Inland Rail construction underway in North West NSW

Construction has commenced on the second section of Inland Rail between Narrabri and North Star (N2NS) following the turning of the first sod at Moree in North West New South Wales today.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack and local Member for Parkes and Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government Mark Coulton were on hand as the first sod was turned.

Speaking to local stakeholders about the project Mr McCormack said “the $693.8 million construction effort on Narrabri and North Star [brought] immediate stimulus to the regional communities of Narrabri, Bellata, Moree, Croppa Creek and North Star and those townships in between.”

The N2NS section is one of 13 projects that make up the 1,700km Inland Rail between Melbourne and Brisbane and is expected to support more than 500 local jobs working directly on the construction effort.

Minister Coulton said he was pleased that community could engage with the contractor for N2NS, Trans4m Rail over the following weeks and that “private businesses and industry [were] setting up shop because they can see the long-term growth Inland Rail is bringing.”

The N2NS project has been divided into two phases, with this first phase to deliver 171km of track upgrades including construction of:

• 5 passing loops,
• 67 level crossings
• 45 turnouts, and
• 6357 culverts.

The second phase of the N2NS project will see a further 15km of existing track upgraded, along with the construction of 2.3km of new track across the Mehi-Gwydir floodplain and at Camurra to bypass the existing hairpin turn.

Local businesses in the region are encouraged to explore jobs and contract opportunities working with the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) to support the delivery of Inland Rail on this section.

Read more about the Narrabri to North Star section of Inland Rail.