Inland Rail - Tottenham to Albury - Phase 1 - Tranche 1

Project at a glance
About Inland Rail
Inland Rail is a fast freight backbone stretching more than 1,700km that will transform how we move goods around Australia by providing transit times of less than 24 hours between Melbourne and Brisbane.
It will better link regional businesses, manufacturers and producers to national and global markets and generate new opportunities for existing and emerging industries.
Comprising 13 individual projects, Inland Rail is the largest freight rail infrastructure project in Australia and will enable safer, less congested highways, fewer carbon emissions, cheaper freight costs and new economic opportunities for our regions.
Inland Rail is a shot in the arm for Australia's economy, generating $18b in economic benefits and over 21,000 direct and indirect jobs.
The Australian Government selected the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) to deliver Inland Rail, in partnership with the private sector.
Tottenham to Albury
In late 2022, the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) appointed McConnell Dowell as the construction contractor for the Beveridge to Albury Tranche 1 works.
The Tottenham to Albury (T2A) project ("the Project") is a brownfield enhancement project that will upgrade 305km of existing rail corridor within the Inland Rail Program ("the Program"). Located in Victoria, the project spans from the north of Melbourne to the NSW border at Albury-Wodonga and will enhance upgrade works already completed on the North East Rail Line.
Due to its scale and complexity, this project is broken into two phases. Phase 1 (northern section) covers Beveridge to Albury (B2A) and phase 2 (southern section) covers south of Beveridge. The B2A scope is being delivered first in two tranches.
Phase 2 is on hold while we work closely with the Victorian and Australian Governments on the location and development of intermodal terminals in Victoria.
Phase One: Beveridge to Albury
The first phase of the project is the enhancement of 12 sites along the North East Rail Line from Beveridge to Albury.
Travelling from north to south, the existing rail corridor runs largely parallel to the Hume Highway from the Murray River at Wodonga to the outskirts of Melbourne. It then shares the Regional Victorian broad-gauge rail corridor (V/Line) from Seymour to Beveridge.
Project scope for Victoria is driven by the requirements to meet horizontal and vertical clearances for the safe operation of double-stacked trains.
Tranche 1
Of the 12 sites which comprise Phase 1 (B2A), there are four sites and corridor wide works which will be delivered as part of Tranche 1:
- Murray Valley Highway, Barnawartha
- Beaconsfield Parade bridge, Glenrowan
- Seymour-Avenel Road bridge, Seymour
- Wangaratta Station Precinct
- Track slew, signal gantry and powerline modifications at multiple locations.
Description of works involved
To achieve the clearance required, the proposed design solutions include:
- lowering rail track under road bridges
- removal of existing bridges and replacement with taller bridges
- removal of footbridges
- construction of a pedestrian underpass
- track slews (process undertaken to move a track horizontally)
- relocation or raising of signal gantries, and
- modification or relocations of overhead power poles
Delivery timeframes
- Expression of Interest (EOI) for dual (2) Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) Phase - 9 June 2020 (complete)
- EOI close - 7 July 2020 (complete)
- ECI Contractors (2) selected - August 2020 (complete)
- ECI Phase commences - September 2020 (complete)
- Early Delivery Activities - October 2021 - Ongoing
- D&C contract award - Q4, 2022 (complete)
- Site mobilisation - Q4, 2022
For more information on the Tottenham to Albury project, click here.
Engaging local and First Nations suppliers
ARTC is committed to creating sustainable economic development and employment opportunities for local and First Nations businesses and individuals by maximising their opportunities to participate in Inland Rail.
ARTC and its contractors will provide full, fair and reasonable opportunity for capable and competitive local and First Nations suppliers and social enterprises to compete for work or participate in supply chains associated with Inland Rail.
Industry briefing opportunities - Inland Rail (Victoria)
Prospective suppliers, subcontractors and equipment providers were invited to attend two supplier information sessions for the Inland Rail Beveridge to Albury Tranche 1 works, held in Wangaratta and Seymour during August and September 2022. McConnell Dowell is committed to creating sustainable economic development and employment opportunities for local and First Nations businesses and individuals by maximising their opportunities to participate in Inland Rail.
A copy of the briefing presentation can be downloaded here.
Compliance with the Code for the Tendering and Performance of Building Work 2016
The Code for the Tendering and Performance of Building Work 2016 (the Code) applies to the building work associated with this project. By submitting an expression of interest in, or tender for, this project, you will become subject to the Code.
Registration of Interest (ROI) opportunities
Businesses interested in supplying to Beveridge to Albury Tranche 1 works as subcontractors, suppliers or equipment providers are encouraged to register their interest against the applicable Work Package/s.
Registrants should note:
- A complete, up-to-date and accurate ICN Gateway company profile is required in order to register interest. Click here to create a company profile on ICN Gateway.
- Incomplete registrations may not be considered. Information on how to create a company profile or submit a registration of interest on ICN Gateway is provided below (refer to User Guides available in the 'Project Documents' section).
- All ROIs are provided to ARTC for their information and may also be included in a project-specific supply market analysis being prepared by the Industry Capability Network (ICN) Victoria.
- Inland Rail, ICN and the Principal Contractor for Beveridge to Albury Tranche 1 works have no contractual or other legal obligation to suppliers arising out of the ROI process with respect to the consideration, evaluation, acceptance or rejection of any registration of interest, or the failure to consider, evaluate or accept any registration of interest.
- Services, programs and initiatives provided by ICN are designed to complement a company's existing sales, marketing and business development strategy and any ROI submitted should not be considered an alternative to these activities.
It is important that businesses registering their interest are aware that their registration does not guarantee that they will progress further in any procurement processes. ARTC and the Principal Contractor for Beveridge to Albury Tranche 1 works have broad discretion to suspend, vary or terminate the procurement process, decline to consider or review any ROI or negotiate with and enter into a contract with any other party for the performance of a Works Package.
ICN Gateway company profile
Your ICN Gateway company profile and any registrations of interest you submit are used to assess your organisation's ability to complete projects.
Click here to create a new company profile or to login to your existing company profile.
Please ensure your business invests the time and energy required to represent itself in the most effective manner possible when completing and/or updating your company profile.
Further assistance
Support and assistance are available through the organisations listed below.
ARTC
To learn more about becoming an Inland Rail supplier. You can access information on ARTC's supply principles and commitments, and supplier capability development initiatives, including workshops to assist businesses to develop business capability statements and respond to tenders.
Please visit https://inlandrail.artc.com.au/opportunities/suppliers/information-for-suppliers/
McConnell Dowell
If you would like any further information or to discuss upcoming opportunities with McConnell Dowell please contact the Procurement Manager Leo Tsen on leo.tsen@mcdgroup.com or 0427 648 503
Click here to access the McConnell Dowell Inland Rail project website
Industry Capability Network (ICN) Victoria
ARTC strongly encourages suppliers to contact ICN in the first instance to gain an understanding of the ROI process and development programs, such as their ICN Gateway Profile Improvement workshops.
Click here to access the ARTC & ICN Profile Improvement Session One recording.
Click here to access the ARTC & ICN Profile Improvement Session Two recording.
Click here to access the ICN Victoria website.
The Narrabri to North Star (N2NS) section comprises an upgrade to approximately 186km of track within the existing rail corridor and construction of approximately 2.3km of new rail corridor. The works are required to accommodate the operation of 1,800m-long double-stacked freight trains and will involve the modification of various structures
Inland Rail is transforming how everyday goods are moved around our vast country. It will complete the backbone of the national freight network by providing transit times of less than 24 hours for freight trains between Melbourne and Brisbane via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
The Gowrie to Kagaru section of Inland Rail in Queensland will be designed, built, managed and financed through a Public Private Partnership (PPP).
The Gowrie to Kagaru section is divided into three separate projects:
- Gowrie to Helidon
- Helidon to Calvert
- Calvert to Kagaru
The Rail Corridor Program involves the delivery of above-ground works, which includes track construction, rail welding, transportation of materials, and the installation and commissioning of level crossings on approximately 570 kilometres of railway between Narromine and Moree in New South Wales and North Start (New South Wales) to Gowrie in Queensland taking in the project's largest greenfield sections.
The Central Civil Works Program will focus on an 85km (approximately) section between North Star in New South Wales and Whetstone in Queensland as well as a separate 14km package south of Moree called Narrabri to North Star Phase 2.
The Works are allowing for future connections to Goondiwindi and the broader region. It follows the existing track north from North Star before crossing Bruxner Way and the border to join the existing Queensland Rail line.
The Northern Civil Works Program comprises approximately 138km of new dual gauge track and approximately 69km of upgraded track and crosses the local government areas of Goondiwindi and Toowoomba.
The Northern Civil Works section of Inland Rail will connect one of Australia's most productive farming regions to markets across the country.
Once complete, Inland Rail will help producers be more competitive, connecting them to markets in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth more efficiently, more reliably and in larger volumes.
The Albury to Parkes section involves extensive enhancements to specific sites across the 355 kilometres of existing track running from Albury to Illabo and Stockinbingal to Parkes.
The enhancements would provide the necessary vertical and horizontal clearance along the existing 'Main South Line' corridor to support the safe running of double-stacked freight trains up to 1,800 metres long and 6.5 metres high.
The Albury to Parkes section is divided into two separate projects Albury to Illabo & Stockinbingal to Parkes.
The Southern Civil Works Program involves construction of 306km of new single track rail line from Narromine to Narrabri. It is the longest project within Inland Rail.
This 306km of new track is a crucial part of delivering our fast and reliable freight rail service between Melbourne and Brisbane.
The Albury to Parkes section of Inland Rail includes trackwork, passing loops, bridgework, new structures and signaling comprising:
Albury to Illabo (A2I) - 185km enhancement project to support double-stacked freight trains across 20 sites in a brownfield rail environment, and
Stockinbingal to Parkes (S2P) - a further 173km of enhancement project across 10 sites in a brownfield rail environment.
Martinus Rail bid for Albury to Parkes Inland Rail Enhancement Works
The Albury to Parkes section of Inland Rail includes trackwork, passing loops, bridgework, new structures and signalling comprising:
Albury to Illabo (A2I) - 185km enhancement project to support double-stacked freight trains across 20 sites in a brownfield rail environment, and
Stockinbingal to Parkes (S2P) - a further 173km of enhancement project across 10 sites in a brownfield rail environment.
Albury to Parkes Enhancement Projects
The Albury to Parkes section involves extensive enhancements to specific sites across the 355km of existing track running from Albury to Illabo and Stockinbingal to Parkes.
The enhancements will provide the necessary vertical and horizontal clearance along the existing 'Main South Line' corridor to support the safe running of double-stacked freight trains up to 1,800m long and 6.5m high
The Illabo to Stockinbingal (I2S) section of Inland Rail involves construction of approximately 39km of new single track between Illabo and Stockinbingal. The route will bypass the townships of Cootamundra and Bethungra and the winding, steep section of track known as the Bethungra Spiral on the Main South line; opening up a more efficient way to transport freight through the area. It also includes upgrading approximately 3km of existing track along this section.
The Illabo to Stockinbingal (I2S) section of Inland Rail involves construction of approximately 39km of new single track between Illabo and Stockinbingal. The route will bypass the townships of Cootamundra and Bethungra and the winding, steep section of track known as the Bethungra Spiral on the Main South line; opening up a more efficient way to transport freight through the area. It also includes upgrading approximately 3km of existing track along this section
In early-2023, ARTC appointed John Holland as one of three elected contractors to bid for the Illabo to Stockinbingal project. John Holland is currently preparing its competitive bid for this project.