Hot on the heels of Inland Rail opening the Narrabri to North Star (N2NS) section in NSW earlier this month, and with the remaining Phase 1 works on N2NS due for completion early next year, Mrs Pickering said momentum is now building on delivering the project.
In addition to the New South Wales milestones being delivered, early works have begun on worksites at Glenrowan and Wangaratta in Victoria where major construction works are expected early in 2023.
Rebecca Pickering, Inland Rail Interim Chief Executive, said:
"Inland Rail is being built to create a new freight future for Australia and construction is gaining momentum, and we are really looking forward to continuing that momentum in 2023.
"The work we are doing is not only connecting Australia's freight network but is also a real catalyst for communities and businesses to unlock benefits and opportunities.
"Those benefits are clear from the first phase of construction between Narromine and North Star, which has supported work for nearly 2,000 people since November 2020, including more than 600 locals-nearly 170 of whom are First Nations workers.
"Furthermore, nearly 140 local businesses have shared in nearly $200 million of contracts supporting and servicing the build - helping to spread the benefits of Inland Rail across the local economy.
"We are also very proud that our Inland Rail Skills Academy has already delivered training to more than 2,000 people along the alignment, helping to develop the skills needed to build a better future for our communities.
"Inland Rail is committed to working in partnership with our stakeholders and communities to deliver long-term value."
