Federal approval given to Inland Rail Narrabri to North Star Phase 2

The next phase of the Narrabri to North Star (N2NS) Inland Rail development is another step closer to construction as it secures approval from the Australian Government under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999.

This new milestone means that all sections of the Inland Rail project in New South Wales are now formally approved.

With primary regulatory approvals in place, the project team will continue progressing the design of the Narrabri to North Star Phase 2 project alongside design services contractor Arcadis BG&E joint venture.

N2NS Phase 2 section will start immediately north of the Alice Street level crossing in Moree and end at Camurra North, just past the Moree Gun Club.

This phase of the project will upgrade about 12 kilometres of existing rail track and formation across the Gwydir Valley floodplain, north of Moree, and build approximately 1.6 kilometres of greenfield rail track to bypass the existing Camurra Hairpin. The proposed works will also include constructing a new 1.3-kilometre spur to maintain connection to the Weemelah line.

Narrabri to North Star Phase 2 map (source: Inland Rail)

Scope of works for Phase 2 include:

• Revising the position of the railway corridor in some areas to provide the maximum operational efficiency – this includes bypassing the current hairpin turn at Camurra
• Raising railway heights to achieve project requirements and enhance operational capability
• Replacing and realigning existing bridges over the Mehi and Gwydir rivers
• Upgrading cross drainage and associated flood management works
• Modifying, closing or replacing level crossings to improve safety, integrate with the revised railway alignment and maintain property access
• Implementing noise mitigation treatments to address noise impacts to residential buildings in and near Moree town centre
• Providing flood mitigation features such as levees, bunds and control weirs to ensure minimal impact to existing flood water flows
• Replacing or upgrading of utilities, infrastructure and fencing affected by the track upgrade

With Phase 1 works completed, trains can now travel faster on parts of the rail line between Narrabri and North Star.

Meanwhile, future decisions on the delivery of Inland Rail north of Narromine are still under consideration by the Australian Government.

Inland Rail is a 1,600-kilometre fast freight rail line that will link Melbourne and Brisbane via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. The overall route has been divided into 12 sections which enables a staged delivery of the rail line.

Source: Inland Rail (1, 2); Infrastructure Magazine