The New England Highway forms part of the Sydney-Brisbane Corridor of the National Land Transport Network.  The Great Northern Railway between Newcastle and Werris Creek also forms part of the National Land Transport Network and will carry more and longer coal trains between the Gunnedah Coalfields and the Port of Newcastle in the future.  The Great Northern Railway also has the potential to be part of a Newcastle/Sydney connection to the inland railway.

In Scone, the Great Northern Railway intersects with the New England Highway (Kelly Street) and with Liverpool Street (a local road).  These two level crossings are located approximately 500-600m apart.

The Lower Hunter Transport Needs Study identified the level crossing on the New England Highway in Scone as a candidate project for infrastructure improvements within the short term (0-5 years) and recommended grade separation.

Current coal train operations from the Gunnedah area through Scone at times reportedly divide the town, closing access at both the New England Highway and Liverpool Street.  There has been keen public interest in addressing the issue considering the potential increase in coal train haulage along the line which the Lower Hunter Transport Needs Study report is predicted to increase from 3 million tonnes per annum (2005) to 14 million tonnes per annum (2022).  Other studies have indicated that the growth in coal haulage will be significantly higher.