Albury to Parkes Inland Rail project

Challenge

The Albury to Parkes Inland Rail project comprises three major sections of new and upgraded rail between the New South Wales and Victorian border. This corridor is a vital link in Australia’s national freight network and is designed to support double stacked container trains and improve interstate freight efficiency.

Since 2018, SLR has supported Inland Rail with operational noise and vibration modelling for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) phases of:

• Albury to Illabo: approximately 185 km of rail enhancements
• Illabo to Stockinbingal: approximately 40 km of new rail

As the program moved into delivery, SLR began working with Martinus Rail in late 2023 on the Albury to Illabo and Stockinbingal to Parkes sections. These works upgrade the existing alignment across Albury to Illabo and Stockinbingal to Parkes (approximately 170 km) to enable double stack freight operations.

The scale and linear nature of the corridor, the proximity to rural communities and sensitive receptors, and the introduction of higher capacity freight movements created significant construction and operational noise and vibration challenges.

Ensuring compliance, minimising community disruption, and supporting efficient delivery required robust planning, real time monitoring tools, and specialist technical advice from design through to construction.

Solution

SLR provided end‑to‑end acoustic and vibration advisory services across the design and construction phases of the Albury to Parkes Enhancements project.

Our scope included:

• Developing a comprehensive Construction Noise and Vibration Management Plan
• Establishing a project‑specific monitoring program
• Providing ongoing construction noise and vibration monitoring and advice
• Reviewing operational noise and vibration for the detailed design of enhancement works
• Assessing road traffic noise for two bridge replacement sites within the Albury to Illabo section
• Supporting delivery of the Property Noise Abatement Program
• Preparing and implementing a post‑completion monitoring and compliance plan
• Delivering specialist acoustic support throughout project delivery

A key innovation was the development of a project‑specific construction noise and vibration impact prediction tool. This customised tool enabled the Martinus Rail team to assess and manage planned construction activities on a day‑to‑day basis, supporting proactive decision making and minimising community impacts.

SLR’s integrated approach ensured continuity from EIS through to delivery, providing consistency in modelling methodologies, impact assessment, and compliance strategy.

Impact

SLR’s long term involvement in The Albury to Illabo section of Inland Rail corridor has supported Inland Rail and Martinus Rail in managing complex acoustic and vibration risks across more than 350 km of rail infrastructure.

Our work has:

• Enabled informed design refinements to manage operational noise and vibration impacts
• Supported construction compliance and proactive community impact management
• Provided practical, real-time tools to assist contractors in day-to-day planning
• Assisted in the implementation of property level mitigation measures where required

Through technical rigour, practical innovation, and sustained project engagement, SLR has helped facilitate the delivery of a nationally significant freight infrastructure upgrade that strengthens Australia’s interstate rail capability while responsibly managing impacts on communities along the corridor.