The most significant freight infrastructure project in Australia’s history has taken a major step forward with the Australian and Queensland Governments signing a ground-breaking Bilateral Agreement to deliver Inland Rail project.

Inland Rail is a programme of infrastructure works that will deliver a new 1,710km freight railway between Tottenham in Victoria and Acacia Ridge in Queensland, linking two of the biggest cities in the country, Melbourne and Brisbane, and crossing three states.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and Minister Mark Bailey signed the agreement on behalf of their respective governments at a ceremony held on Friday 29 November 2019. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the Bilateral Agreement would ensure Queensland’s future growth is supported by a robust freight rail network capable of servicing the long-term liveability and productivity of Queensland’s regions, towns and cities.

“The Bilateral Agreement signed today is backed by the Federal Government’s AUD 9.3 billion (USD 6.28 billion) commitment to deliver Inland Rail and is part of the broader AUD 25 billion (USD 16.89 billion) commitment we’ve made to road and rail projects across Queensland since coming to Government in 2013,” Mr McCormack said.

Of the 13 individual projects that make up Inland Rail, the following five are located in Queensland:

• Border to Gowrie
• Gowrie to Helidon
• Helidon to Calvert
• Calvert to Kagaru
• Kagaru to Acacia Ridge/Bromleton

The Gowrie to Kagaru section of Inland Rail in Queensland will be delivered as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP). This section comprises approximately 130 km of new dual gauge track traversing Toowoomba, the Lockyer Valley, Ipswich and the Scenic Rim. It is divided into three separate projects – Gowrie to Helidon, Helidon to Calvert and Calvert to Kagaru. The project also includes the performance of maintenance services over a maintenance phase of 15 to 30 years. A tender process is underway to select a suitably qualified consortium to deliver the Project. A contract is expected to be awarded in 2021 to the Proponent who delivers the best value for money proposal, including a high-quality technical solution. 

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