The Inland Rail will link Melbourne and Acacia Ridge (Brisbane) with an alignment of 1,731 kilometres, including 599 kilometres of new track and 426 kilometres of upgraded track.

The Australian Government is committing $300 million to pre-construction works. Opportunities are being explored for private sector funding and financing of the project.

The Inland Rail will reduce terminal-to-terminal freight transit time between Melbourne and Brisbane by seven hours to 20.5 hours — more than 25 per cent — and improve reliability and availability compared to the current coastal line via Sydney.

The Inland Rail will also improve freight productivity for coal and grains from southern Queensland and northern NSW and facilitate freight movements from regional communities.