Inland Rail — Melbourne to Brisbane

Inland Rail is a standard-gauge freight-only rail corridor connecting Melbourne and Brisbane via inland NSW and Southern Queensland, aimed at reducing heavy-truck dependency on the Hume and Pacific highways and giving east-coast producers faster, more reliable freight access to Brisbane port. The program is delivered in 13 distinct segments of varying scope and difficulty.

Scope includes brownfield upgrades to existing track on the Victorian and southern NSW sections, greenfield earthworks and new track in central/northern NSW, tunnelling through the Toowoomba Range in southern Queensland, new bridge works at Murray and major river crossings, and connection works into existing networks at both ends. Tunnelling sections involve twin-bore construction with associated civil and spoil handling.

Victoria-NSW sections have progressed significantly. The most complex segments—through the Toowoomba Range and the Gowrie-to-Kagaru alignment in Queensland—have been subject to cost, scope and timing review and are progressing subject to updated project structure. ARTC has been working with Queensland and Federal governments on delivery pathways for the remaining segments.

Equipment demand remains strong across earthworks, haulage, rail plant, tunnelling support and bridge works, with contract packages progressing at segment and sub-segment level.