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
The Fixing Country Rail program 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 cost to market for regional businesses.
Program framework and funding
The Fixing Country Rail Program 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 MARCH 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 – Crossing Loop 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 Cargellio – 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.
| 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 |
| Orange - Dubbo | Maryvale 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 - Tranche 1B
In June 2019, the NSW Government announced the successful project under Tranche 1B of the 2018 Round of Fixing Country Rail.
| Local Government Area(s) | Project name | Funding amount |
| City of Wagga Wagga | Riverina Intermodal Freight and Logistics | $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.
| Local Government Area(s) | Project name | Funding amount |
| Coonamble Shire | Coonamble South Siding | $2,537,832 |
| Mid-Western Regional | Kandos to Gulgong Line Reinstatement Feasibility Study | $500,000 |
| Lithgow City | Main West Bi-Directional Signalling Upgrade (Wallerawang section) | $12,951,443 |
| Dubbo Regional, Mid-Western Regional | Maryvale to Gulgong Line Reinstatement Feasibility Study | $1,000,000 |
| Temora Shire and Bland Shire | Temora to Calleen Upgrade to 25 Tonne Axle Load | $28,698,603 |
| Temora Shire | Temora West Rail Siding | $2,150,000 |
Round 1
The NSW Government announced the successful projects under Round 1 of Fixing Country Rail.
| Local Government Area(s) | Project Name | Funding amount |
| Narrabri Shire | Bellata Rail Siding | $1,820,000 |
| City of Shoalhaven | Berry to Bomaderry Rail Line and the OMEGA Tunnels Track Upgrade | $39,993,000 |
| Lachlan Shire | Condobolin Rail Siding | $1,210,000 |
| City of Albury | Ettamogah Rail Hub Siding Expansion | $7,582,292 |
| Bogan Shire | Hermidale Multi User Siding | $2,517,323 |
| Murrumbidgee Council | Junee to Griffith Line Upgrade | $60,432,444 |
| Junee Shire Council | Junee North Triangle Planning | $600,000 |
| Wingecarribee Shire Council | Mount Murray Loop Extension | $7,500,000 |
| Narrandera Shire Council and Berrigan Shire Council | Narrandera-Tocumwal railway line reactivation study | $500,000 |
| Narromine Shire | Narromine - Ulan Upgrade projects | $4,217,459 |
| City of Newcastle | Port Waratah Yard Configuration | $3,326,720 |
| Forbes Shire | Red Bend Rail Siding | $970,000 |
| Goulburn Mulwaree | Tarago Passing Loop Extension | $7,708,306 |
Pilot Round
In August 2016, the NSW Government announced the successful projects for the Pilot Round of Fixing Country Rail.
| Local Government Area(s) | Project name | Recommended amount |
| Moree Plains Shire, Iverell Shire | Reinstatement of a 3km section of Moree to Inverell railway line | Up to $2 million |
| Walgett Shire, Narrabri Shire | Rail siding extension at Burren Junction | Up to $1.5 million |
| Carrathool Shire | Rail siding extension at Hillston | Up to $3 million |
| Hilltops | Reinstatement of the almost 35km Maimuru to Demondrille railway line (part of non-operational Cowra Lines) | Up to $5 million |
| Narrandera Shire | 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 | Installation of a now turnout at The Rock Canberra 4 the centre of Dunmore Loop at Shellharbour | Share of $1 million |
| City of Wollongong | Installation of a new turnout at Rail siding upgrade at Unanderra | Share of $1 million |
| Goulburn Mulwaree Shire, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional | Now crossing loop near Tarago | Share of $1 million |
| Tamworth Regional | Reinstatement of the non-operational line from West Tamworth to Westdale | Share of $1 million |
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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)
Media releases
- More than $27 million to boost freight infrastructure in Western Riverina
- $24 million to boost rail freight in the west
- Riverina Intermodal Freight and Logistics Hub open for business
- $70 million Riverina rail revival
- $40 MILLION RAIL UPGRADE SOUTH COAST LINE COMPLETE
- A toot tootin’ big upgrade for a mini Riverina attraction
- Berry to Bomaderry Rail Upgrade on Track
- New Junee to Griffith Rail Loop at Coolamon Under Way
- Mount Murray Loop Extension Providing Freight Boost
Contact us
For further information about this project, please contact:
Email: freight.projects@transport.nsw.gov.au