One thing that I have discovered that is not being made with big fanfare is the fact that the Newell Hwy has been receiving funds to upgrade it in direct competition to Inland Rail. They are currently building a bypass around Parkes and Coonabarabran. They finished the Moree bypass a couple of years ago, and are looking at Narrabri and Wyalong/West Wyalong, then Dubbo.

Inland Rail just got another $5.5b from McCormick. https://t.co/1wnd4Gz16U?amp=1

He is certainly and thankfully handing out the dollars for rail today.

I suspect this is just the budget allocation being formalised.  Its an announcement of decisions made years ago.

Being touted as enhancements over presumably the initial scope.

One thing that I have discovered that is not being made with big fanfare is the fact that the Newell Hwy has been receiving funds to upgrade it in direct competition to Inland Rail. They are currently building a bypass around Parkes and Coonabarabran. They finished the Moree bypass a couple of years ago, and are looking at Narrabri and Wyalong/West Wyalong, then Dubbo.

One thing that I have discovered that is not being made with big fanfare is the fact that the Newell Hwy has been receiving funds to upgrade it in direct competition to Inland Rail. They are currently building a bypass around Parkes and Coonabarabran. They finished the Moree bypass a couple of years ago, and are looking at Narrabri and Wyalong/West Wyalong, then Dubbo.

I seem to recall John Howard justifying Inland Rail (long before it had such a name) as he could see that without it the Goulburn Valley, Newell & Gore/Cunningham Hwys would have to be rebuilt in similar manner as the Hume and Pacific Hwys. The shame of it is that the rail project is taking so long that at least some hwy upgrades are necessary in the meantime.

This has just arrived into the RP news inbox

https://Railpage.com.au/news/s/-father-of-inland-rail-everald-compton-calls-for-australian-rail-track-corporation-to-be-sacked

Could be over before it begins if you consider this: https://t.co/iRdkqNxbes?amp=1

I am glad that the government has seen fit to expedite the building of Inland Rail. So, much so that it will take ARTC two and a half years to build 52km of track between Milguy and North Star.

https://extranet.artc.com.au/docman/DocManFiles/DocTypes/TAA/Files/0017-2021.PDF?806561025

I am glad that the government has seen fit to expedite the building of Inland Rail. So, much so that it will take ARTC two and a half years to build 52km of track between Milguy and North Star.

https://extranet.artc.com.au/docman/DocManFiles/DocTypes/TAA/Files/0017-2021.PDF?806561025

It's taken almost that long for a couple of kms of track at Ettamogah so that seems pretty quick in comparison.