The 30km North Star to Border section of Inland Rail connects North Star in New South Wales to the Border to Gowrie section in Queensland.
Inland Rail is a 1,600km fast freight rail line, now under construction, that will link Melbourne and Brisbane via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. The route is divided into 12 sections, to allow for a staged delivery of the open-access fast freight rail line.
The North Star to NSW/Qld Border section consists of upgrading approximately 25km of non-operational rail corridor and constructing 5km of new track.
This section will complete one of the key missing rail links between New South Wales and Queensland, using the non-operational rail corridor and new track to connect to the Border to Gowrie section and the operating line running to Yelarbon.
The North Star to Border section has achieved NSW and Australian Government planning approvals and work continues to finalise the design, scope and cost of the project for Australian Government consideration.
Snapshot
Type
Upgrade and new track
Length
5km new track
25km upgraded track
Anticipated works
Building an approximately 1.8km long viaduct over Bruxner Highway, Whalan Creek and the Macintyre River before connecting to the Border to Gowrie section
Project maps
View and download a range of maps including topographical, state and simple graphic maps as well as a video showing Inland Rail connectivity with regional lines.
Status: Site investigations and design refinement
Following NSW Government approval in February 2023, the North Star to Border project was assessed by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and approved by the Australian Government under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 in July 2023.
Both levels of approval come with strict conditions relating to the management and mitigation of environmental and social impacts. These conditions must be monitored and reported on during and after construction, which is subject to Australian Government consideration.
In 2026 we will continue addressing conditions of approval and preparing environmental and social management plans, permits and licences, which are required before any major construction can start.
Design refinement
Between now and 2027 and with the cooperation of landowners, our teams will complete geotechnical and utility investigations, cultural heritage surveys, ecology studies and hydrology studies.
This work will provide essential data to help us refine engineering designs and assist in finalising the scope and cost of building Inland Rail. Plans are now underway to appoint a design services provider and they are expected to start in late 2026.
Talk to the Inland Rail team
If you would like to contact Inland Rail’s North Star to NSW/Qld Border team, you can either call, send an email or visit one of our offices. And you’re welcome to subscribe to our enewsletter.
| Phone | 1800 732 761 during business hours or leave a message and we'll get back to you. |
| inlandrailnsw@inlandrail.com.au | |
| Inland Rail Pty Ltd, 28 Marshall Street, Goondiwindi QLD 4390 | |
| Visit | 28 Marshall Street, Goondiwindi QLD 4390 |
Alternatively, you can fill out the below form, and request a team member to contact you:
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