Construction begins on another Inland Rail section in NSW

Major works have commenced on the Stockinbingal to Parkes section of the Inland Rail in New South Wales, which was celebrated with a launch event at Forbes Railway Station. 

The Federal Government is delivering Inland Rail through a staged approach, with construction on the section between Beveridge in Victoria and Parkes in new South Wales prioritised for completion by 2027. 

Delivering these sections will allow Inland Rail to connect to existing rail networks between Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide and the Illawarra via Parkes and Narromine. 

The Stockinbingal to Parkes project spans from just north of the rail junction in Stockinbingal to just south of Goobang Junction in Parkes. This 170.3-kilometre section of Inland Rail will include upgrades along the existing rail corridor as well as construction of new supporting infrastructure that will provide sufficient height and width to support the safe operation of double-stacked freight trains. 

The project’s scope of works will include: 

• Increasing vertical clearance at the Lachlan River rail bridge and Wyndham Avenue road bridge in Forbes 
• Building a new crossing loop north of the Daroobalgie Road level crossing 
• Undertaking clearance and safety works at Forbes Railway Station 
• Enhancing several existing crossing loops, structures and utilities 

Earlier this month, the Infrastructure Sustainability Council recognised the Stockinbingal to Parkes project for its sustainable design practices and it received an ‘Excellent’ Design rating. 

The beginning of works on the Stockinbingal to Parkes section marks a major milestone on the overall Inland Rail development. 

“We will continue to engage strongly with local suppliers and businesses across regional New South Wales and are very excited about the benefits that we can bring to local economies as we deliver these works. 

“As part of the Inland Rail program, $2.7 billion in contracts has already been awarded to over 00 suppliers and businesses across the country, with more local businesses between Albury and Parkes to benefit from the new opportunities and supporting jobs,” Inland Rail Interim Chief Executive Rebecca Pickering said. 

Inland Rail alignment (source: Inland Rail)

To date, Inland Rail has created over 4,080 jobs for local and First Nations people in New South Wales along with more than $380 million spent in regional communities. In addition, Inland Rail is expected to deliver more regional benefits over the coming years. 

Martinus Rail was awarded a $403.5 million contract to design and deliver the enhancement works on the Stockinbingal to Parkes as well as Albury to Parkes sections of Inland Rail. 

“We are proud to play our part to enhance this vital infrastructure. 

“The commencement of work marks a significant stride towards a more connected and prosperous future for Australia’s freight industry. Our dedicated team is committed to delivering these crucial infrastructure upgrades, safely, efficiently and to the highest standards. 

“Inland Rail is more than just a rail project; it’s a promise of a brighter future for Australia,” Martinus Rail CEO and Managing Director Treaven Martinus said. 

Inland Rail is a 1,600-kilometre rail project that will connect Melbourne and Brisbane via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. 

The overall development is comprised of 12 individual sections across 30 local government areas. This includes one section in Victora, seven in New South Wales and four in Queensland. 

Source: Inland Rail (1, 2, 3); Infrastructure Magazine; Rail Express; Martinus Rail