Progress on Australia’s Inland Rail project has been reported.

The ambitious Inland Rail project, connecting Melbourne and Brisbane through a 1600-kilometre rail network, has reached a pivotal 20 per cent completion milestone.

Despite this progress, the $31 billion project continues to encounter uncertainties about its final cost and completion date.

The government-owned Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), under which Inland Rail operates, still faces delays in approval processes and land acquisitions in New South Wales and environmental approvals in Queensland. 

These approvals could take years, insiders say.

“Our approvals in NSW are progressing well, we have already received state and federal approvals for the Narromine to Narrabri section,” Nick Miller, chief executive of Inland Rail, has told reporters.  

However, the pace of progress has caused frustration among some private sector executives, with concerns over Australia's rail innovation and infrastructure. 

“Australia has historically been in the slow lane when it comes to rail, with network policies and regulation putting the handbrake on innovation,” according to Paul Scurrah, chief executive of Pacific National. He has called for significant investment in rail infrastructure to match road expansion efforts.