Broadford bridge removal leaves Inland Rail one Victorian site to clear

Inland Rail has removed Broadford’s Marchbanks Road bridge, the ninth and final old bridge demolished between Beveridge and Albury, leaving Tallarook as the only site still needing double-stack clearance.

Crews from Inland Rail and its construction partner John Holland demolished the 57-year-old structure during an 86-hour track possession between 12 and 15 September. In the same window, they installed four 68-metre girders for the replacement, together weighing 600 tonnes, using a 650-tonne crawler crane.

A wider, higher crossing for Broadford

The new bridge follows the alignment of the old one. It will be 11 metres wider and will stand 3.7 metres higher, giving double-stacked freight trains room to pass underneath. Haywards in Tasmania fabricated its girders.

Inland Rail expects the bridge to open to traffic by mid-October, while work on the site runs to the end of 2026. Marchbanks Road has been closed since 16 August for the replacement.

Tallarook is the last site still being modified

Inland Rail reports that 11 sites out of 12 on the Beveridge to Albury section now have enough height and width for double-stacked freight trains. The count stood at 10 in early July, when Inland Rail said Marchbanks Road and Tallarook would both be ready for double-stacked trains before the end of 2026.

Ten sites had clearance when Inland Rail published its 8 July 2026 update, and Marchbanks Road followed with the 15 September 2026 release. Tallarook is the only site still being modified. Package split: Beveridge to Albury project page.

At Tallarook, crews are realigning the tracks under the Hume Freeway bridge and dropping them roughly two metres at the deepest point. The lowering extends along up to 1.4km of corridor. Work there also includes changes to the bridge pier and abutments. Deflection wall works continued at the site during the September possession.

Reaching clearance at a site does not mean the project is finished. In July, Inland Rail said the Victorian project was on track for completion in 2027.

Eight earlier road bridges and other possession works

Before Marchbanks Road, Inland Rail had replaced road bridges over the railway at Wangaratta, Glenrowan, Benalla, Euroa, Seymour-Avenel Road and Wandong, as well as at two Broadford crossings, Short Street and Hamilton Street. It also took down two pedestrian bridges in Wangaratta.

Crews used the possession for other jobs along the line. They upgraded level crossings at Birkett Street in Euroa and Nunn Street in Benalla and removed track safety barriers at Wandong. Track and drainage work at Hamilton Street and Short Street is now complete.

Beveridge to Parkes route due by end of 2027

The Victorian upgrade is part of the Beveridge to Parkes route, which Inland Rail is building as a priority. The Australian Government confirmed in May 2026 that this part of Inland Rail will be delivered by the end of 2027, giving double-stacked freight trains a path linking Melbourne with Perth and Adelaide through Parkes. North of Parkes, the focus has moved to preserving the rail corridor. Where upgrades are needed, Inland Rail designs for a 7.1-metre clearance, the room taller double-stacked trains require under bridges and in tunnels.

Victoria has one site left, while major construction has been completed on one of the three New South Wales sections. Sources: Inland Rail’s section overview, Illabo to Stockinbingal page and 15 September 2026 release.