State government to partner with Commonwealth for Melbourne airport rail link
VICTORIA is willing to work with Malcolm Turnbull to build the long-awaited airport rail link, with Acting Premier James Merlino saying it is being analysed in a “partnership” with the Commonwealth.
Future Victoria
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VICTORIA is willing to work with Malcolm Turnbull to build the long-awaited airport rail link, with Acting Premier James Merlino saying the “important project” is being analysed in “partnership” with the Commonwealth.
Mr Merlino said the state government was working alongside its federal counterparts on a $30 million study to determine the best route for the train to Tullamarine, as well as the cost and “the best way to fund it”.
HIGHPOINT STOP PLAN FOR AIRPORT RAIL LINK
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RADICAL PLAN FOR DRIVERLESS TRAINS
It comes after the Herald Sun revealed the Turnbull government could build the link without state funding, with all options on the table including an extended line linking a new suburb in Maribyrnong, Footscray and Highpoint Shopping Centre.
Private consortium Airshuttle Australia has put forward its own $1.5 billion proposal, with new plans detailing a route from Southern Cross with stops at Arden, Flemington, Highpoint Shopping Centre, Maribyrnong, and Brimbank Park, which could incorporate a park-and-ride.
Including a stop at Arden would enable the airport link to connect with Melbourne Metro, opening up the possibility of a rail link all the way from Pakenham to the airport once the tunnel project is complete.
Mr Merlino said today it was “nice to see the prime minister … suddenly taking an interest in Victoria” with his ideas on airport rail.
He said Melbourne Metro needed to be built first to expand capacity on the rail network.
“We absolutely acknowledge that this is an important project but you need to do things in order,” he said.
Opposition leader Matthew Guy welcomed Mr Turnbull’s intervention, saying there was “no reason” why the federal government couldn’t go it alone on the airport rail link after it decided to build a second airport in Sydney.
He said the new train line was needed “whether it’s on conventional technology or new technology”.
Airshuttle Australia’s proposal, using elevated driverless trains, would see trips take 15 minutes on the preferred route along Tullamarine Freeway, while the Maribyrnong express route would take about 18 minutes.
Airshuttle Australia spokesman Peter O’Brien said using the Maribyrnong route, which was 10 per cent longer and 20 per cent dearer than the Tullamarine option, was not a deal-breaker.
“It has got some other attributes, it would pick up the Royal Showgrounds and Flemington racecourse and the tourism sector is quite excited about that,” he said.
Mr O’Brien said he did not think the Federal government needed to completely own the project because there was “quite an appetite to invest” from super funds.
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