Rail project gains steam

The Inland Rail project has taken a huge leap forward with the presentation of the Inland Rail delivery plan.
The report identifies a construction cost of approximately $10 billion for the project that would enable freight trains to travel from Brisbane to Melbourne.
Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss even claimed the economy could be boosted by up to $22.5 billion.
The plan recommends construction of the rail to commence and finish in the next 10 years with the project propped up by injections from the next federal budget.
It is hoped the 1700 kilometre track would revitalise country towns and boost the national economy.
It has been said that the construction of the project could create up to 16,000 jobs with at least 600 remaining upon completion.
Inglewood would be connected to the north by Millmerran and south to Yelarbon under the current proposal.
Former Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson wrote the report and warned that if not completed, eastern Australia would become over-reliant on multi-carriage trucks.
It is predicted that one 3.6 kilometre train could carry the equivalent of 110 B-double trucks and reduce the stress on roads.
The business case will now be referred to Infrastructure Australia.