Avalon Airport boss David Fox’s solution to end Melbourne Airport Rail Link stand-off

A new railway line from Avalon Airport to Melbourne costing only a fraction of the contentious Rail Link project is being touted by David Fox as the perfect solution to the ongoing dispute.

Avalon airport chair David Fox says a railway from the regional airport to Melbourne would cost far less than the proposed Rail Link. Picture: Supplied

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.