Inland Rail to deliver more jobs and local spend

New modelling shows Inland Rail will support more than 21,500 direct and indirect jobs at the peak of construction and deliver a boost of more than $18 billion to gross domestic product during construction and the first 50 years of operation. 

After five years of detailed technical and environmental investigations and significant community consultation, we have a clearer understanding of what needs to be built, how much it will cost and how long it will take.

The design of Inland Rail now includes more than 4,500 additional culverts, nine additional viaducts, an additional 6.8km of bridges, 10 extra grade separations and approximately 450km of additional fencing. These new features will support safer floodplain crossings and help improve road safety and community access.  

Materials required to deliver this new infrastructure will be sourced from and supplied by local contractors, creating flow-on opportunities, including thousands more regional jobs and significant local investment.

The enhanced Inland Rail construction is enabled by the Australian Government’s additional equity investment. 

Inland Rail CEO Richard Wankmuller said that the design and delivery of Inland Rail would continue to be informed through community feedback and ongoing engagement with locals.

“We have listened to the community over the last five years to understand their needs and build these into our design planning, because we need to get this right,” Mr Wankmuller said.

“We are now working closely with communities right along the alignment to get them ‘Inland Rail Ready’, and this latest funding announcement should bring them even more certainty that we will deliver.

“A reliable, efficient and safer Inland Rail will take the load off our already congested roads, generate thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in local investment and ultimately boost regional economies and communities right along the alignment,” Mr Wankmuller said.

With approximately 400km of the total 1,700km Inland Rail line to be built in Queensland, communities from the NSW and Queensland border through to Kagaru and Acacia Ridge are well positioned for a significant jobs and economic boost.

For more information about what this increased investment means for Inland Rail and the economy, check out the Investment in Inland Rail will deliver greater benefits media release.