A long-mooted freight train line connecting Brisbane and Melbourne would cost about $10 billion to build but would be good for the Australian economy, according to a new report.

The Inland Rail delivery plan recommends finishing the 1,700 kilometre track over the next decade and providing more money in the federal budget from next year.

The project, which the Nationals have long dreamed would revitalise country towns, would run through Moree, Narromine, Parkes, Wagga Wagga and Albury, ensuring freight trains do not have to travel through the congested Sydney rail network.

The report was written by former deputy prime minister John Anderson and warns if construction does not start soon, eastern Australia will become far more reliant on "heavy" multi-carriage trucks.

It estimates one 3.6km interstate train could carry the equivalent of 110 B-double trucks and claims the line could eventually "result in 15 fewer serious road crashes each year".

While the economic analysis indicates the track could provide a $16 billion boost to NSW, Queensland and Victoria over the next 60 years it cautions "the expected operating revenue over 50 years will not cover the initial capital investment", meaning governments will have build it.

Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss, who has already promised to fast track the project said it "will create up to 16,000 direct jobs during a 10-year construction period and a regular 600 jobs once operating".

Labor's Transport spokesman Anthony Albanese said he "couldn't understand" why the Government had not already started construction or put more money in the budget.

"Seriously, what are they waiting for? They've been in Government for two years. Just get on and build it," he said.

The project's business case has now been referred to Infrastructure Australia.