Melbourne Airport Rail Link project receives $5bn investment

The AirRail Melbourne consortium - comprised of IFM Investors, Melbourne Airport, Metro Trains and Southern Cross Station - is set to invest $5 billion towards the construction of a new airport rail link that will connect the city to the Melbourne Airport via subway.

This investment is in addition to the $10 billion already invested by the Victorian and Australian Governments, bringing the project funding to $15 billion. 

AirRail Melbourne has spent six months conducting an independent investigation to determine the preferred route for the airport rail link. Earlier this month, the preferred route was announced for the project together with the call for Registration of Interest to deliver the massive project.

The new airport rail link is going to be a 27-kilometre twin tunnel that will run between Southern Cross Station in Melbourne’s CBD and a new underground station at Melbourne Airport in Tullamarine via a super hub in Sunshine.

“As we expand our runways and terminal facilities we also need world-class linkages between the airport, city and regional Victoria.

“Our vision is for a seamless passenger experience at the airport, properly integrated between the train carriage and the terminal,” Melbourne Airport Chief Executive Lyell Strambi said.

AirRail Melbourne's proposal for the project (source: AirRail Melbourne)

Service on the new rail link is set to operate 24 hours daily, with trains running every 10 minutes during peak hours.

This massive transportation project is expected to streamline the access to the airport as well as help remove up to 15,000 vehicles each day from Melbourne’s north and west road networks.

“Melbourne’s population is set to double and the city’s liveability will only be maintained with continued investment in infrastructure project like this,” Australasian Railway Association Chief Executive Danny Broad said.

A business case from the Australian and Victorian Governments is expected to completed by the end of the year.

Construction on the Melbourne Airport Rail Link is anticipated to commence in 2020, two years earlier than what was projected.

Once completed, travellers will be able to reach the Melbourne Airport from the CBD in 20 minutes and train tickets would cost approximately $20.

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Source: The Urban Developer; SBS News; Herald Sun; ABC News