The Australian Rail Track Corporation invites residents to attend a meeting of the Scenic Rim Consultative Committee on Thursday from 6 to 8pm at The Centre in Beaudesert.
The purpose of the information session is to ensure all community views are heard during planning and design of the Calvert to Kagaru Inland Rail project.
Community engagement lead Gail Harris said attendees would be provided with an update of the current stage of feasibility and alignment design (proposed track path and location of passing loops), environmental impact statement and details for the upcoming community consultation period.
She said when finished, the inland rail would stretch nearly 1700 kilometres offering a highly reliable and efficient freight service between Melbourne and Brisbane with movements possible in less than 24 hours.
"It presents a strategic opportunity to increase the capacity of the freight rail system and supply chain," she said.
Ms Harris said the inland rail would also take many of the trucks which regularly completed long haul trips between Melbourne and Brisbane off the roads.
ARTC is delivering the once-in-a-generation Inland Rail project on behalf of the Federal Government.
Promising economic benefits beyond construction, the rail will connect cities and farm to markets safely and efficiently, reducing costs and allowing Australian business to be more competitive and capture commercial opportunities.
There will also be flow-on benefits to local areas in regional Australia, with Parkes for example expected to be a hub once the line is complete with trains connecting west to Perth and Adelaide, and along the east coast between Sydney and Melbourne.
The first sod was turned on the mammoth $9.3 billion project was turned in mid-December at Parkes, with the first train expected to travel the line in 2025.
Ms Harris said following the community consultation period the Calvert to Kagaru portion of the project would go to tender in 2020-21, with construction to be completed by 2025.
Those planning to attend Thursday's information session can register and suggest questions they would like answered.
To register, phone 1800 732 761 or email inlandrailqld@artc.com.au
