The 1,700km freight rail network that will connect the East Coast regions of Australia will continue to progress in 2023, with major construction starting in Victoria. Early works have begun on worksites at Glenrowan and Wangaratta.
Inland Rail Interim Chief Executive Officer, Rebecca Pickering, has told delegates at the AusRail 2022 Conference in Brisbane that the company is looking forward to carrying on its strong momentum to deliver the Inland Rail in 2023.
The Narrabri to North Star (N2NS) section in NSW opened early December 2022, while the remaining Phase 1 works on N2NS are due for completion early 2023.
“Inland Rail is being built to create a new freight future for Australia and construction is gaining momentum, and we are really looking forward to continuing that momentum in 2023,” Mrs Pickering said.
Mrs Pickering said the work they are doing is not only connecting Australia’s freight network but is a catalyst for communities and businesses to unlock benefits and opportunities.
Nearly 140 local businesses have shared in nearly $200 million of contracts supporting and servicing the build – helping to spread the benefits of Inland Rail across the local economy.
“We are also very proud that our Inland Rail Skills Academy has already delivered training to more than 2,000 people along the alignment, helping to develop the skills needed to build a better future for our communities.
“Inland Rail is committed to working in partnership with our stakeholders and communities to deliver long-term value,” Mrs Pickering said.
