The Inland Rail’s Narromine to Narrabri (N2N) corridor could be inching closer, after federal sign off on the project this week, completing ‘a full suite of approvals’.

The Australian Government Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water recently approved the project, a key endorsement for the next stage of the N2N project: design. 

As Inland Rail’s longest section at over 300 kilometres, finalising the N2N section is said to bring more certainty about the entire track’s budget and timeline. 

“Now that we have a full suite of approval conditions, the survey and investigation activities are critical inputs to the next stage of design and securing the land needed for the N2N project corridor,” Inland Rail Director Pre-Contracts Rob Storey said.

After a scathing review of ARTC’s progress on budget and timeline last year, this approval marks the next significant step forward for the N2N section.

Since Dr Kerry Schott’s review was delivered early last year, the Australian Government has supported 19 recommendations to get the over-budget and delayed project back on track, including establishing a subsidiary board of ARTC to oversee the project, and release an update Statement of Expectations.

With a focus on completing the Parkes to Beveridge, Victoria section - as a means to start creating a working track and some revenue - construction remains a long way off for the N2N section. 

According to the Department of Infrastructure, with approvals complete, there will be a focus on ‘acquisition of land needed for the project corridor’, a controversial topic that has caused frustration, fear and anger from landholders. 

“Inland Rail acknowledges the important input from the community, local landowners and businesses during the approvals process and remains committed to working with stakeholders,” Mr Storey said. 

The latest reported cost estimate for the project is $31 billion, almost double the original $16.1 billion, while the 2027 delivery is still expected to be pushed back into the 2030s. 

More to come.