INLAND RAIL NOW A PRIORITY

July 4, 2020

The project involves developing a freight rail line of approximately 1,700 km between Melbourne and Brisbane via inland Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. Around 40% of the proposed route would be constructed as new railway, or converted from narrow gauge to dual gauge in Queensland. Existing narrow gauge connections between Brisbane and regional centres would be maintained. The remainder of the route would utilise and, where necessary, upgrade existing standard gauge track in Victoria and New South Wales.

The project will be delivered to achieve the service specification of a less than 24-hour transit time between Melbourne and Brisbane for the benchmark train, being a 21 tonne axle load, 115 km/h double-stacked and up to 1,800 m long train.

Trains operating the service would have capacity to carry up to 485 containers (TEUs) when capacity for longer 3,600 m, double-stacked trains is introduced over time.

INLAND RAIL

INLAND RAIL – KAGARU TO ACACIA RIDGE AND BROMELTON

The Kagaru to Acacia Ridge and Bromelton (K2ARB) section comprises enhancements and commisioning of dual gauge operations along 49 kilometres of the existing Sydney to Brisbane Rail Corridor (that ARTC leases from the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR)) to enable double stacked trains.

Works will involve:

  • lowering five rail under road bridges at Beaudesert Road, Learoyd Road, Johnson Road, Middle Road and Pub Lane;
  • constructing two new crossing loops and extending two others at Greenbank and Bromelton;

ARTC are undertaking field studies until the second half of 2018, to inform the design of the rail corridor and associated infrastructure. The project feasibility and assessment stages are expected run until 2022.
ARTC currently intends to procure K2AB as a single design & construct contract, with procurement to begin in late-2021. Construction of K2AB is scheduled to occur between 2022 and 2024.

Sources:
www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/map/inland-rail-melbourne-brisbane-inland-nsw
infrastructurepipeline.org/project/inland-rail-freight-corridor/