Contractor appointed for QLD Gowrie to Kagaru section of Inland Rail

Another Inland Rail section will soon begin construction as the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) appoints Regionerate Rail to deliver the Gowrie to Kagaru section in Queensland. 

Regionerate Rail is a consortium comprising of Plenary Group, Clough, GS Engineering and Construction, Webuild (formerly Salini Impreglio) and Service Stream. 

“We are proud of being selected as preferred contractor for this project. Our unique combination of Australian and international specialists delivers unmatched technical expertise and local knowledge to the largest freight rail infrastructure project in Australia and one of the most significant infrastructure projects ever undertaken in the world,” Clough CEO and Managing Director Peter Bennett said. 

The Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract awarded to the consortium will also include a 25-year maintenance phase after construction is completed. 

Regionerate Rail is committed to maximising employment as well as business opportunities in Toowoomba, the Lockyer Valley, Ipswich and the Scenic Rim – which are local government areas along the Gowrie to Kagura section of Inland Rail. 

This section will span from Gowrie (near Toowoomba) to Kagaru (near Beaudesert). Works will include delivering approximately 128 kilometres of new and upgraded rail track through the “most geographically challenging section” of the Inland Rail development along with a 6.2-kilometre tunnel through the Great Dividing Range, which is considered as the largest diameter freight tunnel in the southern hemisphere. 

“This landmark agreement is huge for Inland Rail and puts billions of dollars in stimulus, jobs and long-term economic growth on the table for Queensland – through construction, Inland Rail is expected to support more than 11,800 jobs and deliver a $7.8 billion boost to the state’s economy during construction and over the forward operations. 

“This is an important step. Regionerate Rail have been able to leverage their own considerable engineering expertise to produce truly innovative design and construction methods for this technically challenging project. 

“I am looking forward to seeing their solution become a reality. This project is a game-changer for the way we will deliver freight around the nation and during the past two years have been reminded time and time again how important our future supply chains are,” ARTC Inland Rail Interim Chief Executive Rebecca Pickering said. 

The Gowrie to Kagaru section is divided into three projects, namely: 

• Gowrie to Helidon – spans 28 kilometres and will include the construction of new track through the Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley along with a new 6.2-kilometre tunnel through the Toowoomba Range 
• Helidon to Calvert – spans 47 kilometres and will include the construction of a new dual gauge rail line that connects Helidon (east of Toowoomba) to Calvert (west of Ipswich) 
• Calvert to Kagaru – spans 53 kilometres and will include the construction of a new dual gauge track that will provide easier access for freight to major distribution centres at Bromelton and Acacia Ridge 

Inland Rail is a 1,700-kilometre freight rail line that connects Melbourne to Brisbane via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. 

This once-in-a-generation development will help transform how goods are moved around Australia as well as enhance supply chains and complete the national freight network. 

Source: Clough; Australian Rail Track Corporation – Inland Rail (1, 2, 3)