Construction begins on new Moorebank Interstate Intermodal Terminal

Work has begun on constructing a new interstate rail connection at Moorebank Logistics Park in Sydney southwest.

The new Interstate Intermodal Terminal will be the first of four modern and interconnected terminals, which are set to bolster the country’s supply chain sector and drive freight efficiencies between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

The new interstate terminal, which will be built in the nation’s largest logistics hub, will service new modern 1,800 metre trains, each with the potential to remove over 100 B Double trucks per train trip.

The terminal is an industry-first joint development model between Australian Government-owned National Intermodal Corporation, Qube and LOGOS.

Related: National Intermodal to deliver an integrated rail freight network

Once complete, the Moorebank Logistics Park will comprise 850,000 square meters of modern warehousing and freight management facilities with a dedicated freight rail link to Port Botany and direct access to major highway networks.

The federal government has invested $514 million to date for the delivery of the Moorebank Intermodal Terminal Precinct, which will support over 1,300 jobs during construction and around 6,800 on-site and off-site jobs once the terminal is operating at full capacity.

Urban Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher said this was a major milestone in the delivery of the new interstate freight terminal which once complete, will strengthen supply chain resilience and take thousands of trucks off local roads each day.

“Investing in infrastructure to support Australian supply chains is a priority of the Morrison Government, to help support a growing population, to drive a growing economy, and so we remain internationally competitive,” Minister Fletcher said.

“Connecting the Moorebank precinct in Sydney to key rail freight routes along the east coast, including terminals in Brisbane and Melbourne will support a major increase in freight volumes handled at the precinct, driving modal shift from long distance road to rail-based freight transportation,” he said.

He also highlighted the significance of environmental impacts, citing that rail is three times more carbon efficient than road per tonne of freight transported.

“Once fully operational, the precinct will take up to 3,000 truck movements off Sydney roads each day and reduce up to 110,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year,” he said.

“Our investment in Moorebank is complemented by a $3.6 billion investment in the recent Budget for a Melbourne Intermodal Terminal Package, which will see the delivery of two new intermodal terminals Victoria that will connect to Inland Rail. This is all part of the Commonwealth’s strategy to create an efficient, open access national freight network.”

Related: Inland Rail to slash $213m from freight transport costs

Finance Minister Simon Birmingham said the government was also delivering Inland Rail to create a freight network that would boost our domestic supply chains, contribute to productivity and better connect our exporting industries with their customers around the world.

“These important terminals will provide additional resilience and strengthen our nation’s supply chains to ensure supermarket shelves remain stocked and our exporters can get their product overseas as quickly as possible,” Minister Birmingham said.

“As we continue to implement our long-term economic plan, is it critical that we have the necessary rail and terminal infrastructure in place to support the movement of goods around Australia and overseas in the most efficient and cost-effective ways,” he said.

“It’s why our Government continues to back and invest in the construction of the Inland Rail project and delivery of intermodal terminals which will create a world-class freight network up and down Australia’s east coast.”

CEO of the National Intermodal Corporation, James Baulderstone, said the innovative Joint Development Model will ensure the Interstate Terminal not only delivers long-term value for the Moorebank precinct, but boosts market confidence that freight can move between states efficiently, safely and sustainably.

“When complete, the Interstate Terminal will improve the way freight moves between all the mainland State capitals, and more locally, around the Sydney Basin,” Baulderstone said.

He said that success will be measured by ensuring that increased volumes of products arrive where and when they are needed with improved efficiency and safety.

“Together with Qube and LOGOS, we look forward to leveraging our combined industry experience to deliver a modern and efficient Terminal which is accessible to all freight and warehouse operators, current and future,” he said.

The Interstate Terminal at Moorebank is expected to be completed by March 2025.