NEW figures from Inland Rail show total spending with “local companies” on the project topped $660 million at the end of December.
Some $130 million was spent during 2025, with management hailing “a major boost to regional economies and communities” on the railway alignment.
According to management, Inland Rail has now worked with 1,202 local companies since construction on the project began in 2019, including nearly 60 First Nations businesses, with $60 million spent to date with First Nations businesses.
Inland Rail construction is now underway in the Beveridge to Parkes section in Victoria, and in the Albury to Illabo and Illabo to Stockinbingal sections in New South Wales, with the Parkes to Narromine, Narrabri to North Star (Phase 1) and Stockinbingal to Parkes sections completed.
At end-December, Inland Rail had spent $406 million with 543 local businesses in NSW.
Meanwhile, in the Beveridge to Albury tranche 2 section in Victoria, $93 million has been spent with 313 local suppliers, including $9.5 million being spent with First Nations suppliers.
An Inland Rail spokesperson said they were “proud to have passed the $660 million milestone supporting local businesses as we deliver Inland Rail across Victoria and New South Wales, construction is bringing benefits to regional communities, with local content key to the program’s success”.
“Inland Rail has worked extremely hard to engage with local businesses and help to bring them on board as suppliers, and these latest figures demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach,” spokesperson said.
“A major focus of Inland Rail has been to build skills in communities along the alignment, so local communities can participate and benefit from in this once-in-a-generation project and others in the future.”