Like everyone, David Fox is sick of the Days of Our Lives saga of a railway line to Tullamarine airport. Fox has a better idea.
The Fox family will help fork out for a railway line from their Avalon airport to Melbourne.
Speaking after the announcement of Jetstar’s Melbourne to Brisbane service out of Avalon, Fox said it would cost the government a fraction of the cost of a line to Tullamarine.
A render of the proposed Melbourne airport station as part of the Melbourne airport rail link. Picture: supplied
The battle over a rail line to Melbourne’s airport escalated last month, with Victorian treasurer Tim Pallas looking at a train station at Avalon if the four-year stoush over an underground or overground station continues
David Fox, the son of patriarch Lindsay and the chair and owner of Avalon Airport, said he welcomed Pallas’s comments.
“We could build a train station two-and-a-half kilometres away for a fraction of the price of what Tullamarine are working on with the state government,” he told Page 13 from the tarmac.
Jetstar will service a new route from Avalon Airport to Brisbane. Picture: Supplied
“And you know what, the Fox family are prepared to put our money on the line and actually pay for it as well as a participating joint venture between the state and ourselves.
“We would contribute to the rail station where our opponents down the road don’t want to do so.
“It’s an ugly relationship,” he said. “It’s a master-servant, but who’s the master and who’s the servant?
“The reality is we are a willing participant to having an open conversation about contributing to building a train station,” said the Avalon operator.
Herald Sun 1-7-2024
2.5kms away from where the terminal?
That is not a good idea station would need to be a part of the terminal area and the rail line could also provide freight access to the industrial area (about to become the largest defence manufacturing area in Australia) making it a win/win.
Unless the station is at the actual terminal no one will want to change to a bus with luggage, kids etc.
the powers to be couldn’t even put a station in at Corio Quay for the TAS Ferry. I can’t walk from North Shore on a cane and what about luggage? There is already rail access to the wharf. Halfwits govern these things im afraid
Worse they even removed the rail line from the terminal area to create a car park and also cutting off the ability to use rail for freight delivery to the quay next to the Ferry dock. Victoria does not have a clue it is a backwater really.
One reason Tasmania wanted to move the ferry to Geelong was for the use of more freight but this has only created more trucks into the area.
Maybe we should have the Fox Family running the state other than the ALP things would happen faster.
A shuttle bus would suffice and cost a lot less.
But the airport operator does not share the same view otherwise why would they be prepared to put their own money up to ensure the rail line was built? One mode of transit into the airport is far better than two modes. It will be interesting to see how they build this and the train patterns assuming it will have a connection from Geelong and Melbourne which makes a lot of sense.
Let’s not forget there have been proposals for years to make this rail service a reality and all been blocked by the ALP.