Ten of the 12 Inland Rail enhancement sites along the Beveridge to Albury section are now ready to accommodate double-stacked freight trains, marking another milestone in the project’s Tranche 2 works.
The completed sites include Barnawartha North, Wangaratta, Glenrowan and Seymour-Avenel Road from Tranche 1, along with Wandong, Broadford’s Hamilton Street and Short Street, Seymour under the Hume Freeway, Euroa and Benalla.
Works at Broadford’s Marchbanks Road bridge and the Tallarook site beneath the Hume Freeway are expected to be completed by the end of the year, enabling double-stacked operations across all 12 enhancement sites.
The Beveridge to Albury project has also delivered significant benefits for regional communities, with local workers making up 80 per cent of the 2,808 people employed on the project to date.
Tranche 2 works have generated $181 million in spending with 376 local suppliers, supporting businesses providing services including plant and equipment, haulage, traffic management, environmental services and accommodation.
An Inland Rail spokesperson said reaching 10 completed sites represented a significant achievement for the project.
“There’s still more work to do on the B2A project, but having ten out of twelve work sites ready for double-stacked operation is a great achievement,” the spokesperson said.
“Local people, with local expertise, are important to help deliver the project and we’re committed to boosting their skills base and the capability of regional suppliers through delivery of this project.”
The spokesperson said the Victorian section of Inland Rail remains on track for completion in 2027.
