Connecting Australia through faster freight.
Inland Rail will connect Melbourne and Brisbane via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
It will enhance our national freight and supply chain capabilities, connecting existing freight routes through rail, roads and ports.
Inland Rail means freight can be delivered faster and more reliably across Australia, and beyond to global markets. It also means safer, less congested roads and fewer carbon emissions.
Inland Rail will better connect businesses, manufacturers and producers to national and global markets and create new opportunities for Australian industries and regional communities during construction and beyond.
Work on Australia’s largest freight rail infrastructure project is well underway, and we’re working with regional businesses and communities to make it happen.
Quick facts
What
A 1,600km freight rail project.
Where
Connecting Melbourne to Brisbane via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
When
Construction started in 2018. We’re taking a staged approach to delivering Inland Rail. Construction between Beveridge in Victoria and Parkes in New South Wales is being prioritised and is on track to be completed in 2027.
Why
To help us keep pace with the increasing freight demands of Australia’s growing population.
Who
Inland Rail Pty Ltd is building the project on behalf of the Australian Government and all Australians, in partnership with communities. Inland Rail Pty Ltd a subsidiary of ARTC.
Did you know? 10 key Inland Rail facts
01
Spanning more than 1,600km, Inland Rail is the largest freight rail project in Australia and one of the most significant rail infrastructure projects in the world.
02
It comprises 12 individual sections across 30 local government areas: one section in Victoria, seven in New South Wales, and four in Queensland.
03
Inland Rail will upgrade 1,000km of existing rail line and build 600km of new track to connect missing links between Melbourne and Brisbane.
04
Inland Rail will reduce congestion with 200,000 fewer trucks on our roads each year when complete.
05
Inland Rail will cut rail freight travel time between Melbourne and Brisbane by almost a third, from 33 hours to less than 24 hours, making it competitive with road.
06
One section of Inland Rail includes construction of a 6.2km tunnel through the steep terrain of the Toowoomba Range; the largest diameter diesel freight tunnel in the southern hemisphere.
07
Inland Rail will provide a consistent standard gauge connection from Melbourne to Brisbane as well as a dual gauge connection in Queensland to allow seamless connectivity with Queensland’s narrow-gauge network.
08
Almost 70% of freight carried on Inland Rail will be for domestic use – that includes household goods and food.
09
The track will enable the use of double-stacked, 1,800m-long trains with a 21-tonne axle load at a maximum speed of 115km/h, allowing for the transit of greater freight volumes. Each train could carry the equivalent freight volume of 110 B-double trucks. Note: 39km of track between a proposed terminal at Ebenezer and Kagaru in Queensland will accommodate single-stacked trains only.
10
Once operational, Inland Rail will become part of ARTC’s freight rail network and enhance Australia’s supply chain. The North-West Connection at Parkes in New South Wales links Inland Rail to Brisbane, Melbourne and the East-West line to Perth – reducing the rail distance between Brisbane and Perth and Brisbane and Adelaide by 500km and ultimately connecting all of Australia.
Unlocking freight opportunities
Inland Rail is transforming how goods are moved around our vast country, creating more opportunities for regions to connect to cities and businesses to markets.
