First works reveal airport rail link with 5km “sky rail” viaduct

Melbourne’s new airport trains would travel on 5km of “sky rail” at the start of their journey as the first package of works is revealed.

Melbourne’s new airport trains would travel for 5km along elevated “sky rail” between the outskirts of the airport and the Western Ring Road.

Plans for the $10 billion link are taking shape, with the first package of works for Sunshine and Albion station upgrades released for expressions of interest.

Contracts for the mega-project will be split up in five or six packages, with construction slated to begin next year and the link opened before the end of the decade.

Once operating, trains would run from the heart of the CBD to the airport in under half an hour.
The project is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and state, which have each promised up to $5bn.

Federal Urban Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher and state Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan will release the EOI today as part of a “robust, multi-staged procurement process”.

“More than 100 organisations in Australia and across the world have registered their interest to be a part of building this once-in-a-generation project, which will support up to 8,000 jobs during its delivery”, Mr Fletcher said.

Melbourne Airport rail renders of the Maribyrnong River Bridge.

Ms Allan said the airport link would help transform Sunshine into a transport “superhub” that would make use of projects such as the Metro Tunnel, Geelong Fast Rail and Western Rail Plan.

“We want to get construction started on this much-needed project as soon as possible and connect Melbourne Airport to Victoria’s regional and metropolitan rail network,” Minister Allan said.

The first package of works includes pedestrian concourse enabling transfers at either end of Sunshine station platforms, as well as extra ticketing gates and weather protected platform extensions.

Documents released as part of the EOI process show that a large proportion of the airport link is planned to be above ground.

Melbourne Airport rail renders show the link crossing Ballarat Rd.

This includes the 5km “viaduct” along Airport Drive that will start rising from the edge of the airport’s long-term car park and continue until it crosses the Western Ring Road.

At that point the rail line will soar 13m above traffic below.

Other elevated structures include a rail bridge across the Maribyrnong River, and sweeping flyovers above Albion station – which won’t be connected to the new link.

Final designs are subject to planning approvals and consultation with the community and key stakeholders.