Traffic woes and passenger growth could propel faster construction of rail line, Melbourne Airport boss says

Melbourne Airport is bracing for its “biggest ever growth period” — and if a certain threshold is met, the long-awaited rail link may be built sooner than expected.

Post-Covid traffic congestion on the Tullamarine Freeway and the airport’s record growth path are likely to propel a $13 billion rail link to a faster track, Melbourne Airport says.

Chief executive Lorie Argus said the Commonwealth was assessing whether extra traffic meant the Tulla’s “tipping point” for chaos would occur before 2036, when previous modelling predicted the freeway would be full.

Ms Argus said anecdotal evidence and higher-than-expected post-pandemic international passenger growth meant the date was expected to be revised forward, and she expected rail line planning would be aligned.

Melbourne Airport chief executive Lorie Argus. Picture: Nicki Connolly

The Canadian-born chief executive strongly backed the long-awaited rail link during an interview with the Herald Sun to mark the airport’s 55 year anniversary being celebrated on Tuesday.

Ms Argus said the airport’s success has grown steadily since its first flight arrived from Rome in 1970, and growth would be turbocharged over the next two decades — at which point about 74 million passengers a year would arrive and depart its terminals.

Over its 55-year history, Ms Argus said international travel had transformed from an expensive luxury to a relatively affordable experience prioritised by millions, and that the pandemic had shifted society’s preference for experiences over physical goods.

“Even though we are in a crunch, from an inflation and a cost of living perspective, the one thing that the pandemic has taught us is people are prioritising themselves and their experience over other things,” she said.

Ms Argus says the $13 billion airport rail link could be fast-tracked.

International passenger numbers have soared following Covid-19, and outpaced expectations.

As a result, Ms Argus said a major overhaul of the terminals and space inside the airport, which will be updated once a new road entrance to major terminals opens next year, was more imperative.

“I think it’ll be the biggest growth period the airport’s ever seen,” she said.

“We’ve done as many renovations as we can within the space that we have, but step change is now required.”

A new road being built for passenger drop-offs at terminals 1, 2 and 3 is set to open next year, which will allow the airport to be expanded to “bring the building out” to the forecourt.

Ms Argus said a third runway opening in 2031 would slowly add to what is already a painful drive along the Tulla in peak periods.

“Post Covid, traffic hasn’t gotten any lighter … there’s more vehicle ownership, there’s more people driving,” she said.

Previously modelling suggested 2036 would be when roads would be choked by traffic, but Ms Argus said if revised modelling — commissioned by the Commonwealth — found it has shifted forward “then it’s important we just get on with it”.

“What’s the tipping point and how do we work back from that to make sure we have that train open and operating as practically reasonably as possible within the time frame that those congestion points occur,” she said.

“Ideally, it’ll be as close to 2031 as possible. We have to make sure that we’ve got access solved for the long term.”

Originally published as Traffic woes and passenger growth could propel faster construction of rail line, Melbourne Airport boss says