Melbourne Airport Rail
Map of Melbourne Airport Rail Link showing public transport in Melbourne's north-west.
Map of Melbourne Airport Rail.
Overview
StatusPaused
OwnerVicTrack (projected)
LocaleMelbourne, Victoria
Termini
Stations2
Service
TypeCommuter rail
SystemMelbourne railway system
Operator(s)Metro Trains Melbourne (projected)
Rolling stockHCMT
History
Planned opening2029
Technical
Line length27 km (17 mi)
Track gauge1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) broad gauge
Route map

Legend
Up arrow
Sunshine-Dandenong corridor
to CBD, East Pakenham or Cranbourne
13.5
 Sunshine
●●●●●●●●●Sunshine railway station, Melbourne#Transport links
13.6
Hampshire Road
Right arrow
Multiple lines
via Deer Park
13.3
Anderson Road
14.9
 Albion
Albion railway station, Melbourne#Transport links
15.0
Ballarat Road
Right arrow
Sunbury, Bendigo, Echuca & Swan Hill lines
to Sunbury
15.4
Stony Creek
16.7
McIntyre Road
17.3
 McIntyre Sidings
18.8
Maribyrnong River Viaduct
over Maribyrnong River
18.8
Keilor Park Drive
21.5
Calder Freeway
 Keilor East
Left arrow
Albion–Jacana line
to Jacana
Western Ring Road
Melbourne Airport
This diagram:

Melbourne Airport Rail is a proposed rail link from the Melbourne CBD to Melbourne Airport at Tullamarine. Since October 2022, the project has also been considered as part of the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) and branded as SRL Airport. The rail link will run through the under-construction Metro Tunnel, running 27 km from the airport to Town Hall station in the city centre with 12 km of new track between the airport and Sunshine station.[1] The link will be a new branch of the Melbourne Metro rail network and run High-Capacity Metro Trains at a 10-minute frequency.[1] The project is being delivered by the Victorian state government agency Rail Projects Victoria.

A rail link to Melbourne Airport had been proposed in multiple forms at various times in the history of the airport. Most such proposals had been for a heavy rail line between the airport Melbourne CBD, often as an integrated component of the Melbourne rail network. Some plans, however, have utilised alternative forms of mass transit or suggested a segregated and dedicated public transport link to the airport. Relieving traffic congestion and creating better access to the airport are frequently cited as reasons for the development of the link. Businesses that would be negatively impacted by an airport rail link include Transurban, whose CityLink toll revenue would be affected, and Melbourne Airport, whose revenue from car parking would be reduced.[2]

In 2018, the Victorian government announced its intention to proceed with a link running via Sunshine station, in partnership with the Turnbull Government. A preliminary business case was completed later that year, and in early 2019, the federal government partially agreed to fund the project. In 2020 it was announced that the link would run through the city via the Metro Tunnel.

Early construction began in 2022, while major construction was expected to start in 2023 with an estimated completion of 2029. However in April 2023, then Deputy Premier of Victoria Jacinta Allan said that due to an impasse over negotiations with Melbourne Airport, the opening of the rail link will likely be delayed.[3] In May 2023, due to a federal government review on major infrastructure projects, the Victorian government put the project on indefinite pause. The awarding of new contracts had been paused until the review is completed and confirmation that the project will proceed with federal funding.[4] In November 2023, the federal government reaffirmed its $5 billion commitment towards the project, with Premier of Victoria Jacinta Allan stating how there will most likely be a postponement of the opening date due to significant delays from the ongoing 3 year negotiations with Melbourne Airport. [5]

Background

See also: Melbourne Airport § History

Melbourne Airport is located 23 kilometres (14 mi) north-west of the Melbourne City Centre adjacent to the industrial suburb of Tullamarine. In the 2016–17 financial year, 34.8 million passengers and 237,000 aircraft movements were recorded, making it the second-busiest airport in Australia by passenger numbers.[6]

The airport is served by the Tullamarine Freeway, which connects to the Melbourne city centre via the CityLink tollway. An express bus service, SkyBus, connects the airport to Southern Cross railway station, a main railway terminus, with a 20–40 minute travel time and various private bus services also serve the airport precinct. A SmartBus route connects to Broadmeadows railway station with a one-hour journey time to the CBD at regular public transport fares.[7]

History

20th century

With the appointment of a panel to examine the aviation needs of the growing city of Melbourne in 1958, and its recommendation of a site at Tullamarine on the city's north-western outskirts in 1959, the earliest suggestions for a railway line were made by stakeholders in the new facility's success. The City Development Association proposed connecting any new airport to the public transport as early as 1958, and Trans Australia Airlines proposed tunnelling directly between the CBD and the airport when the site was announced. Reg Ansett, however, another direct beneficiary of the new airport, envisioned helicopters and freeways becoming the primary modes of transport for passengers and staff.[8]

The first legislative attempt at a rail link to the new airport was made in 1965, while it was still under construction. Minister for Transport Edward Meagher introduced the Glenroy Tullamarine Rail Construction Bill 1965 to the state parliament, proposing the construction of a link between the Broadmeadows line at Glenroy and the new "jetport". During the bill's reading in the Lower House, Meagher estimated the new line's cost at £1.5 million, and suggested that it ought to be constructed in conjunction with a third track into the city along the existing line, works which formed part of the Victorian Railways 10-year strategic plan at the time.[9]

The bill was focused on acquiring land and protecting the reservation for a future railway line in the interests of cost savings, and Meagher acknowledged that construction could not be justified at least until the airport had opened. However, opposing parties voted against the bill on the basis that such a railway would never be economically viable, instead suggesting a branch from the Albion–Jacana freight line in order to extend public transport option to the growing north-western suburbs. Nevertheless, the plan did reach the Upper House, where it was referred to a committee for further evaluation, but the parliamentary session lapsed before any further action was taken, and subsequent rounds of railway funding did not include any related works.[10]

In the decades following the opening of Melbourne Airport, a number of proposals for mass transit links to the CBD emerged, many of which came from private investors and utilised emergent or unconventional technologies. One such proposal, Aerotrain, was presented by a consortium which had received the backing of the French government in the early 1970s to construct a monorail from Paris to Pontoise. The company proposed a similar system for Melbourne, and a feasibility study was conducted, which found the technology had a significant cost advantage over traditional heavy rail. The company's efforts were stymied by the French government's withdrawal of support in 1974 and the death of its leader in 1975, and no further progress eventuated.[11]

Development of Sunshine route

The Liberal state government led by Jeff Kennett reserved land for an extension of what was then the Broadmeadows line to the airport via Westmeadows.[12] Then, in 2001, the Bracks government investigated the construction of a heavy rail link to the airport under the Linking Victoria programme. Two options were considered; the first branched off the Craigieburn line to the east, and the second branched off the Albion–Jacana freight line, which passes close to the airport's boundary to the south. The second option was preferred.[13] Market research concluded most passengers preferred travelling to the airport by taxi or car, and poor patronage of similar links in Sydney and Brisbane cast doubt on the viability of the project.[14] This led to the project being deferred until at least 2012. On 21 July 2008, the Premier Steve Bracks reaffirmed the government's commitment to a rail link and said that it would be considered within three to five years.[15] To maximise future development options, the airport lobbied for the on-grounds section of the railway to be underground.[16][17]

In 2010, Martin Pakula of the Labor Party, newly appointed Minister for Public Transport, announced that the rail link had been taken off the agenda with new freeway options being explored instead,[18][19] however a change of government at the 2010 Victorian State Election to Liberals, saw policy for the introduction of the rail link return to the agenda, with a promise by the incoming Coalition government to undertake planning for its construction.[20]

Proposals in January 2013 to improve the bus service to the airport involving turning emergency lanes into bus lanes on the freeway and the Bolte Bridge and allowing Myki to be used on SkyBus services were challenged by CityLink operator Transurban, because it would limit its toll revenue, and by Melbourne Airport, because it would reduce its car parking profits.[2] Similar objections would apply to a rail link.

On 13 March 2013, the Victorian Liberal government under then Premier, Denis Napthine, announced that the Melbourne Airport Rail Link would be constructed around 2015/16 running from the CBD via Sunshine station and the Albion–Jacana freight line.[21] This proposal never became a reality, with the Napthine Government losing office to the Labor Party at the 2014 state election.

Andrews government proposal

Map showing the proposed Sunshine alignment of the Airport Rail Link
Map showing the proposed Sunshine alignment of the Airport Rail Link, along with past rail lines, current lines and proposed lines.

From the mid-2010s, following the construction of the Regional Rail Link, consensus shifted toward integrating an airport rail link into the regional rail network instead of the stand-alone metropolitan line affirmed by the NDPMR. A much-publicised 2016 report by advocacy group the Rail Futures Institute, which primarily focused on improving capacity and journey times to regional centres, recommended using a new diversion of the Bendigo and Seymour lines to serve the airport at the same time as segregating the regional lines from metropolitan services.[22][23]

In 2015 and 2016, the Andrews government decided to shelve the Airport rail link proposal and instead focus on inner city rail projects such as the Melbourne Metro Rail Project. The airport line was excluded from the Metro Tunnel's eventual 2016 business case, with Public Transport Victoria (PTV) recognising the tunnel's entire capacity would be needed to serve the Sunbury and newly electrified Melton lines; planners recommended that any airport link would have to use further new capacity into the city.[24] But after enormous pressure from the Coalition Federal Governments of Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull to plan for a proposal, the Andrews Government announced in May 2017 that it would spend $10 million along with the Turnbull government’s $30 million to devise a rail link planning study. On 23 November 2017, Premier Daniel Andrews told business groups that construction on a rail link between the Airport and Melbourne's Southern Cross station via Sunshine station would begin construction within the next 10 years.[25]

On 12 April 2018, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced that the Federal Government would pledge $5 billion for a rail link between the airport and Melbourne's CBD. He had also stated that the Victorian State Government would also have to match Federal funding in order for the project to proceed.[26] With a 50–50 funding split between the State and Federal governments, a possible private investment in the project could see the total cost rise to $15 billion.[27]

On 22 July 2018, the State Government announced that it would provide $5 billion to match Federal Government funding for the Airport rail link, allowing the project to become a reality. Under the state government's plan, a business case would be completed by the end of 2019 and construction would commence by 2022.[28] Then, in early September, the airport link featured in the state government's Suburban Rail Loop proposal, as part of an orbital line extending from Cheltenham in the city's east to Werribee in the west.[29]

Later in September, a private consortium including the operators of Melbourne Airport and Southern Cross station, as well as Metro Trains Melbourne, the incumbent metropolitan rail franchisee, and IFM Investors, presented an unsolicited proposal to the government, offering to contribute $5 billion in private equity alongside the existing government contributions. The consortium, AirRail Melbourne, proposed using the funds to substantially rebuild Southern Cross, and provide dedicated tracks along the entire route via Sunshine.[30][31]

Following the state election in November, the returned Andrews government confirmed that a preliminary business case for the project had been completed. However, it refused to release the document, instead claiming that a full business case would be completed the following year and publicly released.[32]

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Premier Andrews announced at a joint media conference in March 2019 that an agreement had been reached between the state and federal government to provide $5 billion in funding each towards the airport link. The agreement provided for a total cost of up to $13 billion, with the remaining funds to be sought from private sector investors, and committed the state government to completing a business case within 12 months. Andrews restated the government's intention to start construction by 2022, and said that he expected construction to take up to nine years.[33]

Planning

Route options

The 2013 study conducted by PTV assessed over 80 options in addition to the Albion East "base case" developed by previous planning work. Ultimately, four options were shortlisted and recommended for further analysis.[34] The same four options were presented in 2018 by the federal government during its announcement of funds, on the understanding that a preliminary business case to be completed in September that year would recommend one of the options.[35]

Preferred route

Sunshine railway station would be rebuilt as part of the airport rail link
Sunshine railway station in Melbourne's west would be rebuilt as part of the current airport rail link plan

The Victorian State government has committed to the Sunshine route, with the release of its Strategic Assessment of the route in July 2018.[37] The Federal government under then-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull had pushed for the direct tunnel route through Maribyrnong, as it proposed to redevelop the unused Defence site along the Maribyrnong River into a new residential area and connect the airport to the nearby Highpoint Shopping Centre.[38] In 2019, under the new Prime Minister Scott Morrison, both the federal and state governments backed the Sunshine route as part of their funding commitments to the project.[39]

Government planning explored a number of questions about the route: including how it will interact with the under construction Metro Tunnel, the planned Suburban Rail Loop, and potential faster rail to Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo.[39] The State Government had indicated that new Sunshine to CBD rail capacity, built as part of the Airport Rail Link, could be used by new, faster train services to Geelong and Ballarat.[40] This would be delivered alongside new, electrified Metro lines to Melton and Wyndham Vale as part of the Government's Western Rail Plan.[40] Planning for regional fast rail will take place alongside the business case development for the Airport Rail Link. This proposal would have built upon a plan by the Rail Futures Institute to use the Airport Rail Link to deliver faster regional rail.[22][41][42] In 2019 the Government indicated it did not want to build a dedicated tunnel between the CBD and Sunshine for Airport and regional trains due to cost.[43][44]

Metro Tunnel branch

Map of the Melbourne rail network, metropolitan train network, with the Airport link and Metro Tunnel shown as dashed lines.
Map of the Melbourne metropolitan rail network with the Airport link and Metro Tunnel shown as dashed lines.

In late 2020 the State and Federal Governments announced that the Airport Rail Link would be built as a branch of the metropolitan lines that are to run through the Metro Tunnel, with trains not running to Southern Cross Station but instead running into the CBD through the five new underground Metro Tunnel stations, then on towards Pakenham and Cranbourne.[45] New twin track is to be built from Sunshine to the airport, with modified High-Capacity Metro Trains to share track with Sunbury trains towards the city.[1] Trains are to run every 10 minutes, taking 29 minutes to run from Town Hall station in the city centre to the Airport.[1] More than 30 stations will have a one-seat journey to the airport under the plan. The government also rejected a private-sector offer to build a 7 km express tunnel from Southern Cross to West Footscray.[1] Instead construction is set to start in 2022 with the full line opening in 2029.[1] The government also announced it was considering adding an additional station along the new line between Sunshine and the airport, near Airport West and Keilor Park.[46][47]

In September 2022, the State Government released the project's business case, which found the project would return an economic benefit of $2.10 for every dollar spent.[48][49] The Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan also announced that the airport station would be elevated, rather than underground, and that a new station would be added at Keilor Park in Melbourne's north-west.[48][50] The elevated design, Allan said, would be quicker to build, cheaper and cause less disruption.[48] Melbourne Airport objected to the proposal, calling for the station to be underground in order to facilitate its plans for terminal expansion.[50]

Project description

High Capacity Metro Train (HCMT)
The airport line will run modified High Capacity Metro Trains, introduced as part of the Metro Tunnel project.

The airport link will be a branch of Melbourne's existing metropolitan rail network, running express from Sunshine to the airport. 12 km of new double track will be built from Sunshine station to a new premium station at Melbourne Airport.[51] A new rail bridge will be built above the Maribynong River next to the existing heritage Albion Viaduct. The new bridge will be 55 metres high and 383 metres long and become the second-highest bridge in Victoria after the West Gate Bridge.[47]

Sunshine station will be expanded as part of the plan, becoming a new hub for transfers from suburban and regional services to the airport line. A new concourse will be built, along with new platforms, platform extensions and accessibility upgrades.[52] A large 18 metre high flyover will be built above Albion station and Ballarat Road.[53] There will be a 6 km long section of elevated rail over the Western Ring Road and Airport Drive.[54][55] The airport station will be an elevated terminal station, connected by walkway to the airport's main terminals.[48] The design will accommodate a future Suburban Rail Loop connection.[56]

A second new station is to be built along the line at the border of Airport West and Keilor Park to serve Melbourne's north-west.[48]

At the city end, the airport line will run through the new underground Metro Tunnel stations at State Library and Town Hall, which will allow interchange to all other suburban services via the existing major stations Melbourne Central and Flinders Street, respectively. High Capacity Metro Trains, 7-car trains introduced as part of the Metro Tunnel project, will run to the airport, and high-capacity signalling will be installed along the new airport line.[49]

Airport trains will run every ten minutes all-day, taking approximately 30 minutes to reach the CBD from the airport.[48] Ticketing will be through the metropolitan rail network's Myki smart-card system and be priced similar to existing Skybus fares.[57]

Construction

Electricity transmission towers to be relocated for works of an elevated rail over the M80 Ring Roaf (left of image).
The electricity transmission towers to be relocated to enable elevated rail over the M80 Ring Road (left of image).

The airport link is to be delivered across a number of construction packages. In June 2021, the first package was put out to tender for works around Sunshine and Albion stations.[58] In November 2021 two works packages were put out for the premium station at Melbourne Airport and a 6 km long section of elevated rail over the Western Ring Road and above Airport Drive.[54] In March 2022, a contract was awarded to Laing O'Rourke as managing contractor to deliver early works on the project, including the relocation and protection of utilities along the route, with works beginning in late 2022.[59]

In late October 2022, construction starting on the rail link with works to relocate six electricity transmission towers.[60] Premier Daniel Andrews announced a consortium of FCC Construction Australia and Winslow Infrastructure was selected as the preferred contractor to deliver a package of major construction works including the 550m bridge over the Maribynong River.[61][62]

A second contract of works, the Sunshine Systems Alliance package, was awarded to a consortium of John Holland, CPB, KBR and AECOM, and included train signalling across the entire Airport rail corridor, works to Sunshine station, works to Albion station, and twin tracks between Sunshine station and the Albion-Jacana corridor, including the new Albion rail flyover.[60][61] The Corridor Package, which includes the new Keilor East station and new track over the Western Ring Road, was set to be awarded in 2023.[61]

The Albion Viaduct over the Maribyrnong River
A second rail bridge will be built next to the Albion Viaduct trestle bridge over the Maribyrnong River.

The Premier also announced $143 million in extra funding for developing Sunshine station and its surroundings, including a new bus interchange and new open space as part of the Sunshine station masterplan, which was released at the same time.[63][60] The project was also rebranded as SRL Airport to emphasise its role in the Suburban Rail Loop corridor.[60]

Project pause

In the lead-up to the May 2023 state budget, media reports suggested there may be a delay in the project's opening date.[64] In a radio interview, Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan said slow and difficult negotiations with Melbourne Airport over the use of airport land for the project had caused delays.[3] The airport argued that it only wanted an underground station at the airport to allow for future expansion.[50]

Melbourne media also reported that the state government had requested a four-year delay in the project from the federal government and planned to abandon the $2 billion Geelong fast rail project, due to budget pressures and the construction sector being over capacity.[65]

On 17 May 2023, the state government confirmed that contracting for further works on the project would be temporarily paused and no new contracts would be entered into until the completion of a major Commonwealth Government review of the country's infrastructure pipeline.[4] Early works would continue as part of the awarded contract, but no new contracts were to be entered into.[66] Reports suggested some construction workers may be temporarily redeployed to other Victorian infrastructure projects.[67][4] The Albanese government on 1 May had announced a 90-day review into the previous federal government's infrastructure funding commitments, signalling some projects may be delayed or cancelled.[68] States were informed that projects funded by the federal government could not sign new contracts without express permission from the Commonwealth.[67] The news of a potential four-year delay prompted renewed calls in the press for dedicated lanes on the Tullamarine Freeway for the current SkyBus service to Melbourne Airport.[69]

On 16 November 2023, the federal government announced that the project would not be axed as part of the 90-day infrastructure review and re-committed the full $5 billion towards the project.[70] New Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan blamed failed negotiations with the airport over whether the airport station would be underground or aboveground, saying it had caused significant delays to the project.[5] Allan said after three years of negotiation the issue had not been resolved and that until it was a new opening date and final cost could not be known.[5] Because airport land is regulated by federal rather than state powers, any station requires a planning application to come directly from the airport.[5] Following the announcement, local media reported that as part of negotiations the airport was seeking up to $1 billion in compensation for issues like land devaluation from the rail link.[71] Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus said she would continue to advocate for an underground station.[72]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Jacks, Rob Harris, Timna (20 November 2020). "Melbourne Airport trains will run through the Metro tunnel every 10 minutes". The Age. Archived from the original on 5 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.((cite web)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b SkyBus lane faces fight Archived 12 June 2018 at the Wayback Machine Traveller 4 January 2013
  3. ^ a b "Deputy premier blames Melbourne Airport for delay in completion of airport rail". ABC News. 17 April 2023. Archived from the original on 17 April 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  4. ^ a b c Ilanbey, Sumeyya (17 May 2023). "Melbourne Airport Rail workers redeployed as project officially paused". The Age. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d "Melbourne Airport says rail link station should be underground, as federal support for project reaffirmed". ABC News. 15 November 2023. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  6. ^ "MELBOURNE – TOTAL PASSENGER MOVEMENTS – Financial Years". Airport Traffic Data 1985–86 to 2016–17. Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics. 10 January 2018. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  7. ^ "Melbourne: Arriving & Departing – TripAdvisor". TripAdvisor Australia. Archived from the original on 17 April 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  8. ^ Chandu, Arun (30 December 2012). "Wait for train to Tullamarine now 55 years". The Age. Archived from the original on 16 April 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  9. ^ Meagher, Edward (25 March 1964). "Questions: Tullamarine jetport: rail link, capital cost". Debates (PDF). Victoria: Legislative Assembly. p. 3397. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 April 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  10. ^ Aroozoo 2017, pp. 4–6.
  11. ^ Aroozoo 2017, pp. 5–6.
  12. ^ Lucas, Clay (14 November 2010). "Baillieu revives airport rail link". The Age. Archived from the original on 17 April 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  13. ^ "Melbourne Airport Rail Link Not Viable Now" (Press release). Minister for Transport. 18 January 2002. Archived from the original on 4 October 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
  14. ^ "Why can't this train get us to the airport?". The Age. Melbourne, Australia. 4 June 2006. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2008.
  15. ^ "Surge in passenger demand prompts call for Airport rail link". Herald Sun. Australia. 22 July 2008. Archived from the original on 2 August 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2008.
  16. ^ "2008 Draft Master Plan" (PDF). Melbourne Airport. 28 April 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 March 2009. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
  17. ^ Ferguson, John (29 April 2008). "Melbourne airport seeks underground train line". Herald Sun. Australia. Archived from the original on 12 December 2008. Retrieved 30 June 2008.
  18. ^ Lucas, Clay (1 March 2010). "Airport road won't cope with demand, study shows". The Age. Melbourne, Australia.
  19. ^ Lucas, Clay (12 November 2009). "New airport link proposed". The Age. Melbourne, Australia. Archived from the original on 19 January 2010. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  20. ^ Troeth, Simon (15 November 2010). "COALITION WILL PLAN MELB AIRPORT RAIL LINK". Liberal Party Victoria. Melbourne. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012.
  21. ^ "Route chosen for Melbourne airport link". Perth Now. Archived from the original on 10 April 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  22. ^ a b Gray, Darren (4 September 2016). "New rail plan calls for 200km/h trains and 'fast line' to Melbourne Airport". The Age. Archived from the original on 16 April 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  23. ^ "Rail report calls for faster trains in country Victoria". ABC Gippsland. 5 September 2016. Archived from the original on 20 April 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  24. ^ Carey, Adam (29 March 2017). "Government warned Melbourne Metro won't support future airport rail link". The Age. Archived from the original on 17 April 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  25. ^ Willingham, Richard (23 November 2017). "Melbourne Airport rail link building to start within decade, Premier Daniel Andrews says". ABC News. Melbourne. Archived from the original on 22 November 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  26. ^ Willingham, Richard (12 April 2018). "Melbourne Airport train link: Malcolm Turnbull pledges $5 billion for long-awaited rail line to CBD". ABC News. Melbourne. Archived from the original on 12 April 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  27. ^ Cooper, Luke (12 April 2018). "Turnbull government to pledge $5 billion in Federal Budget for new Melbourne Airport rail line". Nine News. Melbourne. Archived from the original on 12 April 2018. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  28. ^ Noel Towell, "Melbourne airport rail up and away with Andrews government $5b pledge." Archived 22 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine, The Age, 22 July 2018
  29. ^ Willingham, Richard; Oaten, James (28 August 2018). "Melbourne's $50b rail loop the 'biggest public transport project in history'". ABC News. Archived from the original on 1 October 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  30. ^ Lord, Kathy (16 September 2018). "Public, private consortium proposes 20-minute trip to Melbourne Airport under $15b plan". ABC News. Archived from the original on 20 September 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  31. ^ Carey, Adam (16 September 2018). "Station parking boost promised as consortium pitches airport rail link". The Age. Archived from the original on 29 September 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  32. ^ Jacks, Timna (23 December 2018). "Airport rail business case kept secret". The Age. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  33. ^ Towell, Noel (12 March 2019). "Morrison locked into airport rail link: construction to start within three years". The Age. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  34. ^ a b c Public Transport Victoria (2013). "Melbourne Airport Rail Link Study" (PDF). Public Transport Victoria. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 April 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  35. ^ Lucas, Clay; Jacks, Timna (12 April 2018). "What's my line? Route dispute could delay airport rail by five years". The Age. Archived from the original on 16 April 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  36. ^ a b c Lucas, Clay (12 April 2018). "Airport rail routes: The pros and cons". The Age. Archived from the original on 17 April 2018. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  37. ^ Victoria State Government (2018). "Melbourne Airport Rail Link Sunshine Route Appraisal" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 July 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  38. ^ Millar, Benjamin (19 April 2018). "Feds seek airport rail through Highpoint shopping centre". Star Weekly. Archived from the original on 22 July 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2018.
  39. ^ a b Towell, Noel (12 March 2019). "Morrison locked into airport rail link: construction to start within three years". The Age. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  40. ^ a b State Government of Victoria, Transport for Victoria (2018). "Western Rail Plan" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 March 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  41. ^ Rail Futures Institute (August 2016). "Intercity: How regional rail can re-balance population growth and create a "state of cities" in Victoria". Archived from the original on 7 May 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  42. ^ Rail Futures Institute (June 2018). "AirTrain – The Airport Train that Melbourne Needs!". Archived from the original on 7 May 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  43. ^ Jacks, Timna (30 August 2019). "Victorian government urged to ignore cut-price airport rail option". The Age. Archived from the original on 5 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  44. ^ Jacks, Timna (21 November 2020). "Andrews defends decision to ditch airport rail tunnel proposal". The Age. Archived from the original on 5 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  45. ^ Premier of Victoria (29 March 2021). "First look at long-awaited Melbourne Airport Rail". Archived from the original on 8 February 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  46. ^ Build, Victoria’s Big (31 August 2021). "Melbourne Airport Rail designs". Victoria’s Big Build. Archived from the original on 5 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  47. ^ a b Fowler, Clay Lucas, Michael (28 December 2020). "Melbourne Airport rail line to soar high over Maribyrnong River". The Age. Archived from the original on 5 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.((cite web)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  48. ^ a b c d e f "Plans released for Keilor East train station and above-ground Melbourne Airport station". ABC News. 21 September 2022. Archived from the original on 21 September 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  49. ^ a b Build, Victoria’s Big (21 September 2022). "Melbourne Airport Rail Business Case". Victoria’s Big Build. Archived from the original on 21 September 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  50. ^ a b c Hatch, Josh Gordon, Patrick (20 September 2022). "Fight or flight? Conflict with airport looms after government reveals 'sky rail' plan". The Age. Archived from the original on 21 September 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.((cite web)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  51. ^ Build, Victoria’s Big (31 August 2021). "Bridge over the Maribyrnong River Valley". Victoria’s Big Build. Archived from the original on 5 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  52. ^ Build, Victoria’s Big (31 August 2021). "Sunshine Station transport superhub". Victoria’s Big Build. Archived from the original on 5 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  53. ^ Build, Victoria’s Big (31 August 2021). "Albion flyover and station works". Victoria’s Big Build. Archived from the original on 5 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  54. ^ a b Build, Victoria’s Big (9 November 2021). "Airport Station and viaduct works open to market". Victoria’s Big Build. Archived from the original on 5 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  55. ^ Ilanbey, Sumeyya (29 March 2021). "First airport rail images released, as long-delayed project inches closer". The Age. Archived from the original on 5 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  56. ^ Build, Victoria’s Big (31 August 2021). "New station at Melbourne Airport". Victoria’s Big Build. Archived from the original on 5 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  57. ^ Morgan, Cassandra (3 January 2022). "Airport Rail Link fares could be similar to SkyBus, modelling suggests". The Age. Archived from the original on 5 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  58. ^ "First package of works for Airport Rail out to market | Premier of Victoria". www.premier.vic.gov.au. Archived from the original on 5 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  59. ^ Build, Victoria’s Big (1 March 2022). "Early works one step closer to starting this year". Victoria’s Big Build. Archived from the original on 5 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  60. ^ a b c d "SRL Airport Takes Flight As Works Begin | Premier of Victoria". www.premier.vic.gov.au. Archived from the original on 31 October 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  61. ^ a b c Build, Victoria’s Big (15 December 2022). "Start of works, Sunshine Masterplan and Contract announcements". Victoria’s Big Build. Archived from the original on 4 January 2023. Retrieved 17 December 2022.
  62. ^ Thompson, John (31 October 2022). "Works commence and contract awarded for $10B Melbourne Airport rail link". Infrastructure Magazine. Archived from the original on 31 October 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  63. ^ "Airport link work starts, free lunch push". PerthNow. 30 October 2022. Archived from the original on 31 October 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  64. ^ Eddie, Rachel (15 April 2023). "Big-ticket transport projects face delays as budget pressures build". The Age. Archived from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  65. ^ Eddie, Sumeyya Ilanbey, Paul Sakkal, Patrick Hatch, Rachel (20 April 2023). "MPs blindsided by Andrews government request to delay airport rail". The Age. Retrieved 29 May 2023.((cite web)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  66. ^ Build, Victoria’s Big (18 May 2023). "Melbourne Airport Rail (SRL Airport)". Victoria’s Big Build. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  67. ^ a b Duboudin, Tony (17 May 2023). "Melbourne Airport rail link on hold pending federal review of major projects". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  68. ^ Sakkal, Paul (30 April 2023). "Hundreds of Coalition 'press release' infrastructure projects in the gun". The Age. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  69. ^ Hatch, Patrick (23 April 2023). "Call for SkyBus priority lanes as Melbourne Airport Rail link delayed". The Age. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  70. ^ "Melbourne's Airport Rail Link saved from federal infrastructure funding axe". ABC News. 15 November 2023. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  71. ^ "Dispute heats up between the airport and the Allan and Albanese governments, which threatens to further delay the $10bn project". Herald Sun. 17 November 2023.
  72. ^ "New battle in Melbourne Airport rail war over station placement". Herald Sun. 15 November 2023.

Bibliography

External links

Categories