Benalla
Inland Rail is a 1600km freight rail line connecting Melbourne and Brisbane that will transform how goods are moved around Australia.
In Victoria we’re upgrading 262km of existing rail line between Beveridge and Albury at 12 sites, including Benalla, to allow double-stacked freight trains to pass safely and ensure everyday products can be delivered faster and more reliably.
> Learn more: What is Inland Rail?
In Benalla, we’re modifying the station precinct to allow sufficient clearance for double-stacked freight trains to use the line.
Works include:
- relocating the track on the south side of the station (Mackellar Street side) to the north side (Railway Place side) of the station, and
- removing the existing Benalla Station Approach Road overpass
- building a new platform to access the new track
- upgrading pedestrian access with a new pedestrian underpass.
Construction started in June 2025.
Community feedback
Since 2019 we’ve worked with community, stakeholders and technical specialist to develop, review and determine the best solution for Benalla.
During engagement, we’ve heard safety, accessibility, connectivity and visual amenity are important to you, and we’ve improved the design to deliver these outcomes.
In 2021:
We sought feedback from the Benalla community on two options, replacing the bridge or realigning the track as part of a station modification.
We heard overwhelming support to modify the station.
In 2022:
We shared designs for a pedestrian underpass and overpass extending access across the station precinct. During this time, we clearly heard the underpass was the community’s preferred option and incorporated this feedback into the design.
Latest design:
We’ve continued to share information and seek community feedback as the designs have progressed.
In 2025 we shared the latest design which incorporated what we’ve heard from the community. Based on this feedback we’re:
- Increasing the number of car parking spaces to 50
- Reducing the length of the pedestrian underpass
- Improving pedestrian access to the station with lifts, ramps and stairs
- Improving safety by separating pedestrian and vehicle movements at the station.
Community benefits of the design include:
- Creating open, connected community spaces
- Building a safer and more accessible pedestrian underpass
- Improving car parking and bus stop areas
- Installing a network of pedestrian pathways
- Incorporating a streetscape sympathetic to Benalla’s heritage features.
All works must comply with current safety standards including AustRoad, Department Transport and Planning and the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA). A second platform is a requirement of the Victorian Government’s Department of Transport and Planning and V/Line. It ensures ongoing operational flexibility on the line and allows for any future increase in train services.
What’s next?
Construction has started in Benalla.
Our construction partner John Holland will work with the community and inform them of what to expect during construction.
Community members can continue to talk to the team by calling into our shopfront or contacting us.
Benalla Station Precinct visualisation
Artist impressions of the design shows a likeness of what the area may look like when work is completed.
