field investigations. In August, representatives attended the three-day AgQuip event in Tamworth, meeting with over 140 stakeholders to share progress updates and listen to local feedback.
Field investigations continue this Spring, with teams completing geotechnical surveys north of Moree and preparing for additional work at Skinners Creek. Despite earlier weather delays, drier conditions are now helping the project team complete remaining investigations at properties near Gilgandra, while cadastral survey teams return to sites across Narrabri Creek, Baradine, Quanda, and Gilgandra. Ecology and heritage studies are also being undertaken to ensure all environmental factors are properly understood before the next design phase.
Delivering the Bigger Picture
Once complete, each Inland Rail section becomes part of ARTC’s national freight network, enhancing Australia’s supply-chain efficiency. Already, the completed North-West Connection at Parkes has shortened the rail distance between Brisbane and Perth—and Brisbane and Adelaide—by over 500 kilometres, cutting transit times and costs for freight operators nationwide.
Beyond its engineering scope, Inland Rail represents a profound shift for Australia’s logistics landscape: a seamless, standard-gauge freight spine connecting rural production zones to global export markets—efficiently, sustainably, and at scale.
Meanwhile, further south, a new 198 km stretch between Narromine and Baradine is also under design. Recently appointed partners WSP and Mott MacDonald are developing the next phase of engineering work—from the Materials Distribution Centre near Narromine to the edge of the Pilliga Forest. Over the next 18 months, they’ll advance reference designs into detailed preliminary designs, supported by comprehensive hydrological and hydraulic modelling to guide long-term flood-management strategies.