This comes after the Turnbull government pledged more than $600 million towards a national rail program during the federal budget announcement on Tuesday.

Speaking on Wednesday evening, Mr McCormack said the approved 37-kilometre link between Illabo and Stockinbingal was the realisation of many years of work. 

“It’s been a pipe dream for many years and many decades,” Mr McCormack said.

“The realisation of this project means $8.4 billion will be injected into the national economy and will go towards improving nationwide connectivity.”

Mr McCormack said the project was “a shot in the arm” for the local economy and will provide Cootamundra with a much-needed boost following the closure of the Manildra meatworks.

”I earnestly believe that the region has been looking towards this,” he said.

“This project will create hundreds of jobs, a massive amount of jobs, in construction and a variety of fields.

“Hundreds of new tracks need to be built or improved upon and 22 timber bridges require upgrading or replacement.

“We are talking about nation-building infrastructure.”

The proposed link between Illabo and Stockinbingal will form part of a national railway between Brisbane to Melbourne and Mr McCormack believes it will have a particular impact on improving transport logistics in the region.

“The construction of this rail system means we can get goods and produce from farm gate to dinner plate even sooner,” he said.

The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has already started its environmental planning and approvals phase and will begin undertaking preliminary field studies shortly.

“We will have shovels in the ground by the year’s end (in parts of the Riverina electorate),” Mr McCormack said.