Tamworth Regional Council business and community director John Sommerlad said the original forecast had the project completed in the second half of this year.

“This was ambitious,” he said.

“Significant planning work has had to be undertaken, not just for the intermodal but also for the 246 hectare site which is the new Tamworth Enterprise Area.

“Infrastructure planning for such a big site takes time and council has not rushed the process.”

The first trains are now expected to roll through the intermodal in August 2019, at the same $7.4 million price tag.

Council has undertaken a masterplan for the site, storm water strategy and planning for other infrastructure such as water, sewer and roadworks.

The works were necessary to reinstate the Barraba Spur Line from West Tamworth to Goddard Lane.

The project was announced in November last year, and was due for completion in the second half of 2018.

The intermodal hub is expected to create more than 5000 jobs, and help transport Tamworth’s produce from paddock to port as quickly as possible as the only inland freight line to take products east.