In rail, a greenfield project involves building brand new railway on previously undeveloped land rather than modifying existing tracks.
This requires careful environmental planning, innovative approaches to controlling our construction footprint and, wherever possible, minimising impacts on the surrounding landscape, farming and cropping operations and local road access.
Why is the Illabo to Stockinbingal section greenfield?
The Illabo to Stockinbingal section is the first fully greenfield section of Inland Rail to commence construction.
The existing Main South line has clearance limitations at the Bethungra Spiral (pictured), a steep and winding stretch of track that prevents the operation of double-stacked freight trains on this section of the network.
By bypassing the Bethungra Spiral and the townships of Cootamundra and Bethungra, the new corridor will open up a more efficient way to transport freight through the area.
Where does the Greenfield section start?
The Illabo to Stockinbingal section’s boundary begins approximately 3.5km north-east of the Illabo village.
While the project area starts at this point, the new rail alignment does not diverge from the existing Melbourne to Sydney Main South line until approximately 3km further along the line, just south of Billabong Creek.
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