6 May 2026
Statement regarding Inland Rail
Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd (PBPL) and many of our customers and industry stakeholders have long advocated for a dedicated freight rail connection to the Port, and the broader supply chain benefits promised by Inland Rail.
Today, the Federal Government announced the current Inland Rail project will be ‘consolidated’ by completing construction between Beveridge in Victoria and Parkes in New South Wales by the end of 2027.
This means the new Inland Rail stages in New South Wales north of Parkes and from the Queensland border to Gowrie and Ebenezer will not proceed.
You can read the Government’s media statement here: Record investment in the freight rail network and consolidating Inland Rail | Ministers for the Department of Infrastructure
There is no doubt this is a really disappointing outcome that means less investment in rail infrastructure in Queensland, and something that is likely to adversely impact our regions in particular. With or without Inland Rail, we must collectively work towards moving more freight off roads and onto rail, and we urge all Governments to help play their part in that. PBPL has advocated for action on this issue for a long time, in partnership with our customers, stakeholders, and the regional communities we serve, and we will continue to do so.
We do note that the Federal Government has announced the establishment of a new $55 million program to incentivise more freight to move via trains and cargo ships. Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) will also receive further investment to improve the productivity, resilience and reliability of Australia’s freight rail network.
We look forward to understanding the details of this new program following the release of the Federal Budget next week.
PBPL thanks its customers and partners for their ongoing support on this important issue and the ongoing growth and development of the Port of Brisbane.