<p>The Australian Inland Rail Expressway project will get the green light under the Australasian Rail Track Corporation’s (ARTC) agreement to invest funds in the New South Wales rail network, today’s (Tuesday, December 9) <em>Age</em> reported.</p> <p>The inland project, which plans to link Melbourne to Gladstone, can now go ahead according to its developer, Australian Transport Energy Corridor (ATEC), the paper said.</p> <p>ATEC’s chairman Everald Compton told the <em>Age</em> the project is now " a reality after seven years" as it has ARTC as a joint venture partner. </p> <p>ARTC now has a 60-year lease on NSW interstate tracks.</p> <p>The group aims to acquire corridors in Queensland next year and start track work in 2005.</p> <p>"We hope to get to Gladstone by 2008," Mr Compton said.</p> <br />
