Commercial freight services have commenced on newly completed sections of the Inland Rail project, providing faster transit options for Melbourne-Brisbane corridors.

Operational Sections

Services now running on:

Parkes to Narromine (106km) - Operational since March
Narrabri to North Star (188km) - Services commenced June
Kagaru to Acacia Ridge (Brisbane connection) - Limited services

Service Benefits

Transit Time Improvements

Melbourne to Brisbane: Target 24 hours (vs 26+ hours coastal)
Reliability: Fewer weather and congestion delays
Capacity: Double-stacked containers on dedicated tracks

Initial Freight Types

Early adoption focused on:

Intermodal containers
Agricultural exports
Manufacturing inputs
Retail distribution

Operator Announcements

Pacific National and Aurizon have both announced expanded services utilising the new infrastructure, with competitive pricing targeting road freight conversion.

Remaining Construction

Full project completion expected:

2026: Additional NSW sections
2027: Queensland sections
2028: Full Melbourne-Brisbane operation

Industry Impact

Freight forwarders are beginning to incorporate Inland Rail options into routing decisions, though full modal shift benefits await complete corridor availability.