The vision for Inland Rail is to enhance our national freight network and supply chain capabilities.
Inland Rail involves upgrading existing rail lines and building new railway infrastructure to enable the safe operation of double-stacked freight trains, which can carry more freight per train. To manage the scale of this project, Inland Rail is being delivered in stages across 12 sections.
Inland Rail is on track to complete construction of sections between Beveridge, Victoria and Parkes, NSW by the end of 2027. This will increase rail freight capacity between Beveridge and Parkes and enable double-stacked trains to access existing ARTC freight network connections to Perth, Adelaide and the East Coast.
Inland Rail Pty Ltd is constructing the line on behalf of the Australian Government. Completed sections are commissioned by the railway operator, Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC).
Status:
Construction between Beveridge, Victoria and Parkes, NSW remains on track for completion by the end of 2027 and ready for double-stacked trains.
Completed and operational:
The Parkes to Narromine and Narrabri to North Star Phase 1 sections are completed and operational.
Major construction on the Stockinbingal to Parkes section in NSW and 10 of the 12 Beveridge to Albury sites in Victoria is also complete.
In progress:
Work is on track on the Albury to Illabo section in NSW, plus the remaining two Beveridge to Albury Tranche 2 sites in Victoria. Construction has begun on the Illabo to Stockinbingal section of Inland Rail.
Sections north of Parkes
In May 2026, the Australian Government confirmed that it will work with the Queensland and New South Wales Governments to preserve the rail corridor north of Parkes to allow for future project delivery.
Corridor preservation means protecting the current Inland Rail alignment beyond Narromine in NSW while Inland Rail works with ARTC and the Australian and state governments to determine what is required to preserve the corridor. Details on specific activities required to preserve the corridor north of Parkes are being worked through with the Australian Government.
Progress: Jobs and local investment
Inland Rail is generating opportunities for regional Australia.
Since December 2018, our construction activities have employed more than 10,000 people, including more than 5,400 local residents (those living along the Inland Rail alignment through regional Australia) and more than 580 First Nations people.
We’ve also spent more than $732 million with more than 1,200 local businesses, including $63 million with First Nations businesses.
(To April 2026, construction activities.)
Inland Rail progress by Section
Beveridge to Albury, Victoria
Ten of the 12 Inland Rail enhancement sites on the Beveridge to Albury section are now able to accommodate double-stacked trains.
Work on infrastructure near the track is ongoing at some of the Tranche 2 sites.
All Victorian sites are on track to be double-stack ready by the end of 2026, with all construction completed by the end of 2027.
In progress
Broadford’s Marchbanks Road bridge and the Tallarook site under the Hume Freeway will be double-stack ready before the end of the year, to complete double-stacked capability at all 12 work sites.
Sites double-stack enabled
- Barnwartha North – lowered the rail tracks under the Murray Highway Bridge
- Wangaratta – modified the station precinct; lowered the track and replaced the Green Street bridge
- Glenrowan – replaced the Beaconsfield Parade bridge
- Benalla – modified station precinct, including building a new track and platform and upgrading pedestrian access
- Euroa – modifying the station precinct and constructing a new vehicle underpass at Anderson Street
- Hume Freeway bridge, Seymour – lowered tracks under the bridge
- Seymour-Avenel Road bridge, Seymour – replaced bridge with a higher one
- Hamilton Street bridge, Broadford – replaced bridge, lowering the track below
- Short Street bridge, Broadford – replaced bridge, lowering the track below
- Wandong – replaced the Broadford-Wandong Road bridge.
Solid progress has occurred in the Albury to Illabo section of Inland Rail, in southern New South Wales, across 12 enhancement sites in five local government areas.
Works include:
- Albury – replacing the Albury Station pedestrian bridge
- Albury Yard – adjusting the track (track slew)
- Murray River bridge – adjusting the height of the bridge
- Riverina Highway bridge – lowering the track under the bridge and improving drainage
- Billy Hughes bridge – lowering the track under the bridge
- Table Top Yard – adjusting the track (track slew)
- Culcairn Yard and footbridge – removing footbridge and adjusting track (track slew)
- Henty Yard – adjusting the track and modifying signal gantry
- The Rock Yard – adjusting signalling infrastructure
- Yerong Creek Yard – adjusting the track (track slew)
- Edmondson Street bridge – replacing existing bridge with new, higher, two-lane bridge with enhanced pedestrian paths
- Mothers Bridge (Station footbridge) – replacing footbridge with a new, higher bridge with enhanced pedestrian safety features
- Cassidy footbridge – replacing footbridge with a higher footbridge with enhanced pedestrian safety features
- Pearson Street bridge – lowering the track under the bridge
- Wagga Wagga Yard – track adjustment (track slew, and other adjustments)
- Bomen Yard – track adjustment (track slew)
- Uranquinty Yard – track adjustment (track slew)
- Kemp St bridge – replacing existing bridge with a new, higher bridge with enhanced pedestrian access
- Junee Station precinct – track adjustments (track slew, driver change platform work), removal of footbridge
- Olympic Highway bridge – nearby track adjustment (track slews)
- Junee to Illabo track – upgrading the rail line
- Harefield Yard – track adjustment (track slew)
Illabo to Stockinbingal, NSW
Construction started in mid-2026 on this section of Inland Rail.
Works in this section include:
- 39km of new single track standard gauge railway
- 2 rail bridges over roads
- 8 bridges across waterways
- 1 road over rail bridge at Burley Griffin Way
- 10 stock underpasses
- 1 crossing loop
- Level crossings
Stockinbingal to Parkes, NSW
Major construction on the Stockinbingal to Parkes section of Inland Rail is now complete.
Works completed include:
- Daroobalgie – new crossing loop, drainage works and level crossing upgrade
- Wyndham Avenue, Forbes – track lowered beneath Wyndham Avenue road bridge
- Forbes Station – Changes to the station awning, track adjustment (track slew)
- Lachlan River Bridge, Forbes – bridge adjustments and reinforcement
- Milvale rail yard, Stockinbingal North – clearance works
- Quandialla rail yard – clearance works
- Bribbaree rail yard – track adjustment (track slew), drainage works
- Caragabal rail yard – track adjustments (track slew)
- Wirrinya rail yard – track adjustments (track slew).
Inland Rail north of Parkes:
The Inland Rail freight rail line is eventually planned to span 1,600km connecting Melbourne and Brisbane via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
In May 2026, the Australian Government confirmed that construction between Beveridge, Victoria and Parkes, NSW would remain the priority, while work continues to preserve the corridor north of Parkes for potential future delivery.
Details on specific activities required to preserve the corridor north of Parkes are being worked through with the Australian Government.
Completed segments:
