Major Contract

Inland Rail - North Star to NSW-Queensland Border

PROJECT STATUS
Awarded
Inland Rail - North Star to NSW-Queensland Border

The North Star to NSW-Queensland Border (NS2B) section of Inland Rail connects North Star in New South Wales to the Queensland Rail South Western System on the NSW-Queensland border.

The preferred corridor runs along the non-operational rail corridor towards Boggabilla, crossing the Macintyre River before joining the Queensland Rail South West Rail Line. According to summary findings of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIS), the project comprises:

  • 12 kilometres of new track within existing, non-operational raill corridor
  • circa 27 kilometres of new track within greenfield rail corridor
  • one crossing loop
  • 10 new bridges
  • a 1,800 metre viaduct over the Macintyre River and Whalan Creek
  • work on new and existing level crossings
  • earth, drainage and road works, and
  • ancillary infrastructure upgrades.

Key Dates

Sep 2021 Preferred Bidder Selection
Jun 2022 Expected Construction Commencement
Jul 2025 Expected Construction Completion

Procurement

Procuring Agency: Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC)
Successful Tenderer: Freight Connect consortium comprising Laing O’Rourke and FKG Group
Related contracts:
Engineering Consultant - Feasibility Design
Successful Tenderer - Future Freight Joint Venture comprising AECOM and Aurecon

PROJECT HISTORY

Apr 2017 ARTC lodged a State Significant Infrastructure (SSI) application for the project.
Jun 2018 The Future Freight Joint Venture comprising AECOM and Aurecon was awarded the contract for the design work on NS2B.
Aug 2018 The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment's Secretary's Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) were initially issued.
Mar 2020 The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment reissued SEARs for the project section. The updated SEARs were issued as a result of a request by the ARTC for expansion of the original scope to include offsite burrow sites to access fill material.
Aug 2020 The ARTC provided the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment. The EIS will be on public exhibition from 26 August until 6 October 2020.
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.
Sep 2021 The ARTC appointed a consortium comprising Laing O’Rourke and FKG Group for the 'Central Civil Works Package', covering the Narrabri to North Star Phase Two section, North Star to NSW-Queensland Border section, and a portion of works within the NSW-Queensland Border to Gowrie section. Total package was estimated to be $1.2 billion. Contract close was expected in 2022, following planning and environmental approvals.
Sector
Rail
Procurement approach
Traditional Procurement |
Location
New South Wales | Queensland | National |
Resources
Government resources
Project map
EIS summary findings