The long-awaited rail line for Tamworth's intermodal freight hub is finally completed, setting stage for city's Global Gateway Park

Some six years after committing to the upgrade, as a 2015 election promise, Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson finally opened the track on Thursday.

"This is a significant day in terms of transport logistics for Tamworth and the New England North West," he said.

"Very soon we will once again have freight rail as part of a very important transport mix - road, rail and air."

The $35 million, five kilometre line will serve Tamworth Regional Council's freight intermodal project and the new Global Gateway Park industrial estate.

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The enormous new industrial suburb will be established directly across the road from a new intermodal freight terminal.

Because the rail line has a direct connection to Sydney's Port Botany export terminal, it will grant easy and cheap bulk access to the global market for local business. It will also boast cheap power, water, planning and links to the Tamworth airport.

The foundations of the track flooded during recent heavy rain.

John Holland construction manager Heath Campbell poured cold water on concerns that the rail line would be vulnerable to flooding.

The rail line runs on a flood plain - but would only flood in a one-in-ten year event, he said.

"You're talking a one-in-ten year event, that's not a massive impact on your proposed reliability, or your service that you can offer," he said.

Mr Campbell said they weren't able to upgrade the hydrology in the area for fear of flooding others, but they will "rock armour" the side of the rail ballast.

The upgrade would "future proof" the track to prevent ballast moving during future rain events, he said.

"That shouldn't occur so easily again," he said.

The line is not yet open for business, and won't see traffic until the intermodal freight terminal itself is complete.

Work is due to begin on the terminal in January 2022.

It also isn't clear what freight will be carried on the line.

Mr Anderson said the line would carry a mix of general freight, and flagged that there were talks with the agriculture sector about bulk freight options.

Work on the track, which started in January 2021, took longer than anticipated, Mr Anderson said.

Gas lines, power lines and water tables had to be improved, plus the upgrade of three level crossings at Evans Street, Dampier Street and Gunnedah Road, he said.

He said work crews were forced to build essentially "almost brand-new line".

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"It was a significant job to reconstitute this," he said.

"In other words, what it meant was - redo the whole lot. "

Originally the Barrabra branch line, the Wallamore Road track was closed in the 1980s.

The intermodal rail hub is on track for delivery in 2022, according to Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole.

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