Project DescriptionOn 28 March 2008, the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government announced the commencement of the Inland Rail Alignment Study. The study is being undertaken by the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) and will determine the optimum alignment for a possible inland rail line. The ARTC has contracted Parsons Brinkerhoff with Connell Wagner and Halcrow as their lead technical advisers for the project, with PricewaterhouseCoopers, ACIL Tasman and SAHA providing advice on the project's economic factors. In developing the detailed alignment for the route, ARTC will generally follow the 'far western sub-corridor' identified by the North-South Rail Corridor Study (see Related Links below). The far-western sub-corridor generally follows a line from Melbourne to Brisbane via Parkes, Dubbo and/or Narromine, Coonamble, Burren Junction, Narrabri and/or Moree, North Star, Goondiwindi, Warwick and/or Toowoomba. Within this broad corridor, 42 possible route options have been identified. The ARTC will examine detailed engineering, environmental, economic and financial issues associated with an optimum rail alignment along the corridor. The findings from Stage 1 of the study were published on the ARTC website in May 2009, with the Stage 2 working papers published in December 2009. (See related links below). Terms of Reference The objectives of the study are to determine: the optimum alignment of the inland railway, taking into account user requirements and the economic, engineering, statutory planning and environmental constraints; the likely order of construction costs plus or minus 20%; the likely order of below rail (infrastructure) operating and maintenance costs; above rail operational benefits; the level and degree of certainty of market take up of the alignment; a project development and delivery timetable; and a basis for evaluating the level of private sector support for the project.
The study is to be carried out in three stages: Stage 1 - Determination of the preferred route. Stage 2 - Engineering, environmental and land baseline analysis. Stage 3 - Development of the preferred alignment.
Within each stage there will be a series of working papers produced to document the progress of the study. The ARTC will consult with key interested parties during the study and place the working papers on its website for public comment at the end of each stage. BenefitsThe Inland Rail Alignment Study will build upon the findings of the North-South Rail Corridor Study, which indicated the Far-Western Sub Corridor achieved the most cost effective options. (see map below). The preferred alignment will be sufficiently detailed so that the development of the line could be quickly taken through the statutory planning and approval process and into detailed engineering design and construction, should a decision be taken to proceed. Importantly, the study will also provide the Australian Government with a basis for evaluating private sector financing for the project. FundingThe Australian Government is fully funding the study. The study is expected to cost up to $15 million. Related LinksNorth-South Rail corridor Study ARTC Website |