Connecting our cities

Inland Rail will connect 2 of Australia's fastest growing cities through a cost-competitive and reliable freight rail line that will allow for double stacked trains from Beveridge in Victoria, to Ebenezer in Queensland, with single stacked trains through to Kagaru, Queensland. The rail line travels through regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, hooking into the broader national network of roads, rail, air and sea pathways.

The route provides an alternative to the existing east coast rail network, bypassing the heavily congested Sydney network and saving approximately 10 hours on transit times between Melbourne and Brisbane. Inland Rail's connection into the existing freight network in places like Parkes NSW provides seamless access for freight movements into Sydney, across to Adelaide and across to Perth.

Inland Rail complements existing freight transport infrastructure

Inland Rail provides a consistent track standard which enables freight operators to use the same rolling-stock anywhere on the national rail freight network. It will maintain all existing regional freight network connections. Throughout Queensland, Inland Rail will provide a dual gauge connection to allow seamless connectivity with the regional narrow gauge network.

The selected route will use 60% existing corridor and will connect to existing regional rail lines. The connectivity of Inland Rail to existing rail networks is a fundamental driver of how Inland Rail will deliver regional economic benefits.

Road, rail, air and sea

Rail

The rail system is the essential link to Australia's freight supply chain. Transporting freight via rail connects our farms, mines and cities to domestic and international markets. An efficient and accessible rail transport network benefits both communities and industry.

Road

Australia's vast distances between our farms, cities and ports means that we currently rely on the road for the majority of our freight transport. Most of the commodities produced and consumed domestically are transported via road for its time efficiency and door-to-door delivery ability. Often acting as the final piece to our freight supply chain, road complements all other modes of freight transport.

Air

Air freight accounts for a small yet crucial part of Australia's overall freight movement. Catering to a small and specific market, air is often reserved for high-value or time-critical goods. As the country's road and rail infrastructure improves, air will also prosper as a more accessible mode of freight transport.

Sea

As an island nation, Australia depends on shipping for both domestic and international freight movement. Sea makes up a small but important element of Australia's overall freight task as the country's major ports and related infrastructure provide locations for supply chain activities to occur, servicing both bulk and container facilities, and connecting our overall freight supply network.