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Melbourne Airport’s long-delayed rail link has taken another step forward with two construction consortiums shortlisted for the project.
CPB Contractors Pty Ltd and SMEC Australia will compete with FCC Construction, Martinus Rail, Arcadis, and BG&E for the contract on stage 1, including the widening of the rail corridor, works on Sunshine Station, and the section between West Footscray and Albion.
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Works have also begun on a new 2km jet fuel pipeline tunnel between Sunshine and Albion, with the existing pipeline to be moved 30m underground to accommodate rail upgrades.
“Melbourne Airport rail will deliver faster, more reliable rail journeys from Melbourne Airport to the rest of Victoria,” said federal Transport Minister Catherine King.
According to the federal and Victorian Governments, the West Footscray to Albion section will “increase capacity through the corridor and pave the way for further upgrades, including the electrification of the Melton Line”.
“The package will also deliver a new walking and cycling connection across the rail line, an upgraded bus interchange, as well as open space and new forecourts as part of the Victorian Government’s $143 million upgrade to the Sunshine Station precinct,” they said in a press release.
“The works will allow more than 1,000 trains a day through Sunshine – enabling more trains, more often for passengers on the Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo lines.
“Early works on the project are already underway to relocate underground utilities between Albion and Sunshine and prepare the corridor for new rail infrastructure.
“Crews are currently working from the Albion Station car park, laying large sections of pipeline ahead of tunnel boring next month.”
The federal and state governments in February released early designs for the Sunshine superhub, which will see a $4.1 billion investment to “untangle the complex rail junction” and create space for the new airport rail link, which will join the Melbourne train network at the station.
The project will include six kilometres of new track, two rail bridges and realigned passenger and freight lines, with Sunshine to receive a longer concourse and two new platforms to link the airport rail with the Metro Tunnel and regional services.
Additionally, the Sunbury Line will be realigned to make room for the airport rail, with a new station to be built at Albion.
The airport rail link will have three stations – the interchange at Sunshine, a new station serving Keilor East and the Airport West precinct, and the airport itself. Passengers will be able to travel straight through from the airport to the city.
The contract for Stage 1 will be awarded next year, with the stage expected to be complete by 2030.
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