Inland Rail enhancements to support more jobs

The Australian Government will deliver an enhanced Inland Rail, with more construction of bridges, culverts and viaducts that will improve safety and efficiency of the 1,700km rail line. 

The enhancements to Inland Rail’s design include more than 4,500 additional culverts, nine additional viaducts, an additional 6.8km of bridges, 10 extra grade separations, and approximately 450km of additional fencing.

An additional equity investment of $5.5 billion to the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) was announced on 16 December 2020 to deliver Inland Rail. Deputy Prime Minister and and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack described Inland Rail as a jobs bonanza

“…Inland Rail will now support more than 21,500 jobs at the peak of construction and deliver an extra economic boost of $2 billion,” Mr McCormack said.

“Inland Rail isn’t just being built by the big companies and Tier 1 contractors – across Australia businesses of all sizes are tendering for work and benefiting from the construction of Inland Rail.”

In September 2020, ARTC completed the Parkes to Narromine section, which generated more than 1,800 jobs, 40% of which went to locals and a nearly $110 million spend with local businesses.

To see how Inland Rail will benefit regional communities and economies visit the Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland state pages and read the ministerial announcement.