Narrabri to North Star Phase 2 wins NSW rail approval

Narrabri to North Star Phase 2 of Inland Rail has secured another key approval in New South Wales. The state government has signed off on this section of the project, as reported by Rail Express.

NSW Government approval completes state Inland Rail sections

The New South Wales Minister for Planning and Public Spaces has determined the Critical State Significant Infrastructure application for Narrabri to North Star Phase 2 under the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

With this New South Wales Government approval, every Inland Rail section located within the state now has formal planning consent in place. Together, these decisions mark a notable milestone for the Inland Rail project as a whole.

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Narrabri to North Star Phase 2 design and floodplain works

In June, Inland Rail entered into a design services agreement with joint venture partners Arcadis BG&E. As Railway Supply has noted, the Arcadis BG&E joint venture has been tasked with a package of design work between Moree and Camurra, which also includes the Narrabri to North Star Phase 2 stretch.

Over the coming months, Inland Rail will work with Arcadis to refine the Phase 2 design. The scope covers a Gwydir floodplain rail upgrade, with about 14 kilometres of existing rail track and formation to be improved. It also provides for the construction of roughly 1.6 kilometres of new track to create a Camurra Hairpin bypass. In addition, the proposal includes a 1.3 kilometre Weemelah line spur to keep the rail connection to that line in place.

Key engineering components of this Inland Rail section will include new and upgraded rail alignments, additional rail bridges, more culverts to carry water across floodplains and waterways, level crossings and associated earthworks.

Phase 1 delivery and federal assessment of Phase 2

Meanwhile, major construction on the Narrabri to North Star Phase 1 section has been completed. Upgrades have been delivered along 163 kilometres of existing rail corridor. According to an Inland Rail spokesperson, this upgraded Phase 1 section is now considerably safer and allows freight trains to operate at higher speeds after being loaded at facilities in Milguy, Croppa Creek and North Star.

The Narrabri to North Star Phase 2 project is currently undergoing Commonwealth assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

This process is also described on Inland Rail’s official Phase 2 planning page. Future decisions by the federal government on the delivery of Inland Rail sections north of Narromine will be considered once there is more certainty around the delivery and full cost of Inland Rail.

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