Which Way To Go

Transport law, news & explainers

Independent Australian transport journalism and plain-English reference guides built from primary sources.

Cootamundra–Albury rail line to close for 96 hours during Inland Rail works

Rail services between Cootamundra and Albury will be suspended from 11 to 15 September for Inland Rail works, but individual freight-service impacts have not been published.

Track construction machinery working beside freight rail lines between Junee and Illabo

Inland Rail work between Junee and Illabo during the May 2026 track possession. Used as a file image. · Image credit: Image supplied by Inland Rail. File image from the May 2026 Junee–Illabo track possession.

Rail services between Cootamundra and Albury will be suspended for 96 hours from Friday 11 September to Tuesday 15 September while Inland Rail delivers construction work across southern New South Wales.

Inland Rail says the closure of the Australian Rail Track Corporation line is required for work that can only be completed safely while rail services are suspended.

Where the work is happening

Construction is scheduled at Albury, Wagga Wagga, Junee and between Junee and Illabo.

At Wagga Wagga, crews will remove the former Cassidy Footbridge footings, work on drainage and bridge abutments at Edmondson Street bridge, undertake signalling work in the rail yard and continue concrete work at Pearson Street bridge.

In Junee, work will continue at Kemp Street bridge, the Junee Station pedestrian footbridge will be removed and timber transoms will be replaced at the Olympic Highway bridge.

Track, signalling, drainage, earthworks and culvert work is also scheduled between Junee and Illabo, including at Brabins Road level crossing. Albury Yard will undergo drainage and signalling work.

Temporary road detours will operate at Yerong Creek throughout the possession.

Freight-service impacts have not been published

The public announcement confirms that rail services will be suspended but does not identify individual freight services that will be cancelled, diverted or retimed. It also does not say whether any freight will be substituted by road or quantify possible customer delays.

Operators and customers should check service-specific advice from their rail provider. ARTC ordinarily communicates detailed operational changes through its Train Alteration Advice system.

The featured image was supplied by Inland Rail and was taken during an earlier May 2026 track possession between Junee and Illabo. It is used as a file image.

Primary sources