The Melbourne Airport Rail Link is edging closer to getting underway. Rail Express has dived into the project to understand where it stands.
Opened in 1970 and serving Melbourne for more than 50 years, Melbourne Airport is the second busiest in the country – it has welcomed more than three quarters of a billion passengers since opening – but remains connected to the CBD by road only, with no train link.
Based in the city’s outer suburbs, the airport is 24 kilometres from the CBD by road. Currently, the most efficient mode of transport to reach the airport, for those not wanting to travel by car, is the Skybus. It departs from the Southern Cross railway station and costs $40 return.
The Melbourne Airport rail link has been discussed for nearly as long as the airport has existed. In 2018, the Victorian Government committed to constructing a link that would traverse through Sunshine station to the airport.
The Airport Rail Link will connect Victoria’s entire regional and metropolitan rail network to the airport and support up to 8000 jobs during construction.
Airport trains will travel through the Metro Tunnel, providing passengers with a 10-minute turn-up-and-go service from Melbourne Airport and a continuous journey of about 30 minutes into the CBD. Trains will travel through transport superhubs at Arden, Footscray and Sunshine about every two to three minutes, creating jobs and development opportunities in these important precincts.
New stations will be constructed at the Airport itself and Keilor East. The line will connect at Sunshine station, then travel through the Metro Tunnel into the CBD before connecting onto the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines.
Passengers on all City Loop trains will be able to connect to airport trains at Flinders Street and Melbourne Central stations.
The majority of Victorians will be able to get to the airport with just one interchange while residents in the south-eastern suburbs will be able to get to the airport without changing trains. Melbourne’s west will also have direct airport access via Sunshine Station, or Footscray Station for passengers on the Werribee and Williamstown lines.
Passengers from the regional centres of Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo will travel to the airport via a single interchange at Sunshine, while Gippsland passengers will be connected via a choice of interchanges along the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines.
Why does airport rail matter?
It is expected that Melbourne will be home to eight million people by the year 2050 and the city’s transport network will need to cater for about 10 million more trips a day — an increase of more than 80 per cent.
With the upcoming suburban rail loop and the soon to be completed Metro Tunnel, the city has begun preparation for this growth. Melbourne Airport will also be front and centre in supporting this growth as Melbourne Airport Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lorie Argus explained.
“With an estimated 45 million travellers a year predicted to be using our airport when the third runway opens, the rail link will support a massive increase in passenger numbers and billions of dollars in additional economic activity for Victoria,” she said.
“Melbourne Airport would welcome the immediate recommencement of discussions with government over the airport station with an initial focus on its design, the sequencing of construction works and redress for the land required for the above ground option.
“The airport currently welcomes around 100,000 passengers a day and is the largest employment hub outside of the Melbourne CBD. More than 210,000 passengers will use the airport every day in less than 20 years and the expanded airport is forecast to add $5.9 billion to the state economy every year and support 51,000 jobs.”
The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) has shown its support for the project.
Chief Executive Officer Caroline Wilkie described the Melbourne Airport Rail link as a critical piece of transport infrastructure for Melbourne. It’s been on the government’s agenda for more than 30 years, with both the Commonwealth and Victorian governments committing funding in 2018.
“The ARA is very pleased to see the project back on track. However, it will be critical that this project receives bipartisan support to ensure meaningful progress as soon as possible for the benefit of the community and economy,” she said. “Melbourne is the only major capital city in Australia without a direct rail link to the airport despite being the fastest growing city.
“The rail link to the airport will not only provide an important public transport link for commuters and business but will also support the local tourism industry.”
A spokesperson from Melbourne Airport explained why this Airport Rail Link matters.
“The growth expected at Melbourne Airport over the coming decades will bring billions of dollars to Victoria and provide jobs for tens of thousands of people,” the spokesperson said.
“Airport Rail will be a vital link to the city centre and local communities for millions of travellers each year.
“Melbourne Airport is the second largest employment hub outside of the CBD, with an indirect workforce of more than 17,000. A lot of that workforce are young people who work in our retail stores across the airport, and we know getting to and from the airport can be challenging and costly for them.
“A rail link will provide essential public transport infrastructure for an area of Melbourne that desperately needs it and will give our staff another alternative for how they get to and from work.”
Recent developments
Former Queensland transport department director-general Neil Scales was tasked with assisting to get the stalled project back underway in April 2024. He handed down his findings in late June.
He made a number of recommendations and stated the project remains viable and necessary, and has support from the Australian and Victorian governments, Melbourne Airport operator APAM, and the public. He also reported that it is possible to find a solution to the location of the station at Melbourne Airport.
The report made three main recommendations, including that the Commonwealth and Victorian Government proceed with “no regrets” work at Sunshine Station to transform it into a major transport hub and capitalise on the early works already completed for the Melbourne Airport Rail Link.
The Commonwealth will commence discussions with the Victorian Government on the proposal to upgrade capacity at Sunshine Station, with funding to be formally considered once costs and scope are finalised.
The mediation process was undertaken to find a resolution between the Victorian Government and APAM as to the location of the station. The state had advocated for an above ground station, while the airport operator’s preference was for a underground station.
The report recommended against further Commonwealth and State consideration of an underground option at this time. Should APAM wish to progress with the option of an underground station, it was recommended that it produce a suitable and comprehensive business case, so that key stakeholders can examine the proposal in detail.
APAM has said it will support an above-ground station for the proposed airport rail line to ensure the public transport link is in place for the millions of additional passengers that will use the gateway when the third runway is opened.
Argus said the airport recognised the need to get on with the rail link in the interests of travellers, the city, Victoria and the airport’s expansion.
“Victorians have waited long enough for an airport rail line,” she said.
“We will work with the Victorian Government to deliver their preferred above-ground station at the airport so the rail line can become reality. While Melbourne Airport has consistently advocated for an underground station, we are prepared to compromise on our position to ensure we have more transport options in place for the millions of new passengers that will visit Victoria and the airport precinct’s expanding workforce.”
All stakeholders have confirmed a new premium station will be built at Melbourne Airport. Design of the new station and its connections to the Airport terminals, and the future Suburban Rail Loop, is underway.
A Melbourne Airport spokesperson explained what APAM expects the new airport station to look like.
“The elevated station would interface with our current Terminal 1,2,3 car park, but the exact design is still to be worked through with the government,” the spokesperson said.
“We know many of our travellers have accessibility or mobility needs so things like wide, covered walkways will be a focus for us throughout the design phase.”
The State Government has said Melbourne Airport Rail will likely be delayed by at least four years.
A Melbourne Airport spokesperson said the timing of the project is a matter for the State Government.
“We know that to support the forecast passenger growth after the third runway opens, we will need all available transport options at the airport including the rail line,” the spokesperson said.
The impacts of constructing the Melbourne Airport Rail are far-reaching and include the redevelopment of the Sunshine Station Precinct into a visual and iconic superhub, as well as the improved integration of a rebuilt Albion Station with the surrounding Albion Quarter, according to Brimbank City Council. A council report states that increased transport options will enable local residents to access services, facilities, programs and employment, and decrease the social and economic exclusion that can affect overall wellbeing, particularly in a highly disadvantaged community such as Brimbank.
The council welcomed the Federal Government’s decision in November 2023 to recommit $5 billion previously promised for the construction of the Melbourne Airport Rail.
Sunshine is positioned to become the major hub and interchange between metropolitan and regional rail services and a gateway to Melbourne Airport.
The Sunshine Super Hub and Airport Rail Link are identified as providing the opportunity to deliver the infrastructure needed for the Western Rail Plan, which is intended to support the growing western suburbs of Melbourne with the Airport Rail Link and fast rail between Geelong and Melbourne.
Melbourne Airport Rail will deliver a range of upgrades to Sunshine Station including:
a new, accessible second concourse with escalators and lifts for better passenger connections between regional, metropolitan and Melbourne Airport trains
platform extensions and better access to existing platforms including more weather protection
extra ticketing gates at the main entrance to improve accessibility for people, including those with luggage
double the number of lifts in the station to improve accessibility and ease of movement for travellers with luggage.
These improvements to Sunshine Station will complement other investments that are expected to make Sunshine a key transport precinct and jobs centre for western Melbourne.
Suburban Rail Loop
The Airport Rail Link will not be the only link connecting the airport to Melbourne’s train network.
The Suburban Rail Loop North Section will also travel through Sunshine, connecting Melbourne Airport to Victoria’s regional and metropolitan train network for the first time. It will provide direct access to Melbourne Airport from more than 30 stations without the need to change trains.
The project will deliver 5100 additional direct local jobs during construction of SRL North, with a total of up to 24,000 jobs supported across the Victorian economy to deliver both SRL East and SRL North.
Strategic development, major investment and new local projects in the broader areas around SRL North stations will also generate and support more jobs closer to where people live, diverse and affordable housing, and services such as schools, parks and playgrounds.
Seven brand new stations are proposed for SRL North at Doncaster, Heidelberg, Bundoora, Reservoir, Fawkner, Broadmeadows, and Melbourne Airport. Station locations are preliminary and will be confirmed as the planning and development of SRL North progresses.
Broadmeadows is set to become a transport super hub, with a connection for regional passengers and trains travelling in four directions.
By the 2050s, around 8500 regional passengers are forecast to travel through the superhub station each day, and more than half of all passengers travelling on Hume corridor services will interchange at Broadmeadows.
SRL North will deliver better access to tertiary education, employment and business opportunities right across Melbourne’s middle suburbs and will give many Victorians a direct connection to Melbourne Airport for the first time.
The new rail line will slash public transport travel time from Broadmeadows to the airport by almost half, and journeys will be easier, more reliable and more comfortable particularly for those travelling with luggage.
SRL trains will be fitted with convenient and secure luggage compartments. Better connections to the airport will also improve travel between regional, interstate and international markets. This will expand opportunities and boost the business and tourism potential of regional Victoria.
While SRL East (Cheltenham to Box Hill) is the immediate focus for delivery, early planning and development on future stages continues. SRL North is expected to be complete by 2053.
While the Airport Rail Link’s details are being finalised, the State Government stated early works and other works already funded are continuing. This includes the utilities relocation program involving telecommunications, water and electricity services, which will be completed by the end of the year.
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Transport consultants with half assed reports almost always overlook the 901 bus to/from Broadmeadows and the lesser frequency 479 bus to/from Sunbury station as a viable alternative to the $25.00 each way Skybus.