Toowoomba to Gladstone Inland Rail Extension Strategic Business Case

We worked with the Australian Government's Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts to determine the need, viability and timing of extending Inland Rail from Toowoomba to the Port of Gladstone.

The Strategic Business Case found an extension of Inland Rail to Gladstone did not sufficiently merit progression to a detailed business case at that time.

Current status

The Australian and Queensland governments have finalised the Strategic Business Case which included the first two stages of the Queensland Government's Project Assessment Framework, namely the Strategic Assessment of Service Requirements and Preliminary Evaluation.

The Toowoomba to Gladstone Inland Rail Extension Summary Report outlines the findings of the Strategic Business Case and next steps.

Next steps

The Australian and Queensland governments accepted the recommendation not to proceed to a detailed business case. The governments will continue to monitor the freight and regional economic environment to identify changes to the fundamental drivers for freight demand that may warrant re-evaluation of the project's economic case.

Funding

The Australian Government committed $10 million towards the project, with the Queensland Government providing an in-kind contribution, through the Department of Transport and Main Roads.

Toowoomba to Gladstone Inland Rail Extension Strategic Business Case project location map