Latest construction timelines and operational train noise updates
Community feedback from our latest survey indicated communities are keen to know what the timeline for construction is, how we will manage noise and how we are keeping our communities updated.
November 1, 2023
Construction progress
We are now taking a staged approach to deliver Inland Rail and construction between Beveridge, Victoria and Parkes, NSW has been prioritised for completion by 2027.
And, importantly, Inland Rail is still progressing for sections north of Narromine and into Queensland. We are working with the Australian and state governments to gain environmental approvals, secure land and refine designs so we can provide more certainty about the full cost and delivery of Inland Rail.
Major construction on the 176km Narrabri to North Star Phase 1 section in NSW finished at the end of October and freight trains are now running in this section.
Construction on the Stockinbingal to Parkes section in southern NSW has started and work is well underway on the Beveridge to Albury section in Victoria, with the first site at Murray Valley Highway now complete.
Our dedicated project teams are working with their construction contractors to manage impacts on residents and businesses.
We are also progressing with environmental approvals and refining designs on the Illabo to Stockinbingal and Albury to Illabo sections in NSW with a view to starting construction in 2024.
These project teams will continue working closely with their communities to make sure we understand their concerns, action opportunities to reduce impacts and identify ways to create long-term community benefits.
Noise mitigation
We understand that some community members may have concerns about the potential future noise impacts generated by trains using Inland Rail and the effect this could have on their day-to-day lives.
Consultation with many project communities, particularly in NSW, about how we’ll manage these noise impacts is already underway. While we can’t guarantee there won’t be increased noise, our design of Inland Rail aims to minimise noise levels wherever possible.
We encourage you to look out for information sessions on your projects and invite you to read the Operational Noise and Vibration Mitigation fact sheet that explains the process we follow to address operational train noise.
Community engagement
Our Stakeholder Engagement teams continue to engage with their local communities about the Inland Rail project. Our teams have attended external events, including local agricultural shows and community events, such as the Henty Field Days, met with directly impacted landholders and businesses, and hosted community information sessions.
Our regional offices in Gatton, Narrabri, Goondiwindi, Wagga Wagga and Albury also remain open for those who want to provide feedback or seek information at a local level.
If you would like to reach out to our Stakeholder Engagement teams about any matters relating to Inland Rail, please visit one of our offices, contact us via email at inlandrailenquiries@artc.com.au, or phone us on 1800 732 761.
An invitation to take part in the next community survey will be landing in selected inboxes in March 2024. We ask that recipients take this opportunity to provide us with your feedback by completing the survey.
