The NSW/Qld Border to Gowrie section of Inland Rail will connect one of Australia’s most productive farming regions to markets across the country.
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 has been divided into 12 sections, to allow for a staged delivery of the open-access fast freight rail line.
The NSW/Qld Border to Gowrie section involves delivering approximately 217km of track – 149km of new track and 68km of upgraded track – which runs from 18km southeast of Goondiwindi to Gowrie Junction, northwest of Toowoomba in Queensland.
This section of Inland Rail will connect to the North Star to NSW/Qld Border section, enabling existing narrow-gauge track in Queensland to connect with standard gauge track in New South Wales. Learn more about dual-gauge track for the NSW/Qld Border to Gowrie section.
Snapshot
Type
Upgrade and new track
Length
149km new track
68km upgraded track
Anticipated works
Installing new dual gauge track and upgrading existing track
Status: Stage 4 - Approvals
The Project has been declared a coordinated project by the Queensland Coordinator-General (Coordinator-General) and is being assessed under the State Development Public Works Organisation Act 1971 (Qld) (SDPWO Act) and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Commonwealth).
Inland Rail is seeking approval from the Queensland Coordinator-General (Coordinator-General) for the NSW/Qld Border to Gowrie revised draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and its revised reference design, which was on public consultation in mid-2025.
The revised draft EIS responds to:
- submissions received during public notification of the draft EIS in 2021
- new data collected through site investigations and environmental surveys
- further consultation with key stakeholders including government agencies, landowners and communities.
View the revised draft EIS and learn more about environmental impact assessments for coordinated projects at the Coordinator-General’s website.
Inland Rail is investigating the feasibility of design refinements at several locations along the NSW/Qld Border to Gowrie section including at Yelarbon, Pampas, Brookstead and Pittsworth.
Our design refinement investigations consider improvements to safety and property, environmental and community impacts.
These investigations are possible due to updates to our design standards since the revised reference design was finalised for assessment in 2023. The investigations also provide an opportunity for Inland Rail to further improve the design in response to community feedback.
Learn more about our updated design standards, design investigations and the environmental approvals process at one of our upcoming information sessions.
Timing
Future decisions on the construction of Inland Rail in Queensland will be considered by the Australian Government.
Work is now underway to secure environmental and planning approvals for the NSW/Qld Border to Gowrie section through the Queensland Government.
Over the next 2-3 years, Inland Rail will progress the NSW/Qld Border to Gowrie section by:
- achieving environmental approvals
- completing detailed designs
- conducting more site investigations to inform these designs
- acquiring land needed to build Inland Rail (temporary and permanent acquisitions); and
- consulting with landowners on how Inland Rail will interface with fencing, level crossings, bridges, utilities and farm dams on their properties, and how property access will be maintained during construction and operations.
Major construction on the NSW/Qld Border to Gowrie section is expected to commence by 2029.
It is anticipated that construction will take approximately four years to complete, followed by testing of the track before it becomes operational.
Inland Rail Pty Ltd’s anticipated project stages
* Stages 3-5 may occur in parallel and subject to relevant environment and planning approvals by the Queensland and Australian Governments.
** Construction of the NSW/Qld Border to Gowrie project is subject to the Queensland Government granting necessary approvals and future decisions by the Australian Government.
Summary of findings
This summary of findings has been prepared to give communities an outline of the revised draft EIS and to support engagement with stakeholders during the revised draft EIS’s public consultation period.
Assessment outcomes, mitigation approaches and conclusions are provided for the relevant environmental, social and economic impacts, as presented in the NSW/Qld Border to Gowrie revised draft EIS.
The revised draft EIS and its accompanying technical reports, along with all submissions received during the consultation period, are considered by the Office of the Coordinator-General.
Translation services and literacy support
If you need help with reading the document, or if English is your second language, please call 131 450. This is a free service.
Learn more
Our Knowledge Hub provides links to more information about topics such as:
- hydrology assessment and management
- reference design changes
- flora and fauna
- dual-gauge railway
- level crossings
- and more.
Watch a fly-through video
Get a birds-eye view of the NSW/Qld Border to Gowrie section by watching this fly through video.
The information contained in this video is for illustration purposes only and for discussion during community consultation. It should not be considered as the final design.
Your consultative committee
A Community Consultative Committee (CCC) represents local communities in the NSW/Qld Border to Gowrie area. This CCC provides a forum to share project information, discuss topics of interest, and address any issues or community concerns. Importantly, it also provides an opportunity for community representatives to share their knowledge and experience on key issues with the Inland Rail team.
Talk to the Inland Rail team
If you would like to contact Inland Rail’s NSW/Qld Border to Gowrie team, you can either call, send an email or visit one of our offices. We also hold regular events across the region, 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. |
| inlandrailqld@inlandrail.com.au | |
| Inland Rail Pty Ltd, PO Box 3093, Toowoomba, QLD 4350 | |
| Visit us at these locations: | |
| Toowoomba | 143-145 Margaret Street, Monday to Friday, 8.30am-4.30pm |
| Goondiwindi | 28 Marshall Street, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 10am-2pm |
Alternatively, you can fill out the below form, and request a team member to contact you:
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