Airport rail link’s place in Suburban Rail Loop could put brakes on express service

Victorians have made it clear — they want the airport rail link to be an express service from the city to Tullamarine. However, the $50 billion Suburban Rail Loop may throw a spanner in the works.

Seven out of ten Victorians want the airport rail link to be an express service which gets from the city to Tullamarine in under 20 minutes.

Polling obtained by the Sunday Herald Sun reveals the project has overwhelming support from Victorians, with 55 per cent planning to switch to it when it is up and running in a decade.

But while most prefer an express route with only one stop, the state government’s plan to include the airport rail project in its $50 billion Suburban Rail Loop means travellers may have to change trains at Sunshine to get to the CBD.

The new line between Sunshine and Tullamarine is being positioned as the first stage of the ambitious rail loop, which would circle the city from Werribee to Cheltenham.

An artist’s impression of AirRail Melbourne’s proposed Melbourne Airport station.

While no decision has been made on the final alignment, this would mean airport commuters would likely have to get on and off trains at the new Sunshine super hub.

They could then connect to the line running between Sunbury and Cranbourne and Pakenham, which will enter and exit the CBD via the new Metro Tunnel.

The poll of 1500 Victorians by JWS Research was commissioned by the AirRail Melbourne consortium — including Melbourne Airport, Metro Train and Southern Cross station — and is circulating widely in state and federal government ranks.

An artist’s impression of AirRail Melbourne custom airport train.

The Sunday Herald Sun revealed last year that the consortium, backed by super fund giant IFM Investors, was offering $5 billion towards the airport rail link.

Their plan — being considered by the state government as a market-led proposal — would provide a 20-minute trip on custom-built trains running on dedicated lines.

A state government spokeswoman said airport rail planning was “well advanced”, with the business case to be completed next year.

It is understood it will consider how the link can be used by people travelling to and from all parts of the state, not just the CBD.

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“Rail Projects Victoria and its expert technical advisers are currently undertaking site investigations and talking to communities along the rail corridor, as well as detailed engineering analysis, so the project can be designed to deliver the best outcome for all Victorians,” the spokeswoman said.

A spokesman for AirRail Melbourne declined to comment.

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