The Australian Rail Track Corporation has engaged a GHD and Jacobs joint venture for a feasibility study and environmental impact assessment for the Narromine to Narrabri (N2N) section of Inland Rail, the project’s longest section.
The N2N section of Inland Rail involves building 300 kilometres of new track.
Inland Rail boss Richard Wankmuller said feasibility and environmental work will help to define a preferred alignment within the approved study area.
“This important feasibility design work will give us critical information in terms of engineering, environmental, traffic flows, socio-economic impacts and benefits and other areas of interest,” Wankmuller said.
“It will lay the groundwork for the detailed design for this section and help identify how we can adjust to address community concerns.”
GHD general manager for Australia Phil Duthie said the firm has worked with the ARTC since 2014 on several other sections of Inland Rail in Queensland and New South Wales.
“We are proud to continue our work with ARTC on this once-in-a-generation project, which will transform Australia’s freight network and create new economic opportunities for regional communities,” Duthie said.
“Being selected for this project reflects the depth of engineering and environmental capabilities of both organisations and our track record of working together.”