Regional hubs will win big with Melbourne Airport rail link

KEY regional centres will get boosted train services thanks to a super-sized Sunshine station as part of the Tullamarine Airport rail line plan, with passengers from regional hubs such as Ballarat and Geelong getting to the airport 30 minutes quicker and could usher in fast rail.

KEY regional centres will get boosted train services thanks to a super-sized Sunshine station as part of the Tullamarine Airport rail line plan.

Passengers from regional hubs such as Ballarat and Geelong will get to the airport 30 minutes quicker and could usher in fast rail.

Under the Andrews Government’s preferred route for the $8-13 billion project the 12km airport link would be built from Sunshine to Tullamarine, using existing rail reserves northwest of Sunshine station.

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Airport Train.

Victorian Government is going to commit to a date that the Airport Rail will get started. Picture: Tony Gough

The Andrews Government will argue that one of the benefits of this route, besides less tunnelling so potentially a lower cost, is it will also fit with a long-term plan to create fast-rail services to Geelong, currently being assessed through a $50 million planning study.

Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said building the Sunshine option would benefit the most people.

“The Andrews Labor Government will build the airport link via Sunshine, so that all Victorians can access the airport by rail, no matter where you live,” she said.

“Not only will this deliver fast train services to and from the airport, but it will pave the way for fast rail to Geelong and Ballarat.”

The proposed train line from the Tullamarine Airport to the Melbourne CBD will run via Sunshine.

It is understood senior members of the Turnbull Government are interested in the potential for regional service upgrades thanks to the project, broadening benefits of what it calls a nation-shaping project.

If the Sunshine option is taken, passengers in Melbourne’s southeast would be able to travel through the forthcoming Metro rail tunnel all the way to Melbourne’s west — or potentially the airport if a change is not required at Sunshine.

Both the federal and state governments will spruik people in these suburbs as other big winners from the $8-13 billion project.

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