Inland rail project vital for region's future

AUSTRALIA’S rail boss has declared the Inland Rail project a necessity to ensure the region’s agricultural future.

AUSTRALIA'S rail boss has declared the Inland Rail project a necessity to ensure the region's agricultural future.

CEO of the Australian Rail Track Corporation John Fullerton said a world-class rail system was vital to maintaining the nation's rural growth.

"Nobody would argue with the fact that this country needs an efficient transport network to enable us to support our business activities around the country and support our international competitiveness," Mr Fullerton told the Ag in the Asian Century conference.

He said the cornerstone to that success was the establishment of the Inland Rail project toward which the Federal Government has committed $300 million.

The 1700km rail line will run from Melbourne through Narrabri in north-west New South Wales, up to Millmerran circulating around Toowoomba's outskirts to the northern edge of the Lockyer Valley, before ending at the Port of Brisbane.

Freight and haulage trains 1.8km long with double-stacked carriages will have 10 hours cut from their travel time between the start and finish of the line.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss on Thursday declared the project on track.

"When complete, this project will connect key regional centres and rural producers to our major ports, capitals and distribution hubs via Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland," Mr Truss said.

Mr Fullerton said the Inland Rail project would use existing rail infrastructure which would be upgraded to cope with the increased traffic volume, as well as see the construction of more rail corridors to connect the Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane ports.

Queensland Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister John McVeigh said the State Government was committed to supporting the project, but stopped short at indicating any financial funding towards its completion.

He said the Newman Government was investing $50 million to build additional rail passing loops across the Toowoomba Range, which is separate to the Inland Rail project.

"This will greatly assist our grain and cotton producers as it will provide the most significant increase in train paths in decades and meet the future needs of farmers right across south-west Queensland," he said.

Originally published as Inland rail project vital for region's future