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
The Fixing Country Rail program is about:
- 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.
Regional NSW produced an estimated 255 million tonnes of freight in 2016, and this is expected to increase by 12 per cent to 286 million tonnes by 2036.
Economic growth in rural areas is critical to NSW to ensure the food, produce and raw materials that feed and power the state are able to move to market efficiently.
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 allow trains to overtake and pass each other on the line.
- upgrading the network so trains can carry larger loads.
Fixing Country Rail aligns with and complements Fixing Country Roads by improving regional freight connectivity and reducing the cost to market for regional businesses.
Program Framework and funding
Fixing Country Rail is a strategic rail program, funded by Restart NSW – the NSW Government’s dedicated infrastructure fund.
Decisions on projects informed by the ‘Regional Rail Corridor Strategy and other key rail network strategies developed by Transport for NSW.
The Fixing Country Rail Program Framework (PDF, 8.04 MB) provides more detailed information about the program and its priorities.
Although no longer a submission based program, Transport for NSW can identify new projects for consideration during regular consultation with industry stakeholders.
Stakeholders can also email freight@transport.nsw.gov.au with ideas for consideration against the framework strategies.
Previous funding rounds
2020 Round
In February 2021, the NSW Government made over $17 million available for 18 new projects under the 2020 round of Fixing Country Rail.
2019 Round
The NSW Government made around $815,000 available to carry out 13 business cases under the 2019 round of Fixing Country Rail. View the list of projects.
| Rail section | Project name | Funding amount |
| Orange – Parkes | Bumberry - Crossing Loop | Business case funding |
| Junee – Griffith | Junee North Fork to Main South Line – Line Reinstatement | Business case funding |
| Junee – Griffith | Junee to Griffith – Intermediate Loops (approx. 2 loops) | Business case funding |
| Orange – Dubbo | Kerrs Creek – Crossing Loop | Business case funding |
| Narrabri – Walgett | Narrabri to Walgett – 25 TAL | Business case funding |
| Narromine – Cobar | Narromine – Inland Rail Connectivity | Business case funding |
| Narromine – Cobar | Narromine to Nyngan – Line Upgrades 25 TAL | Business case funding |
| Narromine – Cobar | Nyngan to Cobar – 25 TAL | Business case funding |
| Orange – Parkes | Pinecliffe – Crossing Loop | Business case funding |
| Bowenfels – Orange | Polona – Crossing Loop | Business case funding |
| Stockinbingal – Griffith | Stockingbingal to Griffith | Business case funding |
| Junee – Griffith | Wumbugal – Siding | Business case funding |
| Total $815,000 |
2018 Round
$58 million was made available for six projects in the tranche 1A round of Fixing Country Rail in 2018. A further $14.4 million was made available for one project in tranche 1B. View the list of projects.
| Local Government Area(s) | Project name | Funding amount |
| Temora | Temora West Siding | $2,150,000 |
| Bathurst, Orange, Cabonne | Main West Bi-Directional Signalling Upgrade (Wallerawang section) | $12,907,000 |
| Coonamble | Coonamble South Siding | $2,537,832 |
| Temora Shire and Bland Shire | Temora to Calleen Upgrade to 25 Tonne Axle Load | $28,698,603 |
| Mid-Western Regional | Kandos to Gulgong Line Reinstatement Feasibility Study | $500,000 |
| Mid-Western Regional | Maryvale to Gulgong Corridor Opening -Feasibility Study | $1,000,000 |
Round 1
Over $138 million was made available for 13 new projects under the first round of Fixing Country Rail. View the list of projects.
| Local Government | Area(s) Project Name Recommended | Amount |
| Albury City Council | Ettamogah Rail Hub Siding Expansion | $7,582,292 |
| Murrumbidgee Council | Junee to Griffith Line Upgrade | $60,432,444 |
| Forbes Shire Council | Red Bend Rail Siding | $970,000 |
| Lachlan Shire Council | Condobolin Rail Siding | $1,210,000 |
| Narromine Shire Council | Narromine - Ulan Upgrade projects | $4,217,459 |
| Newcastle City Council | Port Waratah Yard Configuration | $3,326,720 |
| Bogan Shire Council | Hermidale Multi User Siding | $2,517,323 |
| Narrabri Shire Council | Bellata Rail Siding | $1,820,000 |
| Goulburn Mulwaree Council | Tarago Passing Loop Extension | $7,708,306 |
| Shoalhaven City Council | Berry to Bomaderry Rail Line and the OMEGA Tunnels Track Upgrade | $39,993,000 |
| Wingecarribee Shire Council | Mount Murray Loop Extension | $7,500,000 |
| Junee Shire Council | Junee North Triangle Planning | $600,000 |
| Narrandera Shire Council and Berrigan Shire Council | Narrandera-Tocumwal railway line reactivation study | $500,000 |
Pilot round
In May 2017, the NSW Government announced over $14 million for 10 new projects in the pilot round of Fixing Country Rail. View the list of projects.
| Local Government Area(s) | Project name | Recommended amount |
| Moree Plains Shire Council | Reinstatement of a 3km section of Moree to Inverell railway line | Up to $2 million |
| Walgett Shire Council | Rail siding extension at Burren Junction | Up to $1.5 million |
| Carrathool Shire Council | Rail siding extension at Hillston | Up to $3 million |
| Hilltops Council | Reinstatement of the almost 35km Maimuru to Demondrille railway line (part of non-operational Cowra Lines) | Up to $5 million |
| Narrandera Shire Council | Rail siding extension at Barellan | Up to $1.5 million |
| Unincorporated ACT | Rail siding upgrade at the Canberra Railway Freight Terminal (Fyshwick) | Up to $1 million |
| Shellharbour City Council/Shoalhaven City Council | Installation of a now turnout at The Rock Canberra 4 the centre of Dunmore Loop at Shellharbour | Share of $1 million |
| Wollongong City Council | Installation of a new turnout at Rail siding upgrade at Unanderra | Share of $1 million |
| Goulburn Mulwaree Council | Now crossing loop near Tarago | Share of $1 million |
| Tamworth Regional Council | Reinstatement of the non-operational line from West Tamworth to Westdale | Share of $1 million |
Have a question?
Email freight@transport.nsw.gov.au or contact us