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This article is about a freight railway under construction in Australia. For the 1300-kilometre railway in Sweden, see Inland Line.

Inland Rail
Inland Rail logo
Inland Rail route
Original Inland Rail route alignment
Overview
Other name(s)
  • Brisbane–Melbourne railway
  • Inland railway
StatusUnder construction by Inland Rail Pty Ltd
OwnerAustralian Government
LocaleAustralia
Termini
Websitehttps://inlandrail.com.au
Service
TypeHeavy rail (freight)
Operator(s)Open access
History
Commenced2018 (2018)
Technical
Track length1,600 km (990 mi)
Number of tracks1
Track gauge
  • Beveridge to Yelarbon
  • 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
  • Yelarbon to Kagaru
  • 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)/
  • 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) dual gauge
Route map
Map

Inland Rail is a 1600-kilometre (990 mi) railway line under construction in Australia. Once complete, it will connect Melbourne and Brisbane along a new route inland through Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland that allows for the use of double-stacked freight trains.

Construction of the line is divided into 13 projects, with 600 kilometres (370 mi) of new track to be built and 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) of existing track to be upgraded or modified.[1] Inland Rail Pty Ltd,[2] a subsidiary of Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), is constructing the rail line on behalf of the Australian Government.

History

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Early proposals

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In 1889, a proposed standard gauge and partly mixed gauge line from Brisbane via Rosewood, Warwick and Wallangarra shortened the distance between Brisbane and Sydney by 55 miles (89 km).[3]

In the 20th century, several proposals were made for an inland railway route connecting the east coast of Australia.[4] In 1915, Prime Minister Andrew Fisher proposed a "strategic railway" connecting the South Australian city of Port Augusta to Brisbane, with connections to the New South Wales railway network, at an estimated cost of A£6,500,000.[5] In 1979, TNT founder Ken Thomas proposed a route connecting Brisbane to Melbourne via Wallangarra, Orange and Albury, with possible connections to Adelaide and Perth.[6]

Later proposals

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In 1995, Queensland Rail detailed a $1.289 billion (equivalent to $2.52 billion in 2022) proposal for an inland railway corridor connecting Brisbane and Melbourne.[7] New dual gauge track would follow the existing 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow gauge Main Line to Toowoomba, the Western railway line to Wyreema and the Millmerran railway line to its terminus at Millmerran, with new track connecting to the Boggabilla railway line south of the New South Wales–Queensland border.[8]

The route would then have continued along the 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge Mungindi railway line until Bellata, with a new line connecting the Coonamble railway line via Wee Waa before once again following existing track: the Main Western railway line to Narromine; the Parkes–Narromine railway line to Parkes; the Stockinbingal–Parkes railway line to Stockinbingal; the Lake Cargelligo railway line to Cootamundra; the Main Southern railway line to Albury; and the North East railway line to Melbourne.[8] A maximum line speed of 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph) would be in place for the corridor, with an additional $189 million (equivalent to $370.15 million in 2022) upgrade to existing track allowing for speeds of up to 160 kilometres per hour (99 mph) in sections.[7]

In 1996, the Bureau of Transport and Communications Economics (BTCE) released a working paper assessing the proposal. It found a new route would save ten hours journey time on the existing coastal route via Sydney, reducing the operating cost for operators from $23.16/tonne to $17.56/tonne,[9] but would facilitate only a small increase in grain production.[10][11]

In September 2005, the federal Department of Transport and Regional Services commissioned a feasibility study into a Brisbane–Melbourne railway link, outlining four possible 'sub-corridors' between Junee and Brisbane.[12] In May 2008, the newly elected Rudd government allocated $15 million to the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) to develop a route alignment following the Far Western sub-corridor as detailed in the 2006 study.[13][14] The corporation's preliminary analysis was released in May 2009, which showed that the cheapest version of the inland railway would cost $2.8 billion to build and would allow freight to be moved from Melbourne to Brisbane in just over 27 hours. Despite this, the analysis also found that, if operational by 2020, the project's costs would outweigh any economic benefits by up to $1.1 billion.[15]

The ARTC's final report was released in July 2010. The report recommended a route from Junee to Melbourne via Albury following the North East railway line, with the route from Moree to Brisbane to build along a new corridor through the Toowoomba range.[16] The report forecast a delivery cost of $3.688 billion, with track duplication works between Junee and Melbourne and capacity for double-stacked freight trains between Melbourne and Parkes already budgeted by the ARTC.[17]

Approval and funding

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The Gillard government announced forward estimates of $300 million in the 2011 federal budget commencing 2014, with the Coalition committing to the funding following the election of the Abbott government in 2013.[18] A further $594 million was allocated to ARTC by the Turnbull government in the 2016 federal budget to purchase land for the project,[19] with an additional $8.4 billion in funding over seven years announced in the subsequent 2017 budget.[20]

In the 2020 federal budget, the Morrison government pledged $150 million in funding for additional grade separation works in New South Wales, conditional upon a further $37.5 million commitment from the New South Wales state government.[21]

The proposed route was to connect the rail yard at Tottenham, Victoria with the freight yards at Acacia Ridge and Bromelton in Queensland, using a combination of new and existing standard gauge and dual gauge track. Upgrades to existing track would facilitate the use of double-stacked container trains between the three yards.

Independent Review of Inland Rail

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On 7 October 2022, the Australian Government announced an Independent Review of Inland Rail,[22] after reports of a cost blowout to a projected $31b and delay in completion to 2030-31.[23]  

Undertaken by Kerry Schott AO, the Review report, released in April 2023, “confirmed that Inland Rail is an important project to meet Australia’s growing freight task, improve road safety and to help decarbonise our economy”. However, the Review also found “significant deficiencies in the governance and management of Inland Rail”.

The Government agreed to 19 of the Review’s recommendations,[24] including that the route be shortened to extend from Beveridge in Victoria to Ebenezer in Queensland and that existing rail lines be used wherever possible to minimise additional impacts on the environment and communities. New intermodal terminals are also to be developed in Melbourne, at Beveridge and Truganina. A third terminal is proposed for Ebenezer, Queensland. Upgrades to existing track will facilitate the use of double-stacked container trains between the yards. Single-stacked trains will pass through Ebenezer to Kagaru to connect to the existing Sydney to Brisbane Coastal line.[25]

The Review also recommended that Inland Rail be completed in stages, with the Government deciding to “prioritise [the] Beveridge to Parkes [section]”, by 2027. The project would also be separated from ARTC, and a subsidiary company, Inland Rail Pty Ltd was operational from early 2024 to complete the construction of Inland Rail.[24]

Route

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The route alignment extends from Beveridge in Victoria, through New South Wales to Kagaru in Queensland. [1]

Victoria

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Project boundaries for construction of Inland Rail
Albury
Albury
Beveridge
Beveridge
class=notpageimage|
Inland Rail project boundaries in Victoria

In Victoria, the Inland Rail route will follow the existing North East railway line and Albion–Jacana railway line alignment. Between Beveridge and Seymour the line is mostly single track with several crossing loops between 870 m (2,850 ft) and 6,800 m (22,300 ft) in length. The line north of Seymour is double track, with a connection to the Oaklands railway line at Benalla.[26]

Initial works on the corridor commenced in May 2020 as part of the $235 million North East Rail Line Upgrade,[27] with John Holland contracted to upgrade the track for line speeds up to 130 km/h (81 mph).[28][29]

The work involves replacing or modifying infrastructure at 12 sites between Beveridge and Albury:

  • Replacing the Beaconsfield Parade bridge at Glenrowan
  • Lowering the tracks under the Murray Valley Highway bridge at Barnawartha North
  • Relocating the existing track and platform on the eastern side of the Wangaratta Station to the western side of the station
  • Removing the two Wangaratta Station footbridges and replacing them with a single pedestrian underpass
  • Lowering the tracks and replacing the Green Street bridge at Wangaratta
  • Replacing the Seymour-Avenel Road bridge at Seymour
  • Relocating tracks (tracks slews), raising signal gantries and modifying overhead powerlines in numerous areas along the rail line
  • Modifying Euroa Station precinct (relocating the western rail track, building a new station platform, and adding a new pedestrian underpass) and replacing the Anderson Street bridge with a vehicle underpass
  • Relocating tracks at Benalla Station and removing the existing Benalla Station Approach Road overpass
  • Replacing multiple road bridges at Wandong and Broadford with higher bridges structures,[30]

New South Wales

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Project boundaries for construction of Inland Rail
Albury
Albury
Illabo
Illabo
Stockinbingal
Stockinbingal
Parkes
Parkes
Narromine
Narromine
Narrabri
Narrabri
North Star
North Star
Yelarbon
Yelarbon
class=notpageimage|
Inland Rail project boundaries in New South Wales

From Albury, the route continues along the Main South railway line to Illabo. Initial consultations on this section of the route commenced in 2018, with upgrades planned to 185 kilometres (115 mi) of track. A new section of track is planned to be built between Illabo and Stockinbingal, 37 kilometres (23 mi) connecting the Main South railway line to the Stockinbingal–Parkes railway line and bypassing Cootamundra and the Bethungra Spiral.[31]

The route continues along the line from Stockinbingal to Parkes, with construction works to modify sections of the 173 kilometres (107 mi) of track starting in late 2023.[32] A further 98.4 kilometres (61.1 mi) of track has been upgraded between Parkes and Narromine,[33] in addition to the construction of a new 5.3 kilometres (3.3 mi) connection with the Broken Hill railway line west of Parkes allowing services to connect to Adelaide and Perth.

An approximately 300 kilometres (190 mi) stretch of track between Narromine and Narrabri will be built along a new alignment, and is the longest stage of the project. A further 186 kilometres (116 mi) of existing railway between Narrabri and North Star will be upgraded, with a bypass at Camurra to remove a long hairpin.[34]

The route then continues from North Star and the New South Wales / Queensland border with 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) of new track construction and 25 kilometres (16 mi) of upgrades to existing track required. This section will complete one of the key missing rail links between New South Wales and Queensland, using the non-operational rail corridor or new track to connect to the operating line running to Yelarbon.[35]

Queensland

[edit]
Project boundaries for construction of Inland Rail
Yelarbon
Yelarbon
Kagaru
Kagaru
class=notpageimage|
Inland Rail project boundaries in Queensland

Following the Independent Inland Rail Review in April 2023,[24] the Inland Rail service offering for double-stacked trains in Queensland, totalling more than 330 kilometres (210 mi), will run from the New South Wales—Queensland border to a proposed new intermodal terminal at Ebenezer.[36] Single-stacked trains will pass through Ebenezer to Kagaru to connect to the existing Sydney to Brisbane Coastal line.[25]

These sections will be built as dual gauge, connecting services on both the interstate standard gauge and Queensland narrow gauge networks.

South-west of Yelarbon, the Inland Rail route joins the alignment of the South Western railway line where it extends to south of Inglewood, with a new alignment connecting the now-closed Millmerran line north-east of Millmerran. New track will be built between Southbrook and Gowrie Junction, with the route bypassing Toowoomba to Helidon on a new line and then along an upgraded Western line as far east as Calvert and new line 53 kilometres (33 mi) to Kagaru.

Tunnels

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There are three tunnels in Queensland, which allow for double-stack rail transport and dual gauge and single-track railway.[37] These are:

  • Teviot Range Tunnel Inland Railway - 1,100 metres (3,600 ft)
  • Little Liverpool Range Tunnel Inland Railway - 850 metres (2,790 ft)
  • Toowoomba Range Tunnel Inland Railway - 600 metres (2,000 ft)

These tunnels replace the original narrow gauge-only tunnels between Grandchester and Toowoomba with a faster and more maintainable alignment.

Construction

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Chronology

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In October 2018, INLink, a joint-venture between BMD Constructions and Fulton Hogan, was awarded a $310 million contract for stage 1 of the project between Parkes and Narromine.[38][39] Work on the Parkes–Narromine railway line and the new Broken Hill railway line connection commenced in December 2018.[40] More than 1,800 people were employed on the project, with works completed in September 2020.[41]

Opposition to construction

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The Narrabri and Baradine Aboriginal Land Councils have stated their opposition to the Narromine to Narrabri section of the project, planned to be built on an alignment through the Pilliga forests which contain various Aboriginal heritage sites. A route through the Pilliga forests was announced by Minister for Infrastructure, Darren Chester, in November 2017, despite initial plans by the ARTC to build the line through surrounding farmland.[42][43]

Landholders and farmers have opposed several sections of the project on environmental grounds. In September 2017, Chester announced the Yelarbon to Gowrie section would be built through the Condamine River floodplain, which reached its highest recorded level in the 2010–11 Queensland floods.[44] As a consequence, the Inland Rail project was referred to the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee in 2019,[45] with the committee chair, Senator Glenn Sterle, critical of ARTC for a lack of consultation with communities along the alignment.[46] Although the ARTC reaffirmed the Yelarbon to Gowrie route would remain across the floodplain,[47] in June 2020, Deputy Prime Minister, Michael McCormack, ordered a review of the alignment.[48]

In July 2020, the New South Wales branch of the Country Women's Association, along with the NSW Farmers' Association, commenced legal proceedings against ARTC, seeking an independent hydrology review into the Narromine to Narrabri stage of the project.[49]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Download Map of Inland Rail Route". Inland Rail. 29 January 2024. Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Home". Inland Rail. Archived from the original on 23 September 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  3. ^ "Construction of Railway - upon the 4 feet 8½-inch Gauge". Logan Witness. Vol. VIII, no. 398. Queensland, Australia. 5 December 1885. p. 3. Archived from the original on 23 July 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ Wilson, Alex.; Robinson, H. E. C. (1909), "1 map ; 30 x 26.5 cm. + accompanying diagram.", Part of Australia showing transcontinental railways and state connections, [Sydney?: H.E.C. Robinson], nla.obj-231830146, archived from the original on 23 July 2022, retrieved 12 September 2020 – via Trove
  5. ^ "Strategic Railway". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 21, 401. Victoria, Australia. 27 February 1915. p. 9. Archived from the original on 23 July 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ Thomas, Ken (10 May 1979). "Making our railways pay". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 7.
  7. ^ a b Bureau of Transport and Communications Economics 1996, pp. 5–6.
  8. ^ a b Bureau of Transport and Communications Economics 1996, pp. 6–7.
  9. ^ Bureau of Transport and Communications Economics 1996, p. 8.
  10. ^ Bureau of Transport and Communications Economics 1996, p. 21.
  11. ^ Bureau of Transport and Communications Economics 1996, p. 55.
  12. ^ Ernst & Young 2006, p. 5.
  13. ^ Albanese, Anthony (21 May 2008). "Inland rail alignment study underway". Australian Labor Party (Press release). Archived from the original on 5 October 2009.
  14. ^ Grimson, Ken (20 August 2008). "Economics will decide inland rail route: ARTC". The Daily Advertiser. Archived from the original on 15 August 2011.
  15. ^ Davis, Mark (7 May 2009). "Rail sums do not add up, says study". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 11 May 2009. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
  16. ^ Australian Rail Track Corporation 2010, pp. 31–33.
  17. ^ Australian Rail Track Corporation 2010, pp. 53.
  18. ^ Truss, Warren; Emerson, Scott (28 August 2013). "Inland rail – the future of freight". Liberal Party of Australia (Press release). Archived from the original on 31 August 2013. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  19. ^ Barbour, Lucy (3 May 2016). "Government to spend $594 million buying land for Inland Rail line linking Brisbane and Melbourne". ABC Rural. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 11 February 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  20. ^ Kotsios, Natalie (9 May 2017). "Budget 2017: Inland rail funding of $8.4 billion promised". The Weekly Times. Archived from the original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  21. ^ "Federal Budget 2020: $150 million investment in additional grade separations of Inland Rail alignment in NSW". Moree Champion. 6 October 2020. Archived from the original on 17 October 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  22. ^ jurisdiction=Queensland; sector=government; corporateName=State Development, Infrastructure (10 October 2022). "What is the independent review?". State Development and Infrastructure. Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  23. ^ "Previous government ignored advice, let Inland Rail cost blow out to an 'astonishing' $31b". ABC News. 5 April 2023. Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  24. ^ a b c "Australian Government Response to the Review of Inland Rail" (PDF). Department of Infrastructure. April 2023. Archived from the original on 9 January 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  25. ^ a b "Calvert to Kagaru". Inland Rail. Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  26. ^ "North East SG Line". Vicsig. Archived from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  27. ^ Ruppert, Simon (18 March 2020). "ARTC work to get NE line up to scratch". The Corowa Free Press. Archived from the original on 23 July 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  28. ^ "John Holland wins contract for Australian rail upgrade". The Construction Index. 10 December 2019. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  29. ^ "Economy boost from rail works". Wangaratta Chronicle. 12 February 2020. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  30. ^ "Beveridge to Albury". Inland Rail. Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  31. ^ "ARTC to host session as Illabo to Stockinbingal rail project nears construction". Southern Cross. 31 July 2019. Archived from the original on 29 August 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  32. ^ "Stockinbingal to Parkes Project a boost for local businesses". Parkes Champion-Post. 25 January 2020. Archived from the original on 27 January 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  33. ^ "Historic day as Parkes to Narromine Inland Rail section completed". Parkes Champion-Post. 16 September 2020. Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  34. ^ Newsroom (27 August 2020). "Inland Rail Narrabri to North Star full steam ahead". Moree Champion. Archived from the original on 21 March 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2024. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  35. ^ pamela (12 October 2021). "Civil work package for Inland Rail missing link awarded". Railway PRO. Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  36. ^ Council, Ipswich City (11 February 2022). "Ebenezer Regional Industrial Area". www.ipswich.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  37. ^ "Inland Rail – Calvert to Kagaru (C2K) project – draft environmental impact statement - Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning - Citizen Space". haveyoursay.dsd.qld.gov.au. Archived from the original on 2 February 2024. Retrieved 2 February 2024.
  38. ^ "ARTC and INLink sign $300 million construction contract for Parkes to Narromine section of Inland Rail". Parkes Champion-Post. 23 October 2018. Archived from the original on 29 August 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  39. ^ "INLink celebrates official commencement of Inland Rail project". BMD Constructions (Press release). 13 December 2018. Archived from the original on 23 March 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  40. ^ Carter, Mark (19 December 2018). "Australia launches Inland Rail construction". International Railway Journal. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  41. ^ "Inland Rail first phase completed". Railway Gazette International. 17 September 2020. Archived from the original on 17 September 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  42. ^ Schwartz, Dominique; Blucher, Alexandra (10 December 2017). "Tension on the track". ABC News. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  43. ^ Schwartz, Dominique; Blucher, Alexandra (11 December 2017). "Inland rail: Here's what you need to know about the $10 billion project". ABC News. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  44. ^ Schwartz, Dominique; Blucher, Alexandra (21 September 2017). "Inland railway to go across Queensland floodplain despite warning 'lives could be at risk'". ABC News. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  45. ^ Coughlan, Matt (17 September 2019). "Inland rail under microscope from inquiry". The Canberra Times. Archived from the original on 16 October 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  46. ^ Ruddick, Baz; Bradfield, Elly (29 January 2020). "Inland Rail Senate inquiry gets flood of community concerns about building line through floodplain". ABC News. Archived from the original on 22 August 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  47. ^ Phelps, Mark (12 March 2020). "Inland Rail is staying on the Condamine floodplain says ARTC". Queensland Country Life. Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  48. ^ Bradfield, Elly (3 June 2020). "Trouble on Condamine floodplain track in southern Queensland with review of new inland rail route ordered". ABC Southern Queensland. ABC News. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  49. ^ Bernasconi, Amelia; Condon, Michael (20 July 2020). "Inland rail project subject to legal action by NSW Farmers' Association and CWA over hydrology modelling". NSW Country Hour. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 31 July 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2020.

Bibliography

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