Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) announced that the construction of Inland Rail section in New South Wales, between Parkes and Narromine, will be launched this year, as the Planning Approval was granted.
The 104-km track between Parkes and Narromine will utilise most of the existing rail corridor that is already operated by ARTC as part of its interstate rail freight network and a newly built 5.3 km long rail connection to the Broken Hill line to the west of Parkes. Construction work will involve track formation, upgrading the track and culverts as well as providing additional flexibility through three new crossing loops at Goonumbla, Peak Hill and Timjelly.
The Parkes – Narromine rail section will have steel rail manufactured at Whyalla in South Australia, with 6534 tonnes already delivered. The first of 200,000 concrete sleepers being manufactured by Rocla in Mittagong in NSW have started arriving in preparation for construction and Parkes based companies Calvani Crushing and Ausrock Quarries have already won contracts worth AUD 7 million (USD 5 million) to supply materials.
Inland Rail (1700 km) will complete the ‘spine’ of the national freight network between Melbourne and Brisbane via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. It’s the largest freight rail infrastructure project in Australia, with early works to start this year and is expected to be operational in 2024-2025.
Share on:
