Deadline looms for Maldon-Dombarton rail tenders

Federal transport minister Anthony Albanese said submissions were due by December 4.

The proposed project involves building a 35 km standard gauge rail line linking Port Kembla by bridging the gap between the Illawarra Line from Wollongong and Main Southern Line that connects to south-western Sydney and Port Botany.

The research will assess existing infrastructure, engineering requirements for the proposed line, identify levels of demand and establish the line's economic and financial viability.

The study would take about 18 months, Mr Albanese said.

The freight line’s construction, which began in 1983, was abandoned by the New South Wales Government in 1988 because it was not deemed to be economically viable.

Interest in the line was rekindled with the recent upgrade and expansion work at Port Kembla, which is now the state’s hub for ro-ro, vehicle and breakbulk cargo.