Melbourne airport rail link boost: Turnbull Government to pour cash into long-awaited project

UPDATE: THE PM says a train link to the airport has “always been seen as an omission” in Melbourne, as the Herald Sun reveals the Federal Government is set to pour cash into the long-awaited project.

A train link to Melbourne airport has won the backing of the Turnbull Government.

A TRAIN link to Melbourne airport has won the backing of the Turnbull Government, which will pour cash into the long-awaited project to finally get it on track.

The Herald Sun can reveal next month’s Budget is expected to include money for the link.

The government is understood to be willing to make a multi-year commitment to kickstart it.

The funding would be part of a Victorian infrastructure package worth more than $1 billion, which would also finance upgrades to the Bairnsdale, Wodonga and Warrnambool railway lines.

The money is expected to flow from a federal-state agreement to pay Victoria more than $1 billion it is owed from the asset recycling fund for the sale of the Port of Melbourne.

Speaking this morning, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told 3AW: “It’s something that’s always been seen as an omission in Melbourne, not to have a rail line out to the airport.

“There is no doubt as our cities become bigger and more densely settled, you need to have more mass transit.”

Victorian Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said the rail line was a long-term project and could not be built until the Melbourne Metro Rail link was finished in the CBD.

“The Infrastructure Victoria report indicated that an airport rail link is needed within 15 to 30 years,” she told ABC radio this morning.

“We certainly want to work towards achieving that.”

The airport rail link, tipped to cost $5 billion, has won firm support from Victorian MPs.

Melbourne airport has warned that without action the Tullamarine Freeway will be gridlocked within a decade.

PETITION FOR RAIL LINK TO MELBOURNE AIRPORT ATTRACTS THOUSANDS OF SIGNATURES

Melbourne airport has warned that without action the Tullamarine Freeway will be gridlocked within a decade. Picture: Nicole Garmston

The federal government wants to investigate all possible alignments for the rail link, including the option of a stand-alone line separate from the current suburban rail system.

The state government has so far refused to commit to the project but Premier Daniel Andrews said last year that “there’ll be a time when (it) stacks up”.

His comments followed the release of Infrastructure Victoria’s 30-year planning blueprint, which said an airport rail link — built along the Albion East reservation — would deliver an economic benefit of up to $1.60 for every dollar spent.

Senior federal ministers Darren Chester and Dan Tehan have also lobbied strongly for Budget funding of major improvements to regional train services.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and federal MP Darren Chester. Picture: AAP

Mr Chester, the Transport Minister, travelled on a V/Line train from ­Melbourne to Albury this week and said the condition of the track was of “significant concern”.

He said he had met Victorian Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan and had “very productive discussions” about the state and federal governments working together on regional rail upgrades.

The Gippsland MP said he had been fighting for regional Victoria in Budget meetings because he wanted to “see more spending” on infrastructure.

“My view is we need to see the state and federal governments working together as positively as we possibly can to achieve the improvements that the community wants,” Mr Chester said.

“We understand that improving connectivity in our regional towns will mean more opportunities for young people in our communities. It will mean opportunities for decentralisation and regional development. Having a good rail service is part of the answer for that.”

Veterans’ Affairs Minister Mr Tehan, the member for Wannon in the state’s southwest, also told a local paper recently the federal government needed to work with the state government to upgrade the Warrnambool rail line.

State opposition public transport spokesman David Hodgett, speaking this morning, said Victoria should get on and build the link.

“This is another example of the feds stumping up the cash for a Victorian project,” he said.

Mr Hodgett said the cited cost of $5 billion was for one of the more expensive alignments.

“I think they have a heavy rail option there. I think you could do it much cheaper,” he said.

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