Inland Rail
Inland Rail is a 1,600km freight rail line that will connect Melbourne and Brisbane via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
The project is being constructed by Inland Rail Pty Ltd (IRPL), a subsidiary of the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), on behalf of the Australian Government. On 29 November 2019, the Australian and Queensland governments signed a Bilateral Agreement for Inland Rail which will enable the delivery of the project in Queensland.
Project information
Queensland’s freight task continues to grow in response to population and economic growth, and demand for goods. Inland Rail will provide the potential for greater connectivity and increased rail freight volumes from southern and south-west Queensland, leveraging the benefits of the new Inland Rail infrastructure.
Inland Rail is a large and complex project. To better facilitate delivery, the program has been divided into 12 sub-projects, 4 of which are located in Queensland:
- New South Wales/Queensland Border to Gowrie
- Gowrie to Helidon
- Helidon to Calvert
- Calvert to Kagaru
The Australian Government has adopted a staged approach to deliver Inland Rail.
Construction of Inland Rail sections from Beveridge in Victoria, through to Parkes and Narromine in New South Wales have been prioritised for delivery by 2027.
To find out more about the proposed route and progress of each project visit the Australian Rail Track Corporation Inland Rail website.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads role
The Queensland Government is working collaboratively with IRPL and ARTC, assisting to facilitate delivery of Inland Rail in Queensland. This includes through formal governance arrangements with IRPL, and by providing environmental approvals and undertaking land acquisitions.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads is the acquiring authority for Queensland's section of Inland Rail. We are currently working with Inland Rail and landowners to progress voluntary acquisitions where possible. This approach offers landowners the opportunity to voluntarily sell land required for Inland Rail in advance of a future compulsory acquisition process.