AN UPDATED design for a rail link running from Melbourne to Tullamarine airport would use existing train tracks on the Sydenham line, beginning near Albion station.
The State Government released the $6.5 million Melbourne Airport Rail Link Study last week, which contained their preferred route for a future airport-to-CBD rail connection.
Public Transport Minister Terry Mulder said the “Albion East route” outperformed more than 80 alternative routes considered by Public Transport Victoria during the study.
In 2001, the government reserved land to build a section of railway on the Albion East route – but the new study has found the design “is no longer feasible as it cannot provide the capacity for rail services to the airport as well as increased services to cater for the unprecedented patronage growth” occurring in the West.
Since the Albion East land was reserved more than 10 years ago, air passenger trips and patronage on trains have both grown by an 70 per cent, according to PTV.
The new airport-to-CBD rail connection design includes the use of the existing Sydenham rail line, joining near Albion station, until it merges with a tunnel near South Kensington.
The route would connect with the Metro tunnel around South Kensington, continue through stations including Footscray and join the Sydenham line via a flyover between Albion and Sunshine stations.
The rail link easement would share a corridor with the extension of Airport Dve, then lower into a tunnel near Mercer Dve, to enter a future underground terminus at the Melbourne airport terminal.
The study also said the Albion East option would need to consider a new track over the Maribyrnong River and would require rail and road grade separation at the Western ring Rd, Airport Dve and Sharps Rd.
The 28km route from Tullamarine to Melbourne would take commuters an estimated 30 minutes to reach a proposed “CBD North” station.
Mr Mulder said PTV would continue planning for a Melbourne airport rail link as part of expanding Melbourne’s rail network.
