Major Contract

Inland Rail - Narromine to Narrabri

PROJECT STATUS
Awarded
Inland Rail - Narromine to Narrabri

The Narromine to Narrabri (N2N) section is the longest and most significant greenfield project within the Inland Rail Freight Corridor. According to summary findings of the Environmental Impact Assessment, the project comprises:

  • around 306 kilometres of new track
  • support infrastructure able to accomodate 1,800 metre double-stacked trains
  • new rail connections with existing rail lines
  • seven crossing loops
  • 58 new bridges
  • 14 new viaducts
  • 51 new public level crossings
  • 630 culvert banks
  • road realignments, and
  • ancilliary works such as realignments and utility relocations.

 

Key Dates

Sep 2020 ROIs Open
Sep 2021 Preferred Bidder Selection
2022 Expected Contract Award
Jul 2024 Expected Construction Commencement
2027 Expected Construction Completion

Procurement

Procuring Agency: Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC)
Successful Tenderer: ACACPB JV comprising ACCIONA and CPB Contractors
Procurement note:

The section currently intended to be procured under a collaborative contract such as an alliance.

Related contracts:
Engineering Consultant - Feasibility Design
Successful Tenderer - JacobsGHD IR Joint Venture comprising Jacobs and GHD

PROJECT HISTORY

Nov 2017 The recommended alignment from the east of Narromine to the east of Narrabri was confirmed. The preferred corridor will be taken forward through the NSW Government's planning and approval process, which will lead to an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for this project.
Jul 2020 ARTC awarded a $13.5 million contract to Jacobs GHD IR Joint Venture comprising Jacobs and GHD for feasibility design work for the N2N section.
Sep 2020 The ARTC opened Registrations of Interest (ROIs) for the Rail Corridor Package, closing on 13 October 2020. ARTC sought a single contractor to undertake works across 561 kilometres of the corridor, across the Narromine to Narrabri, North Star to NSW-Queensland Border, and NSW-Queensland Border to Gowrie sections. Two Request for Proposal (RFP) rounds are to follow the ROI process, with the award of a ‘Collaborative Framework Agreement' to be finalised in the second quarter of 2021.
Dec 2020 ARTC lodged the Narromine to Narrabri Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) with the NSW Department of Planning Industry and Environment (DPIE), for a public exhibition period from 8 December 2020 until 7 February 2021.
Sep 2021 The ARTC appointed a 50-50 joint venture between ACCIONA and CPB Contractors for the 'Southern Civil Works Package', covering the Narromine to Narrabri section. Contract close was expected in 2022, following planning and environmental approvals.
Aug 2022 The project’s Preferred Infrastructure and Amendment Report was put on public exhibition from 31 August until 22 September.
Feb 2023 The NSW Minister for Planning granted the Narromine to Narrabri section the final consents needed for development.
Feb 2024 The Federal Government through the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water granted environmental approvals for the project under the EPBC Act 1999. Further amendments were required to the design of the project, as well as additional land acquisitions, before construction could commence.
Estimated Total Cost
(2021)
Sector
Rail
Procurement approach
Traditional Procurement |
Location
New South Wales | National |
Resources