Illabo to Stockinbingal visualisation shows new route

Illabo to Stockinbingal visualisation has been released by Inland Rail, giving the local community a clearer view of the planned route in New South Wales.

Illabo to Stockinbingal visualisation and route scope

The Illabo to Stockinbingal section⁠ covers 39 kilometres of new railway from just east of Illabo to Stockinbingal. It forms part of the wider Inland Rail project and is the only greenfield section on the route between Beveridge and Parkes.

The new alignment will create a more direct connection from Illabo to Stockinbingal and then onto the existing Forbes line. It will bypass Cootamundra and Bethungra, as well as the steep and winding Bethungra Spiral section on the Main South line, providing a more efficient freight pathway through the area.

The 3D fly-through video⁠ follows the alignment north and shows several main elements of the project. These include bridges over roads and waterways, the realignment at Burley Griffin Way, a crossing loop and siding, and level crossings.

Inland Rail describes the wider scheme as a 1,600km freight rail line under construction between Melbourne and Brisbane through regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. The project combines upgrades to about 1,000km of existing railway with 600km of new track, and Inland Rail says the sections between Beveridge and Parkes are prioritised for completion in 2027. That context explains the relevance of the visualisation: the 39km Illabo to Stockinbingal section shows where a new alignment is planned to bypass Cootamundra, Bethungra and the Bethungra Spiral. (inlandrail.com.au⁠)

Inland Rail works continue on the section

Work has already advanced on the Illabo to Stockinbingal section since construction began, with activities including earthworks, piling, culvert works and rail deliveries.

Further construction activity is planned over the coming months, with bulk earthworks and bridge works due to continue. Controlled blasting will also be carried out as part of civil works. In Stockinbingal, works will begin on the new Burley Griffin Way road bridge.

A temporary accommodation site has been set up in Stockinbingal for construction workers. The facility will house up to 350 workers during the busiest construction period.

Community information centre opens in Cootamundra

Inland Rail’s construction partner John Holland has also opened a community information centre in Cootamundra to maintain contact with local residents. The centre is located on Murray Street and is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am to midday, and on Wednesdays from 9am to 5pm.

An Inland Rail spokesperson said:

“From Illabo to Stockinbingal, we’re building new road and rail infrastructure to make double-stacked freight transport more efficient. This will deliver safer road and rail interfaces, improve infrastructure reliability and strengthen regional connectivity for the future.”

“Illabo to Stockinbingal is a unique project and is the only greenfield stretch of track to be built south of Parkes. We appreciate the support and patience of local communities as we work towards achieving our goal of building Inland Rail from Beveridge to Parkes.”