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Napthine promises Melbourne Airport rail link

written by australianaviation.com.au | April 14, 2014

Victorian premier Denis Napthine has promised a Coalition state government will build a rail link to Melbourne Airport if it is re-elected in November.

Dr Napthine said May’s state budget would include funding for plans for the rail link which would run from the airport to Albion before linking in with the rest of the Melbourne rail network to Southern Cross Station. It is expected services would depart every 10 minutes during peak times, with trips taking about 25 minutes.

”This project has been on the books for over 40 years and a Napthine Coalition government will outline our plans to build this rail link in the upcoming state budget,” the Premier told a Liberal Party state council meeting on Sunday.  ”The budget will outline the process for construction of this very, very significant project, but we are making it very clear that the Coalition government will build an airport rail link.”

The Premier did not outline a timeframe or budget for the project.

A 2013 study by the state government body Public Transport Victoria recommended an airport rail link follow a modified “Albion East” corridor design.

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According to Public Transport Victoria: “The new Albion East design follows the 2001 route from the airport boundary via new tracks through reserved land and a freight corridor, but will use the existing rail tracks from Sunbury within the Sunshine corridor and connect with the Melbourne Metro rail tunnel, extending the link to Melbourne’s east. This alignment outperformed options which connected the Airport with the CBD via a direct tunnel, a connection via Craigieburn and a connection via Flemington.”

Diagram showing the Albion East design rail link to Melbourne Airport.
Diagram showing the Albion East design rail link to Melbourne Airport.

 

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Comments (7)

  • Dane

    says:

    An express line between Tullamarine and Avalon via Southern Cross station would be ideal for passengers with “connecting” flights

  • Sitki Esenyel

    says:

    What to say of the real possibility that the Napthine government won’t be re-elected. What happens to the rail link idea then?

  • Raymond

    says:

    Wow, about time! I wish the Victorian state government had more support than it does… they quietly work away on making meaningful projects such as this happen and the overall electorate doesn’t seem to appreciate it. I hope to be proved wrong in November…

  • Raymond

    says:

    Sitki Esenyel – Labor should match the promise.

  • Sitki Esenyel

    says:

    I hope so Raymond. It’s been a long time coming.

  • Greg Ikin

    says:

    Finally, at last a rail link. As a frequent traveller to melbourne, normally by my self, a train service should have been done years ago. I cant think of any major airport (domestic or international) that doesnt have a rail link. I thought it would connect to Southern cross or flinders st., directly thou..? Getting into the city quickly and not via the Tulla fwy parking lot will be a blessing.
    This link cant come quick enough,
    cheers..

  • Rodney Marinkovic

    says:

    News to build rail link to Tullamarine is the best news for people in transport industry after annunciation to build
    to build second Sydney Airport. With this projects, life to traveling people and general public will be much easy.
    Congratulation and greeting from Serbia. Rodney Marinkovic, AME. Kraljevo / Sydney.

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