Rail link business case supports constructing an elevated station at Melbourne Airport

Airport chiefs were blindsided by the state government’s elevated station plan, saying they hadn’t agreed to it.

Melbourne’s Airport Rail Link will deliver a new station for tens of thousands of people in Melbourne’s northwest and a station at Tullamarine will be above ground.

But Melbourne Airport has been railroaded by the Andrews Government’s plan for the elevated station, with the two sides at odds over the multibillion-dollar project.

The state government and the Commonwealth will on Wednesday release the business case for the $8bn-$13bn project – including plans for an elevated station near the terminal and a new station at Keilor East – showing a $1.80 return for every dollar invested.

For months the station at Tullamarine was the centre of a dispute between the government and the airport.

The state favoured elevated rail while the airport wanted to go underground, with negotiations believed to still be underway.

But Melbourne Airport were blindsided on Tuesday night when they were told the government’s business case announcement would include plans to build the above ground options.

How the elevated station would look at Melbourne Airport. Picture: Supplied

The decision has prompted a backlash from the airport, who are still pushing for the tunnel.

Despite the government publicly releasing pictures of the elevated station, Melbourne Airport’s chief of ground transport Jai McDermott said the matter had not yet been resolved.

“We continue to work in good faith with the Victorian government to deliver this important project for Melbourne, however we are yet to agree on station location and design,” he said.

“Melbourne Airport’s preference has been, and remains an underground station, which provides a superior passenger experience, safeguards for future connectivity and is appropriate for Victoria’s international gateway.

“It is important that the new rail station works for all airport users, not just those who arrive by train, and that it is a station all Victorians can all be proud of.

“Melbourne Airport supports the construction of an extra station in Keilor East as part of the project.

It comes as updated plans for the project will reveal an extra station will be built at Keilor East to service thousands of residents crying out for better public transport options.

The station was not ­included when the project was announced but the Herald Sun last month revealed it was being assessed as part of the business case.

Victoria’s Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll and Federal Government Services Minister Bill Shorten at the time broke ranks to back the idea in their electorates.

Now the business case has been completed, both levels of government have decided to go ahead with the Keilor East option.

It would link 150,000 people across the City of Moonee Valley municipality to the rail network for the first time.

“The new station at Keilor East means airport rail will truly be a new rail line for Melbourne’s west, connecting hundreds of thousands of people to Melbourne’s train network for the first time,” Victorian Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan said.

An extra station will be built at Keilor East as part of the rail link.

“This project stacks up. Not only will it better connect Victorians to our city, our suburbs and the world – it will repay every cent invested in opportunities for local workers and businesses.”

Mr Carroll said his community had been calling for the station for years.

“I’m glad that because of a strong partnership in Can­berra we’ve been able to ­deliver it.”

The business case document shows a $1.80 return for the entire project through adding $17.9bn to Victoria’s state product.

It also supports constructing an elevated station at Melbourne Airport because it can be built faster, cheaper, with fewer disruptions and ­interference with future projects at the airport.

The business case for the rail link has been completed. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Authorities and Melbourne Airport had spent months in a dispute about where to build the structure.

The state government favoured the elevated option while the airport had sup­ported a tunnel to future-proof for another rail link.

When completed in 2029, trains will run every 10 minutes through the Metro Tunnel and connect the V/line network through Sunshine.

Other details include a rail bridge over the M80 freeway and upgrades to platforms and carparking at Sunshine.

Acting federal Infrastructure Minister Julie Collins said: “We’re proud to partner with the Victorian government to deliver this landmark project.”

Mr Shorten said the Keilor East Station was a “giant win” for his local community.

The state and federal governments have committed $5bn each for the rail link.

Originally published as Rail link business case supports constructing an elevated station at Melbourne Airport