INLAND Rail project works at Wangaratta and Glenrowan railway precincts are set to start by the end of the year and will be part of a $200 million infrastructure spend in the North East.

Environmental approvals are now in place signalling works that will reconfigure and develop infrastructure at the Wangaratta and Glenrowan precincts, enabling double–stacked freight trains to navigate the Tottenham to Albury route.

Wangaratta station's two footbridges will be replaced by a single pedestrian underpass, the station's existing eastern track and platform will be relocated to run parallel to the existing western track, and a major remodel of car parking on both sides of the station will take place.

At Glenrowan, the existing Beaconsfield Parade bridge will be replaced with the new widespan bridge and pedestrian walkway, while the historical Siege Street will become a no–through–road.

The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has engaged McConnell Dowell to start construction on the first Inland Rail sites in Victoria which are expected to bring millions of dollars to North East Victorian towns.

Project sites also include Barnawartha North and Seymour, with the ARTC expecting more than 170 people to be directly employed with contractor McConnell Dowell over the life of the project due to end in 2025.

Rural City of Wangaratta Mayor Dean Rees was thrilled the works have been given the go ahead as it will improve infrastructure in the city's two local towns, create jobs and add stimulus to the local economy.

He said the new works to the Wangaratta Railway Precinct will complement council's completed multi–million works to improve the amenity and further activate the area.

"It will allow people to visit and move around the area with more green space, more car parking on both sides of the railway line, and it will beautify an area that has been pretty dull for a number of years," he said.

"Works on the Spearing Street side of the station will be activated and it will give a great link to the hospital and the North Eastern Hotel."

Cr Rees explained there will be new shops on Norton Street and with a development of apartments now approved it will make the whole area livelier and more vibrant.

"The ARTC has consulted with the public on the Inland Rail with offices in Wangaratta and Glenrowan especially designed to allow people to drop in and comment on the works," he said.

"Not everybody will get what they want with any project – some people will love it and some people won't and that's just the way of society."

Ed Walker, ARTC Victoria and South Australia projects general manager, said the award of this construction contract follows all primary planning and environmental approvals for Inland Rail in Victoria being obtained in September, which means they can get on with delivering Inland Rail.

"McConnell Dowell has already carried out initial design and preparatory works at four sites on the existing North East Rail Line to enable Inland Rail double–stacked freight trains to run between Beveridge and Albury," Mr Walker said.

Tom Foley, McConnell Dowell T2A project manager, said ARTC remains committed to meaningful and respectful consultation with the communities in North East Victoria as it continues through delivery activities for these sites.

"Tranche 1 of Inland Rail in Victoria will bring tens of millions of dollars of new investment into Victorian towns such as Wangaratta, Glenrowan, Seymour and Barnawartha, and McConnell Dowell is extremely proud to have a part to play in this," he said.

"This project will create fresh opportunities for existing businesses, while supporting the establishment and growth of new businesses.

"Our team has worked night and day with the ARTC Inland Rail team over the past two years to make this vision a reality, we are very much looking forward to getting boots on the ground and building infrastructure that will change the way that freight moves around Australia for our future generations."

For more information on Inland Rail in Victoria, visit https://inlandrail.artc.com.au/where–we–go/projects/tottenham–to–albury/.