Melbourne Airport rail link fast-tracked as governments unveil timeline for regional rail package

THE route for Melbourne’s airport rail link will likely be decided before November’s state election as Malcolm Turnbull and Daniel Andrews put aside their differences to accelerate the project.

THE route for Melbourne’s airport rail link will likely be decided before November’s state election as Malcolm Turnbull and Daniel Andrews put aside their differences to accelerate the project.

Four alternative routes are being considered but Mr Andrews heavily favours a line running via Sunshine, which would likely be the most cost-effective and open up access to Melbourne’s growing western suburbs and regional rail lines.

Sources close to the negotiations say Mr Turnbull is open to all options and wants the preliminary work to be finished as soon as possible.

AIRPORT RAIL LINK COULD BE BUILT IN 5 YEARS

TURNBULL DELIVERS HISTORIC $5 BILLION AIRPORT RAIL BOOST

EXTRA SERVICES, FASTER TRIPS IN REGIONAL RAIL PACKAGE

It comes as the Herald Sun can reveal the state and federal governments have locked in the timeline to deliver a massive $1.75 billion upgrade of the state’s regional rail network.

Mr Turnbull and Mr Andrews have had a series of productive discussions in recent weeks about infrastructure, including how they will build the long-awaited rail line to Tullamarine after the federal government put $5 billion on the table in last month’s Budget.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull with Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack at Melbourne Airport. Picture: David Crosling

It is understood the early business case will be done in September, meaning a decision on the route is expected to be made before the state government goes into caretaker mode.

The leaders also discussed how they could work together on the $16.5 billion North East Link to connect the Eastern Freeway with the M80 Ring Road.

The state and federal governments are also now wanting construction companies to register their interest to deliver the regional rail package, which will see the Ballarat line upgraded by the end of next year.

The Herald Sun can reveal work on the Warrnambool line will be finished in 2020, the Bendigo line by early 2021 and the Gippsland line by late 2022.

A $160 million upgrade of the Geelong line, to be completed by late 2021, includes duplicating tracks around Waurn Ponds station to enable a future duplication to South Geelong.

The regional rail upgrades are expected to deliver major benefits to commuters. Picture: Rob Leeson

The business case for this project has now been submitted to Infrastructure Australia. Victorian Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said it would remove notorious bottlenecks and “give passengers on regional Victoria’s busiest line the train services they deserve”.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said more than 50 kilometres of tracks on the North East rail line had already been resurfaced as an in-principle deal was reached this week on a broader $235 million upgrade.

He said the $1.75 billion regional rail blitz would deliver huge improvements for passengers and create more than 1000 construction jobs.

[e-mail]

@tminear