ARTC releases early inland rail findings

The first stage of the study has this morning identified a series of preferred alignments, including a new connection in the 400 km section between North Star and Brisbane, via Toowoomba.

The capital cost of the entire route, still to be analysed further, would be between $2.8bn and $3.6bn, the study found.

The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) said it had examined more than 50 options to find the best path for the whole of the 1892 km project.

The ARTC was commissioned to embark on the $15m study as far back as June 2007 when launched by then-transport minister Mark Vaile.

Federal transport minister Anthony Albanese re-commissioned the ARTC for the work in March last year, five months after the 2007 federal election.

The ARTC said the first stage of the study had examined the likely demand for the corridor and the cost of building the infrastructure and keeping it operating.

In addition to the North Star connection, which is the most expensive of the sections, the study found upgrades would be needed north of the intermodal town of Parkes in central New South Wales, including minor deviations.

Other sections still to be studied include the southern NSW connection between Junee and Stockinbingal and a possible route from Premer to Emerald Hill that would avoid Werris Creek.

The ARTC said the major cost would be incurred in the difficult geography northbound between Toowoomba and Brisbane.

The second stage of the study is expected to produce results by the third quarter of this year with a final stage by the end of the year.