Rail experts make last-ditch effort for airport rail link tunnel
Rail experts are making an eleventh-hour bid to persuade the state and federal governments to include a tunnel between the city and Sunshine as part of the airport rail link.
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Rail experts are making a last-ditch effort to convince the state and federal governments that Melbourne’s airport rail link needs a tunnel between the CBD and Sunshine.
The Herald Sun reported on Friday that while the federal government preferred the tunnel option, it was open to adopting Victoria’s cheaper proposal that would rely on existing above-ground tracks.
Rail Futures Institute president John Hearsch said that would be an “extremely short sighted” and “third-rate solution”, limiting the ability to run quick, regular and direct services to Tullamarine.
“Melbourne has but one chance to learn from overseas and get this right,” he said.
“New underground tracks starting from Southern Cross are the only practical solution to avoid massive property acquisition and unlock additional train capacity between Southern Cross and Sunshine.”
“These will not only carry airport trains but also have ample capacity to provide the first section of infrastructure needed for fast trains to Geelong and in future, Ballarat.”
The Australasian Railway Association, the industry’s peak body, also said it was crucial the project be able to deliver the “fast and frequent journey times” expected in an international city.
“We need visionary thinking from our elected leaders to ensure the infrastructure we build for the future meets customers’ expectations, is efficient and delivers adequate capacity for the population growth that Melbourne will undergo,” association chair Danny Broad said.
After the Herald Sun reported that a $5 billion private sector offer — including a new tunnel — was likely to be rejected, Mr Broad encouraged both governments to consider it if “financing is an issue” in delivering the long-awaited project.
A decision on the final route is expected to be made early next year after Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Premier Daniel Andrews held what insiders described as productive and positive talks in Melbourne on Thursday.
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Both governments have put $5 billion on the table to fund the long-awaited project.
In September, Mr Andrews said that if the airport rail service was “slow and congested and stopping at all stations, people won’t use it”.
“We will build something that is efficient, effective and represents value for money … and is something that people will use,” he said at the time.