Melbourne Airport train plan gets funding, bipartisan backing

THE travel time for people journeying from Melbourne airport on the city’s long-awaited rail link has been revealed. It comes as the train plan gets bipartisan backing, with Opposition Leader Matthew Guy confirming his support.

A NEW airport rail link is predicted to shuttle travellers from the city to the airport in about half an hour.

The Sunday Herald Sun revealed yesterday that a re-elected Andrews Government would match a $5 billion cash splash from its federal counterpart.

Combined, the funding is enough to get the long-awaited link off the ground and under construction by 2022.

TRANSPORT PROJECT LOCKED IN WITH $5B PLEDGE

REGIONAL HUBS TO WIN BIG WITH RAIL LINK

Work on the long-awaited airport rail link is expected to begin in 2022. Picture: Tony Gough

Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said the trip from the city to Tullamarine was expected to take about 30 minutes, but a business case currently under way would confirm the exact timing.

The link, to cost between $8 billion and $13 billion, will run through Sunshine and connect regional lines to high-speed rail.

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy also confirmed his support for the airport rail link.

But he questioned the government’s commitment to the project because it had not appeared in this year’s Budget or the forward estimates.

“One has to ask if it’s more than a newspaper announcement or if it is serious,” Mr Guy said.

“I don’t know how this prop­osal could get anywhere near $13 billion.

“Having said that, we need to build an airport rail link. I’m supportive of building it.”

AIRPORT RAIL LINK PREFERRED ROUTE EMERGES