Inland Rail Update

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We have received this update about the Inland Rail Project:

Over the coming weeks, you can expect to see enhanced communication in your community about Inland Rail.

As the Inland Rail program gains momentum, interest in this landmark project from the community and business is growing.

The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) is responding to this interest and enquiry with more prominent communication about the benefits already being delivered and the opportunities Inland Rail presents.

We also know from experience on the now-operational Parkes to Narromine section, and the first stage of the Narrabri to North Star section (currently under construction) that to deliver Inland Rail efficiently, we need local businesses and workers to participate.

Inland Rail is about businesses, government and communities working together. It’s important ARTC communicates why we are building Inland Rail and the benefits it’s delivering, now and into the future, to ensure:

  • we maximise local participation and attract the workforce, skills and enterprise to deliver this key infrastructure for all Australians
  • our contractors and their future suppliers are excited and ready to take up opportunities as we near construction
  • we encourage existing and future customers to fully take advantage of this step-change in our supply chain.

The 2019 Australian Infrastructure Audit found only one in five people has an opinion on the quality of their freight services.

The pandemic has highlighted how critical an effective supply chain is to a country as vast as ours and this will become even more important with our freight task set to double by 2030.

It’s also important to reinforce that at the peak of construction, Inland Rail will support more than 21,000 jobs.

In a highly competitive Australian infrastructure market, the Inland Rail program needs to stand out from the crowd to attract quality suppliers and a skilled workforce. This will be especially true at the peak of our construction in 2023-24.

We welcome your support and any questions.

You can also learn more online at inlandrail.com.au.