Inland Rail has revealed a new 3D fly-through of the Stockinbingal area, showing a level crossing, bridges, culverts, and a grade separation and road realignment.
The Illabo to Stockinbingal section of Inland Rail involves the construction of 39 kilometres of new rail from just east of Illabo to Stockinbingal, New South Wales.
This new alignment will provide a direct route from Illabo to Stockinbingal through to the existing Forbes line. The route will bypass the townships of Cootamundra and Bethungra and the winding, steep section of track known as the Bethungra Spiral on the Main South line – delivering a more efficient freight pathway through the region.
Major construction is scheduled to begin in early 2026, with fencing installation well underway and establishment of site compounds and offices completed.
A temporary workers accommodation facility has been completed in Stockinbingal. The facility will house up to 350 workers during peak construction, featuring ensuite rooms, kitchen and dining areas, and recreational spaces to support crews on site.
In preparation for major construction, 496 rail lengths – equalling nearly 14 kilometres of rail – was recently delivered to Illabo from Whyalla Steelworks, with the remaining lengths to be delivered throughout 2026.
Inland Rail’s construction partner John Holland has also opened a new community information centre in Cootamundra to support ongoing engagement with locals as construction gets underway. Located on Murray Street, the centre is open 8:30am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
Inland Rail Project Director, Illabo to Stockinbingal, Conrad Strachan, said, “From Illabo to Stockinbingal, we’re building new road and rail infrastructure to make double-stacked freight transport more efficient.
“This will deliver safer road and rail interfaces, improve infrastructure reliability and strengthen regional connectivity for the future,” Strachan said.
“Inland Rail continues to deliver lasting economic benefits for regional communities. We’ve already seen outstanding contributions from local businesses, showcasing the strength of regional capability.
“We’ve been working closely with landowners, stakeholders and community members to get a clear understanding of local needs and opportunities ahead of major construction commencing next year.”
