Inland Rail is transforming how goods are moved around Australia.
Connecting Melbourne and Brisbane via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, this 1,700km rail project will complete our national freight network—better connecting producers to markets and creating new opportunities for businesses, industries and regional communities.
Shifting more goods from road onto rail is the right move for Australia
Inland Rail means freight can be delivered faster and more reliably to our growing population, and beyond to global markets. It also means safer, less congested roads and fewer carbon emissions.
Work on Australia’s largest freight rail infrastructure project – a priority infrastructure project for the Australian Government – is well underway, and we’re working with regional businesses and communities to make it happen.
Quick facts
What
A 1,700km freight rail project
Where
Connecting Melbourne to Brisbane via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland
When
Construction commenced in 2018 and is anticipated to be completed in 2027. This an indicative estimate and will be determined by a number of factors, including ongoing community consultation, design development work and unforeseen weather events.
Why
To keep pace with Australia’s increasing freight demands
Who
The Australian Government is delivering Inland Rail through the Australian Rail Track Corporation, in partnership with the private sector
Read the Inland Rail Business Case
If you’d like to learn more about Inland Rail and its anticipated long-term benefits, take a look at our Business Case.
Did you know? 10 key Inland Rail facts
01
Spanning more than 1,700km, Inland Rail is the largest freight rail project in Australia and one of the most significant infrastructure projects in the world.
06
Around 21,500 workers will play their part in building Inland Rail during peak construction.
02
It comprises 13 individual projects across 36 local government areas: one project in Victoria, seven in New South Wales, and five in Queensland.
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.
03
Inland Rail will upgrade 1,100km of existing rail line and build 600km of new track to connect missing links between Melbourne and Brisbane.
08
Almost 70% of freight carried on Inland Rail will be for domestic use – that includes household goods and food.
04
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.
09
The Australian Government is investing up to $14.5 billion in equity for ARTC to build Inland Rail, in partnership with the private sector. Inland Rail is expected to deliver an economic boost of more than $18 billion GDP during construction and the first 50 years of operation.
05
It will take 467,000 tonnes of steel and 1,300,000 cubic metres of concrete to build and 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.
10
Once operational, Inland Rail will become part of ARTC’s freight rail network and complete the missing link in 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.
How will Inland Rail benefit Australia?
Find out why Inland Rail is a smart move for Australia.
Inland Rail will be an open access rail service
Find out about Inland Rail’s technical specifications.
The solution to Australia’s freight challenge
Inland Rail is transforming how everyday goods are moved around our vast country, creating more opportunities for regions to connect to cities and businesses to markets.
