Expressions of Interest sought for construction and sleeper contracts on Inland Rail – 11 October 2019

The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has commenced talks with industry to construct a 171 km section of rail track in northern New South Wales and to deliver 1.44 million sleepers as part of the once-in-a generation Inland Rail project.

 

ARTC has called for two separate Expressions of Interest (EOI) to seek suitably qualified applicants for construction on the Narrabri to North Star section of Inland Rail and a second process to supply rail sleepers program wide.

 

ARTC Inland Rail Chief Executive Richard Wankmuller said as work continues on the critical Inland Rail project more and more regional communities will benefit economically through job creation and the expansion of local businesses.

 

“Inland Rail is already securing jobs for regional Australians. The benefits of Inland Rail will be felt far beyond the route as businesses come on board to build this essential link in our national supply chain,” Mr Wankmuller said.

 

“This once-in-a generation project will complete the backbone of the national freight network by providing a transit time of 24 hours or less for freight trains between Melbourne and Brisbane via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland,” he said.

 

“Inland Rail is creating opportunities for regions to connect to cities and businesses to markets. With a project of this size comes numerous prospects for people, businesses and communities to profit and prosper.”

 

At the height of construction there will be 16,000 direct and indirect jobs from Inland Rail and ARTC is focused on ensuring that in addition to major construction industry, local companies, businesses and job seekers take part in the different aspects of Inland Rail where they can.

 

“The Parkes to Narromine section of Inland Rail is now 10 months into full construction and the economic benefits can already been clearly seen in Parkes and surrounding regions,” Mr Wankmuller said.

 

“Inland Rail construction is injecting significant dollars into local businesses and the regional economy with $41.2 million spent so far.”

 

Around the Central West region of NSW, businesses benefitting from the flow of work from Inland Rail include services for concrete supply, transportation, fencing, earthmoving, drainage, electrical works, security and water bore drilling providers.

 

These are the sorts of opportunities and economic development that will come from the Narrabri to North Star project which will include upgrading around 171km of existing rail track through the reconstruction of existing track, replacement of bridges and culverts, level crossings and crossing loops.

 

Industry briefings are being held to provide an update to the construction industry on Inland Rail with almost 1,000 people registered to attend three sessions in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney and through the live stream service in the coming week.