John Holland secures $470m contract to deliver Inland Rail projects in VIC

Construction will soon commence on the remaining eight Inland Rail projects in Victoria following the appointment of John Holland as the preferred builder for the Beveridge to Albury – Tranche 2 section. 

John Holland has secured a $470 million contract which will enable the builder to undertake works to replace bridges and lower tracks to allow the safe passage of double-stacked freight trains from Brisbane to Melbourne. 

John Holland was chosen to undertake the project based on their experience in delivering major civil and rail projects such as the Inland Rail Narrabri to North Star Phase 1 last year as well as the North East Rail Line Upgrade (NERL) in 2021. Moreover, John Holland is part of the consortium building the Melbourne Metro Tunnel Project. 

“This project builds on our proud partnership with Inland Rail to deliver transformative rail projects – allowing us to leverage our skills and experience in providing end-to-end rail solutions. 

“We want to prioritise local jobs and industry when construction kicks off next year to ensure we’ve got the best possible representation of the regional communities we’re building in. 

“We look forward to working closely with these local communities to deliver this transformational project, which will support the future reliability of Australia’s freight network,” John Holland Executive General Manager – Rail and Transport Steve Butcher said. 

Tranche 2 covers eight project sites, including: 

• Broadford-Wandong Road bridge, Wandong 

• Hamilton Street bridge, Broadford 

• Short Street bridge, Broadford 

• Marchbanks Road bridge, Broadford 

• Hume Freeway bridge, Tallarook 

• Hume Freeway bridge, Seymour 

• Anderson Street bridge, Euroa 

• Benalla Station Precinct, Benalla 

As part of this project, Euroa and Benalla railway stations will also undergo major transformations to make them safer and more accessible for rail passengers. The uogrades will include new platforms, pedestrian underpasses and additional parking. 

Mobilisation and planning for the Beveridge to Albury – Tranche 2 projects will commence immediately, with major construction expected to begin in early 2025 and be completed in 2027. 

“This is a major step forward for the Inland Rail project in Victoria with all 12 sites now under contract. 

“Tranche 1 sites at Glenrowan, Wangaratta, Seymour are progressing well, and Barnawartha North is completed. 

“John Holland is currently carrying out early works and site investigations before kicking off Tranche 2 construction early in the new year. 

“Inland Rail is keen to involve local people and businesses in the project and to maximise the economic and social benefits for communities along the route,” Inland Rail Chief Executive Officer Nick Miller said. 

Inland Rail is a transformational project that will help change how goods are moved around Australia. It will first connect Beveridge to Narromine in New South Wales by 2027 and later connect to Ebenezer in Queensland. 

In Victoria, works will be delivered at 12 sites between Beveridge and Albury to enable double-stacked freight trains to pass safely, ensuring everyday products are delivered faster and more reliably around Australia. 

To date, Inland Rail has spent more than $80 million in regional Victoria with 264 local businesses and employed over 1,120 people since construction began. 

The overall Inland Rail development will deliver a 1,600-kilometre freight rail line that will connect Melbourne and Brisbane via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. 

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