The Inland Rail's father is nearly 100. He's refusing to give up on it
Everald Compton, the 94-year-old founder of the Inland Rail project, is determined to see it completed by his 100th birthday. Despite significant delays and cost overruns, he continues to lobby for the project's revival with a private consortium. The current estimated cost has ballooned to $45 billion, prompting a pause in construction as the government reassesses the situation.
- ▪Everald Compton is considered the father of the Inland Rail project, which he proposed nearly three decades ago.
- ▪The project's estimated cost has increased from $9.9 billion in 2015 to $45 billion in 2023.
- ▪Infrastructure Minister Catherine King described the Inland Rail project as a 'mess' when the current government took office.
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The Inland Rail is paused but the father of it has a plan to see it through to completion by his 100th birthdayBy Tom HartleyJBy Joanna Woodburn7.30Topic:Rail Transport IndustryWed 20 May 2026 at 4:50pmWed 20 May 2026 at 4:50pmWed 20 May 2026 at 4:50pmEverald Compton is considered the father of the Inland Rail. (ABC News: Chris Gillette)abc.net.au/news/inland-rail-pause-sparks-new-plan-to-finish-by-man-who-began-it/106693028Link copiedShareShare articleEverald Compton refuses to give up on the Inland Rail.At 94, the Queensland entrepreneur is still lobbying Canberra, this time with a private consortium he believes can rescue the project he brought to life nearly three decades ago.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at ABC News (Australia).