It was reported in media this week that funding for six Inland Rail projects between Narromine and Narrabri has been pulled or deferred in the recent state budget. This includes the grade separation program and could affect bridges and crossings between roads and rail lines.
Grade separation is basically where the rail line goes over or under a major road or highway. One was scheduled to be put in place between Coonamble and Gilgandra. Concerns are that no grade separation means vehicles will need to wait at crossings for trains to pass – a critical time issue for emergency services and an inconvenience for freight deliveries and those traveling to access passenger air services…