The Inland Rail: a grand vision for our times

Our cover story this week looks at the Inland Rail, the $15bn line that will link Melbourne and Brisbane. Who are the big winners?

The Inland Rail – that grand plan to connect a 1700km freight line from Melbourne to Brisbane – has been discussed and debated for so long that it came as a surprise when work actually started. And as journalist Greg Bearup reports, it’s now gathering pace in NSW where regional towns such as Parkes are already reaping significant benefits: the Parkes to Narromine section is operational and work has started on the Narrabri to North Star line in northern NSW.

There is still uncertainty over some Queensland legs of the project but as Greg travelled the NSW towns, he found great excitement. That state’s deputy premier John Barilaro says the Inland Rail will transform regional centres into prosperous, cosmopolitan inland cities. If nothing else, the pandemic has highlighted the importance of strong and efficient domestic supply chains.