Works continue to forge ahead on Inland Rail development

Works on Inland Rail continues to forge ahead in New South Wales and Victoria as this significant project marks new milestones. 

As part of the Stockinbingal to Parkes section of Inland Rail works, Martinus will be undertaking site establishment and construction at Daroobalgie and Whyndham Avenue. 

In Daroobalgie, works will include deliveries to site, geotechnical investigations, earthworks, level crossing upgrades, installation of new drainage, and track works. At the Wyndham Avenue project site, construction works will include earthworks, installation of new drainage, and track works that will help increase vertical clearance under the road bridge to enable double stack freight trains to run on the line. 

The Stockinbingal to Parkes section of Inland Rail spans 170.3 kilometres from just north of the rail junction in Stockinbingal to just south of Goobang Junction in Parkes. Works on the entire section will include upgrades along the existing rail corridor and construction of new supporting infrastructure to provide enough height and width to support double-stacked freight trains to safely run on the tracks. 

“Together with our construction partner Martinus, we are pleased to be getting on with the job of building Inland Rail in southern New South Wales. 

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

“We’d like to thank the local community for their patience and understanding as we carry out these construction tasks,” an Inland Rail spokesperson said. 

Martinus will also be carrying out site investigations in Albury, Wagga Wagga and Junee as part of the early works program along the Albury to Illabo section in New South Wales. The investigation works will help identify and locate utilities; however, approval has not been granted yet for major construction to begin. 

In Albury, site investigations will happen at Albury Station, Riverina Highway and Billy Hughes bridge. Investigation in Wagga Wagga will be carried out at the Wagga Wagga Station footbridge, Cassidy Parade footbridge, Edmonton Street bridge and Pearson Street. Lastly, site investigations in Junee will be at the Kemp Street bridge. 

Next month, utilities contractors that work on behalf of Inland Rail will undertake the relocation of gas services within the Kemp Street bridge vicinity. 

The Albury to Illabo section of Inland Rail spans 185 kilometres and works will involve enhancements to bridges and other structures along the existing rail corridor from the Victoria-NSW border to Illabo. 

“We’d like to thank the local community for their patience and understanding as we carry out these site investigation tasks. 

“Following the Albury to Illabo Preferred Infrastructure Report public exhibition period, Inland Rail is now preparing a Response to Submissions report to address issued raised. The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure will consider these reports in its assessment of the project,” an Inland Rail spokesperson said. 

Inland Rail map (source: Inland Rail)

Meanwhile in Victoria, the Inland Rail team is completing the construction of the new Beaconsfield Parade bridge in Glenrowan. 

The higher bridge structure is made up of 51 concrete beams – 30 for the vehicle section and 21 for the pedestrian section – and the final beam has already been installed to complete the 145-metre bridge across the railway line. Construction partner McConnell Dowell utilised a 750-tonne crane to lift the final beams into place this month. 

“Completing the bridge span over the rail line is an exciting milestone. 

“It’s challenging to build a bridge like this with a working rail line underneath, but the team is doing a terrific job. 

“Thank you to the Glenrowan residents for their patience and understanding. They’ve had to endure 12 months of disruptions but we’re nearly there,” Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) Victoria and South Australia General Manager Projects Ed Walker said. 

Works on the new bridge commenced in February 2023 and it is expected to open to motorists, cyclists, pedestrians and tourists who visit Glenrowan next month. 

Work on Inland Rail in Victoria is being undertaken at 12 sites along the North East rail line. The Victorian section will include upgrading 262 kilometres of existing rail track between Beveridge and the Victoria-NSW border at Albury-Wodonga. 

“We’re excited to reach this milestone within the project with the main bridge structure now complete. 

“With the final beams in place we will work on completing the barrier installation, connecting the approach ramps and constructing the road base,” McConnell Dowell Senior Project Engineer Peter Lacki said. 

Inland Rail is a 1,600-kilometre freight rail project that will connect Melbourne and Brisbane via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. Once completed, it will better connect businesses, manufacturers and producers to local and global markets while creating opportunities for Australian industries and communities during its construction and beyond. 

Source: Inland Rail (1, 2, 3); Inside Construction (1, 2)