Inland Rail

Inland Rail

Inland Rail is a 1,700km freight rail line that will transform how we move goods around Australia.

Connecting Melbourne and Brisbane via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, this 1,700km rail project will complete our national freight network - better connecting producers to markets and creating new opportunities for businesses, industries and regional communities.

Passing through Moree in the section between Narrabri to North Star, Inland Rail offers a one-in-a-generation opportunity for the Moree Plains Shire community, bringing major economic investment and ongoing benefits to the people and businesses of Moree Plains Shire.

As an open-access rail service, Inland Rail will allow any accredited operator to move freight along the line, meaning more freight can be delivered faster and more reliably to our growing population, and beyond to global markets. As a more efficient option, Inland Rail will offer supply chain benefits and substantial cost savings for producers, while making our roads safer and less congested.

Benefits of Inland Rail

Inland Rail will improve links between businesses, farmers and producers to national and global markets, by reducing transit times and providing greater service reliability.

The project will reduce environmental and asset maintenance costs as a result of removing a large number of heavy vehicles off the road network and reducing real distances travelled.

As sections of the rail line are completed, trains will run and connect to the broader rail network. While the full length of the project is due to be complete in 2027, trains will be running on newly upgraded track at Moree as soon as 2023, connecting local producers with major ports at Sydney (Botany Bay) and Newcastle.

Learn about all the benefits Inland Rail will generate.

The Moree Advantage – Perfectly Positioned

With freight volumes set to double by 2030 and triple by 2050, Moree will form an integral part of the intermodal freight solution:

• Junction of three main highways
• Heart of Australia’s premier agricultural region
• Moree will be home to a Special Activation Precinct with highway and rail access
• Reliable air services to Sydney
• Gateway to the New England region

Current Progress

Work on Australia’s largest freight rail infrastructure project – a priority infrastructure project for the Australian Government – is well underway, and Inland Rail is working with regional businesses and communities to make it happen.

Inland Rail is made up of 13 individual projects across Victoria, NSW and Queensland.

Two of these projects are underway in the Moree Plains Shire, the Narrabri to North Star (N2NS)  project and the North Star to NSW/Qld Border (NS2B) project.

Narrabri to North Star

The Narrabri to North Star (N2NS) section is one of 13 projects that will help construct the Inland Rail and will see about 184.5km of track upgraded and 1.7km of new track near Camurra constructed to enable heavier axle loads and double-stacked trains, and improve transit times.

The upgrade work for this project will involve:

• Reconstruction of the existing track
• Re-establishing and/or expanding drainage works next to the track
• Level crossing works
• Replacing existing culverts and bridges
• Establishing passing loops (as required)
• Minor changes to track alignments at Bellata, Gurley and Moree Stations.

This project crosses the three local government areas of Gwydir, Narrabri and Moree Plains, and is expected to employ hundreds of people from these areas.

For the latest project updates visit the ARTC Narrabri to North Star Project page.

North Star to NSW/Qld Border

This project includes upgrading 27km of non-operational rail line and 12km of new track across the Macintyre River, allowing for future connections to Goondiwindi and the broader region.

The project is currently in the reference design stage.

To view the latest project updates, see ARTC’s North Star to Border project page.

Contact

The Moree Plains Regional Activation Unit is a dedicated Council team to ensure the delivery of key projects such as the Inland Rail and Moree Special Activation Precinct within the Shire.

Regional Activation Unit
02 6757 3440
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Latest News for Inland Rail

Read Council’s latest updates below about the Inland Rail, or visit the Inland Rail ARTC website for construction news.