Inland Rail B2G Alternative Route Comparison Review

In July 2020 the Department commissioned GTA Consultants (GTA) to review the methodologies used by Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) in the comparative assessment of alternate alignment options for the Border to Gowrie (B2G) section of Inland Rail.

This independent review provides an opinion as to whether the comparative assessment is reasonable and can be considered as a like-for-like comparison.

The Review undertaken by GTA deals with the ARTC data and methodologies adopted by ARTC to compile information to inform the Government’s assessment of the alternative route via Cecil Plains, including options at its north end via Wellcamp or Kingsthorpe against the Reference Design route.

The ARTC Inland Rail Information Paper, 31 August 2020 is considered in GTA’s review and outlines two detailed routes as possible alternatives to the existing Reference Design route:

• Via Cecil Plains to join the existing QR line west of Kingsthorpe.
• Via Cecil Plains to Mount Tyson and then via a greenfields route to join the Reference Design route near Wellcamp.