Fixing Country Rail
Project overview
Fixing Country Rail is a $400 million NSW Government program providing targeted infrastructure funding from Restart NSW for regional freight projects.
The program improves capacity, access, efficiency and reliability by upgrading parts of the regional rail network.
About the program
Background
Fixing Country Rail is:
- moving freight more efficiently around NSW
- increasing the capacity, access and reliability of the rail network
- reducing the cost of getting goods to market
- supporting jobs, growth and the economic productivity and
- supporting a freight modal shift from road to rail.
The efficient movement of food, produce and raw materials that feed and power the state contributes to economic growth in rural areas.
Benefits
Projects funded under Fixing Country Rail include:
- building sidings which are stretches of railroad track that allow freight trains to load and unload goods, while enabling trains on the same line to pass.
- building and upgrading passing loops that allow the use of high productivity trains and enable trains to overtake and pass each other on the line.
- upgrading the network so that trains can carry larger loads.
Fixing Country Rail aligns with and complements Fixing Country Roads by improving regional freight connectivity and reducing the costs of getting goods to market.
Program framework and funding
Fixing Country Rail is no longer a submission-based funding program. It is a strategic rail program, informed by the NSW Freight and Ports Plan 2018-2023, Future Transport and other key rail network strategies developed by Transport for NSW.
Transport for NSW identifies suitable projects for consideration during consultation with industry stakeholders.
Funding Rounds
Project lists last updated July 2023.
Please note, although this information is updated regularly, project conditions can change rapidly, and so some details may not reflect more recent project developments. For the most up-to-date information, please contact freight.projects@transport.nsw.gov.au.
2022 Round
In February 2023, the NSW Government made funding available for two projects under the 2022 Round of Fixing Country Rail.
| Project name | Phase | Funding amount |
| Gilgandra to Coonamble 25 TAL upgrade | Delivery | $24,064,110 |
| Wumbulgal Siding | Delivery | $19,042,711 |
2020 Round
In February 2021, the NSW Government made funding available for 18 projects under the 2020 Round of Fixing Country Rail.
| Project name | Phase | Funding amount |
| Coolamon – Siding Extension | Delivery | $11,660,813 |
| Gilgandra to Coonamble – 25 TAL | Design and Planning | $720,000 |
| Narrabri to Walgett – 25 TAL | Design and Planning | $910,000 |
| Narromine to Nyngan Line Upgrade – 25 TAL | Design and Planning | $750,000 |
| Nyngan to Cobar – 25 TAL | Design and Planning | $870,000 |
| Stockinbingal to Griffith – 25 TAL | Design and Planning | $920,000 |
| Wumbulgal Siding Project | Design and Planning | $720,000 |
| Bogan Gate to Tottenham – 25 TAL | Business Case | Business case funding |
| Bogan Gate to Tottenham New 1,300m Loop | Business Case | Business case funding |
| Calleen to Lake Cargelligo and Naradhan 25 TAL | Business Case | Business case funding |
| Griffith to Hillston – 25 TAL | Business Case | Business case funding |
| Griffith to Hillston – Intermediate Loops | Business Case | Business case funding |
| Narrabri to Walgett – Intermediate Loops | Business Case | Business case funding |
| Narromine to Cobar – Intermediate Loops | Business Case | Business case funding |
| Stockinbingal to Griffith – Intermediate Loops | Business Case | Business case funding |
| Temora to Lake Cargelligo – Intermediate Loops | Business Case | Business case funding |
| Tharbogang - Crossing Loop & Upgrade to 25 TAL | Business Case | Business case funding |
| Troy Junction to Coonamble – Intermediate Loops | Business Case | Business case funding |
| Total: $17,510,813 |
2019 Round
The NSW Government made funding available to carry out 13 business cases under the 2019 Round of Fixing Country Rail.
| Project name | Phase | Funding amount |
| Bumberry - Crossing Loop | Business Case | Business case funding |
| Junee North Fork to Main South Line – Line Reinstatement | Business Case | Business case funding |
| Junee to Griffith – Intermediate Loops | Business Case | Business case funding |
| Kerrs Creek – Crossing Loop | Business Case | Business case funding |
| Maryvale Crossing Loop | Business Case | Business case funding |
| Narrabri to Walgett - 25 TAL | Business Case | Business case funding |
| Narromine – Inland Rail Connectivity | Business Case | Business case funding |
| Narromine to Nyngan – Line Upgrades 25 TAL | Business Case | Business case funding |
| Nyngan to Cobar – 25 TAL | Business Case | Business case funding |
| Pinecliffe – Crossing Loop | Business Case | Business case funding |
| Polona – Crossing Loop | Business Case | Business case funding |
| Stockingbingal to Griffith | Business Case | Business case funding |
| Wumbugal – Siding | Business Case | Business case funding |
| Total $815,000 |
2018 Round - Tranche 1B
In June 2019, the NSW Government announced the successful project under Tranche 1B of the 2018 Round of Fixing Country Rail.
| Project name | Phase | Funding amount |
| Riverina Intermodal Freight and Logistics Hub | Delivery | $14,383,241 |
2018 Round - Tranche 1A
In February 2019, the NSW Government announced the successful projects under Tranche 1A of the 2018 Round of Fixing Country Rail.
| Project name | Phase | Funding amount |
| Coonamble South Siding | Delivery | $2,537,832 |
| Kandos to Gulgong Line Reinstatement Feasibility Study | Feasibility Study | $500,000 |
| Main West Bi-Directional Signalling Upgrade (Wallerawang section) | Delivery | $12,951,443 |
| Maryvale to Gulgong Line Reinstatement Feasibility Study | Feasibility Study | $1,000,000 |
| Temora to Calleen Upgrade to 25 Tonne Axle Load | Delivery | $28,698,603 |
| Temora West Rail Siding | Delivery | $2,150,000 |
Round 1
In May 2018, the NSW Government announced the successful projects under Round 1 of Fixing Country Rail.
| Project name | Phase | Funding amount |
| Bellata Rail Siding | Delivery | $1,820,000 |
| Berry to Bomaderry Rail Line and the OMEGA Tunnels Track Upgrade | Delivery | $39,993,000 |
| Condobolin Rail Siding | Delivery | $1,210,000 |
| Ettamogah Rail Hub Siding Expansion | Delivery | $7,582,292 |
| Hermidale Multi User Siding | Delivery | $2,517,323 |
| Junee to Griffith Line Upgrade | Delivery | $60,432,444 |
| Junee North Triangle Planning | Design and Planning | $600,000 |
| Mount Murray Loop Extension | Delivery | $7,500,000 |
| Narrandera-Tocumwal railway line reactivation study | Delivery | $500,000 |
| Narromine - Ulan Upgrade projects | Delivery | $4,217,459 |
| Port Waratah Yard Configuration | Delivery | $3,326,720 |
| Red Bend Rail Siding | Delivery | $970,000 |
| Tarago Passing Loop Extension | Delivery | $7,708,306 |
Pilot Round
Announced in April 2016, Transport for NSW conducted a separate Pilot Round for Fixing Country Rail, to test processes for the roll-out of a full program under Restart NSW. In August 2016, Transport for NSW allocated $15 million to 10 projects under the Pilot Round. The round included three feasibility studies; Executive summaries of these feasibility studies are available in the Project documents section of this page.
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Project documents
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If you are having trouble accessing information in these documents, please contact us.
Feasibility studies
- Gulgong to Maryvale Line Construction Feasibility Study - Executive Summary (PDF, 513.55 KB)
- Kandos to Gulgong Line Reinstatement Feasibility Study - Executive Summary (PDF, 881.57 KB)
- Cowra Lines Feasibility Study Executive Summary (PDF, 1.22 MB)
- Narrandera to Tocumwal Rail Line Reopening Feasibility Study Executive Summary (PDF, 603.82 KB)
- Canberra to Port of Eden Feasibility Study Executive Summary (PDF, 820.01 KB)
Contact us
For further information, please contact:
Email: freight.projects@transport.nsw.gov.au