Melbourne Airport rail link

[ozbob]

From the Melbourne Age click here!

Airport rail link essential: state study

Airport rail link essential: state study
April 7, 2013 Farrah Tomazin

The city's transport network will fail to keep up with the number of passengers travelling to Melbourne Airport unless a proposed rail connection to Tullamarine becomes a reality, state government documents reveal.

But transport experts admit the airport link will not be feasible unless the proposed Melbourne Metro rail tunnel is built first - a project Tony Abbott has ruled out funding should the Coalition win this year's federal election.

A government study into the Melbourne Airport rail link reveals that passenger trips and train patronage have both increased by 70 per cent in the decade since 2001, with about 107,000 trips to and from Tullamarine now taking place every day.

But the same report also found demand would continue to grow by 3.6 per cent a year over the next 30 years, and unless the rail connections got off the ground, the city's transport network would struggle to cope.
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''Forecast growth in Melbourne's population and air passenger numbers will result in demand for airport access that exceeds the capacity of existing transport infrastructure and services,'' the report says.

The solution, it argues, is a train connection to the airport via what is known as the ''Albion East route''.

This would allow passengers to travel through the city to Sunshine on the Melbourne Metro - a proposed cross-city tunnel with five underground stations between South Kensington and South Yarra - and then continue to the airport via new tracks that would cut across reserved land and a freight corridor in Melbourne's north-west.

The documents reveal that the project would require the government to cut through endangered grassland and shrubs, threatened ecological species and several contaminated land sites.

But Public Transport Victoria chief Ian Dobbs insisted these problems could be overcome with ample community consultation. He also confirmed the airport link required Melbourne Metro to be established first, but warned that without the rail connection to Tullamarine, the state's economy could be at risk.

''It's clear by the sheer demand there's going to be for Tullamarine airport in the future that easy access has got to be guaranteed. The state's economic viability depends on good access to its airport,'' Mr Dobbs said.

Transport has proven to be a key point of difference for this year's federal election, after Liberal leader Tony Abbott said on Thursday the federal government should not be in the business of funding urban rail projects.

Mr Abbott has promised $1.5 billion for the east-west link, a proposed 18-kilometre road connecting the Eastern Freeway to the Western Ring Road via the Tullamarine Freeway and Port of Melbourne.

In contrast, the Gillard government has thrown its weight behind the Melbourne Metro rail project, which the Napthine government has repeatedly said will ''unlock capacity'' for proposed projects such as the airport link, the Rowville rail line, and the Dandenong rail corridor upgrade.

Premier Denis Napthine said he would continue to push Mr Abbott to help fund the $9 million rail project, despite the Opposition Leader's comments last week.

[#Metro]

A government study into the Melbourne Airport rail link reveals that passenger trips and train patronage have both increased by 70 per cent in the decade since 2001, with about 107,000 trips to and from Tullamarine now taking place every day.

Yes, but they threw in car trips, taxi and bus...
PT is only a fraction of this.

The railway will actually be 10 mins slower than the current bus.

I prefer Light Rail down the freeway median and take a lane from cars if need be. Cheaper and faster to do IMHO. Current bus service is excellent but does have problems as a bus can only get so big before you're squished.

[Gazza]

I dont reckon it would be cheaper...where are the connections, and how much would use the freeway?

[#Metro]

I dont reckon it would be cheaper...where are the connections, and how much would use the freeway?

You might be right on this point. The advantage is the existing infrastructure to Albion and then the freight spur line. Short extension would be required from that freight spur to the airport in the Tullamarine Fwy. LRT would have to go down the freeway and be de novo the full length.

LRT tends to be 3x cheaper per km than heavy rail as a guideline; It would have to be scoped out.

I haven't seen the full technical report and it is unclear whether only heavy rail options were looked at or others such as LRT, busway etc.

[ozbob]

Herald Sun --> Six million people would use train to Melbourne Airport

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Car park that's as big as a suburb

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Airport chief hits back at Planning Minister's quip

[STB]

For a rail dominated city, it is a bit strange how when you arrive in Melbourne, you find you have to board a bus to the city.  The last time I caught the Skybus coming back from Melbourne to the Airport, it was packed to the brim and a lady fell over and broke her nose when the bus came to a stop at the International Terminal.

My experience catching the Skybus, is long line ups and very cramped once on board.  Here's hoping Melbourne moves forward with this railway.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Brendan Donohoe ‏@BrendanDonohoe7 10m

Airport rail link press release. Details in budget. 25 min service every 10 mins. Albion East route. Thru Jacana http://t.co/MmDD551sI3

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Premier Denis Napthine promises Melbourne airport rail link

A rail link to Melbourne airport will become a reality under a Coalition government.

Premier Denis Napthine announced it was time the rail link was built, during his address to the Victorian Liberal Party's state council meeting on Sunday.

Dr Napthine said the rail link will deliver efficient, high-capacity regular services to Melbourne airport.

The project will be outlined in the upcoming May state budget, he said.

"I'm pleased to announce that my government will build the much needed Melbourne airport rail link," he told the conference.

"This project has been on the books for over 40 years," he said.

"It is time this rail link was built."

Melbourne airport attracts 30 million passengers a year and this was expected to double in 20 years, he said.

AAP

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/premier-denis-napthine-promises-melbourne-airport-rail-link-20140413-36l24.html

[ozbob]

http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/9617-coalition-government-commits-to-melbourne-airport-rail-link-in-state-budget.html

Coalition Government commits to Melbourne Airport Rail Link in State Budget
    Sunday, 13 April 2014

Victorians will be able to catch a train to the airport with Premier Denis Napthine today announcing that the upcoming State Budget will outline the Coalition Government's commitment to build a new rail link from Southern Cross Station to Melbourne Airport.

Speaking at the Liberal Party State Council today, Dr Napthine said the landmark project was part of the Coalition Government's record-breaking infrastructure agenda and commitment to building a better Victoria.

"The Coalition Government is undertaking the detailed design, planning and consultation work on this important project," Dr Napthine said.

"The Melbourne Airport Rail Link is a critical component of the Coalition Government's broader transport plan that will deliver more services to carry more people, more often across metropolitan and regional networks.

"This project will see a new service running along dedicated tracks from Melbourne Airport to Albion where it will join the existing rail network and run through to Southern Cross Station.

"This will be an electrified service that utilises the Albion East route which has previously been identified as the preferred option for an airport rail link.

"This service will depart from Southern Cross Station every 10 minutes during peak hours with the total journey to the airport expected to take approximately 25 minutes.

"The new link will consist of a combination of at-grade and viaduct rail lines that will run from Albion, through the Jacana freight corridor and airport land terminating at a new elevated station at Melbourne Airport. A new rail flyover will be constructed at Albion to ensure smooth access to the existing rail network.

"The Melbourne Airport Rail Link is an historic project made possible thanks to our Government's outstanding economic credentials and good project management," Dr Napthine said.

Minister for Roads and Public Transport Terry Mulder said Melbourne Airport catered for 30 million passengers every year with this number expected to double by the mid 2030s.

"Our Government is committed to building the key transport infrastructure Victoria needs for a better and brighter future," Mr Mulder said.

"This fantastic project will provide easier access to Melbourne Airport for all Victorians whether they utilise the metropolitan train network or whether they arrive at Southern Cross Station from regional Victoria on a V/Line service.

"Metropolitan and regional commuters will also be able to access the Melbourne Airport at key interchanges at Footscray and Sunshine.

"The Melbourne Airport Rail Link will complement existing transport links to Tullamarine and will cater for future growth in the number of people who utilise Melbourne Airport.

"With the commitment for this project now secured in the upcoming State Budget, the Coalition Government will get on with the job of detailed design works and consultation with stakeholders and the general community," Mr Mulder said.

The Coalition Government's commitment to the Melbourne Airport Rail Link will be detailed in the State Budget.

[ozbob]

^

Twitter

Clay Lucas ‏@ClayLucas 8m

Compare Coalition's 2010 press release on airport rail http://bit.ly/OWKdjI  with today's http://bit.ly/1oYyeTs

[Gazza]

I'm not even sure why they were so obsessed with having the metro rail tunnel built? Melbourne has heaps of terminating CBD at SXS...there's what, a billion platforms at that station?

[SurfRail]

What there aren't is a billion tracks where all the lines converge on the approaches to the CBD (although the cut down version of the project with the portal at South Yarra doesn't solve most of that either).

I'd be looking at Airport to SXS, which would make a lot more sense to me.

[BrizCommuter]

I'm not even sure why they were so obsessed with having the metro rail tunnel built? Melbourne has heaps of terminating CBD at SXS...there's what, a billion platforms at that station?

The capacity issue is that 4 loop tracks, and 1 cross-town track, but 16 branches!. The Caulfield and Northern Groups in particular have limited capacity, and thus an extra 2 tracks (one in each direction) are required across the CBD.

[ozbob]

Daniel Bowen Blog --> Napthine promises Airport rail

[ozbob]

Alan Davies --> Should a rail line to Melbourne Airport be the priority?

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Premier Denis Napthine promises Melbourne airport rail link

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Environmental hurdles for airport rail link

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Melbourne airport pushes for early start on rail link

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Melbourne Airport Rail Link: do we need it - and when?

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Build airport rail or drown in traffic, Melbourne Airport chief warns

[pandmaster]

Melbourne Age --> Build airport rail or drown in traffic, Melbourne Airport chief warns

Alright then, where is the offer for the airport to chip in some funding?

[ozbob]

Crikey The Urbanist --> Is Daniel Andrews right to ignore airport rail?

[ozbob]

Crikey The Urbanist --> Is Daniel Andrews right to ignore airport rail?

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow now

@MelbUrbanist Agree Alan. Bertie Sky Bus I use when in Melb, fine generally. Other urgent priorities on existing network first.

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Melbourne airport 50th busiest in the world but among only six without rail

[pandmaster]

Melbourne Age --> Melbourne airport 50th busiest in the world but among only six without rail

Now that is just modist! The SkyBus is an exceptional service (only downside is peak hour traffic). Who cares whether it is a bus or not?

As much as I love trains, it is hard to see why airport rail should be a priority.

[Gazza]

Athens has just over half the number of passengers as Melbourne but has a rail link; Oslo with a population of more than 600,000 and Salt Lake City with just under 200,000 residents have rail links. Melbourne's population is 4.4 million.

Ah, I see they are quoting 'city' populations rather than metro area populations.

[pandmaster]

Athens has just over half the number of passengers as Melbourne but has a rail link; Oslo with a population of more than 600,000 and Salt Lake City with just under 200,000 residents have rail links. Melbourne's population is 4.4 million.

Ah, I see they are quoting 'city' populations rather than metro area populations.

Indeed. There really is some poor journalism out there. The US has this weird obsession with city proper (which is essentially meaningless) and metro areas. By that logic, Melbourne, with a population of 127 742, is doing just fine.

[ozbob]

http://www.ptua.org.au/2015/10/29/busiest-airports-rail/#slides

PTUA Media release

World's busiest airports have rail connections – Melbourne missing out

The majority of the world's busiest airports have mass transit connections, and the number is increasing every year.

A Public Transport Users Assocation (PTUA) study of airports around the world to be released at a forum on Friday found that by 2021, 83 of the world's busiest 100 airports will have rail services. Of the top 50 airports, all but 6 will have rail.[1]

At present 64 of the top 100 airports have rail connections, with the most recent being those in Toronto and Helsinki, both opened in June 2015. Another 6 have dedicated shuttle buses connecting to nearby rail lines; and a further 17 have rail connections currently under construction.

Just 17 of the world's busiest 100 airports have no rail connection – including Melbourne airport – though some of these have rail under consideration.

Among the world's top 100 airports, rail connections have opened at the rate of about two each year since 1990.

PTUA spokesperson Daniel Bowen said that it was clear that governments around the world recognised that rail was the most efficient way to serve the world's biggest airports.

"Melbourne is the world's 50th busiest airport.[2]

"Only mass transit can ensure that large numbers of people – both passengers and workers – can reach the airport quickly and efficiently.[3]

"This is not about city-envy, it's about how to best serve one of the busiest airports in the world."

While the state Coalition pledged construction of an airport rail link going into the 2014 state election, full funding wasn't provided. Labor has prioritised the metro rail tunnel instead.

"PTV has said that the metro rail tunnel is required to add capacity before building the airport line. The tunnel project has started, so it's time to get planning for the airport line underway as well, so that we don't wait another generation for it to happen.

"Melbourne Airport is going to keep growing – it's time to get moving on providing a mass transit heavy rail connection."

Mr Bowen warned that unless the airport line's fares were affordable and services frequent, public transport would remain a minority mode.[4]

"High quality public transport can provide relief from the airport's astronomical parking prices, but we must learn from the problems of Brisbane and Sydney's airport rail links: fares must be affordable and cost-competitive."

Mr Bowen called for the state government to get behind the airport rail link.

"The current Skybus service provides frequent services, but it's being pushed to the limit by growing patronage. It's overcrowded and gets stuck in traffic. It's high time our world city had trains to its major airport."

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> New rail plan calls for 200km/h trains and 'fast line' to Melbourne Airport

The Melbourne to Geelong train trip would be cut from an hour to 35 minutes and a new "fast line" would link the CBD with the airport, under an ambitious 25-year plan calling for major investment in Victoria's regional rail system.

The "Intercity" report calls for the introduction of new regional trains able to travel at 200 kilometres per hour, and rail upgrades that would allow this high-speed operation "where achievable".

A revamped regional rail network would help ease the burden on Melbourne from its massive population growth, by encouraging more Victorians to live in regional cities, it says.

The plan, prepared by the Rail Futures Institute and to be launched on Monday by former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer, says a better regional rail network would allow thousands more country residents to commute to Melbourne for work, while enabling more Melburnians to travel to jobs in regional cities. It says Victoria should aim for a regional population of at least three million by mid-century.

[SteelPan]

Good idea!   [dare I suggest, this type of regional plan, for highER speed rail, might be a good idea for some other regions in Oz too!  ]

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Melbourne Airport rail link reconsidered during secret tourism talks

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Airport rail not a priority, but widening Tullamarine Freeway is: roads minister

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Melbourne Airport rail link could be on the cards at next election

A rail link to Melbourne Airport could end up being built regardless of who wins the next state election, with both major parties declaring they are open to the idea as part of a broader plan to meet the city's long-term needs.

With new research revealing a train line from the CBD to Tullamarine could generate benefits of up to $1.40 for every $1 spent, the government and the opposition have not ruled out taking the policy to the Victorian poll in 2018.

In a notable strengthening of language this week, Premier Daniel Andrews said the proposal had merit, but it was important to get the government's other transport priorities – including level crossing removals and the Metro Rail Tunnel – ticked off first.

"There'll be a time when an airport rail link stacks up. It's not an unworthy project ... but it's about the sequence in which you build these things," he said.

Opposition leader Matthew Guy also said he was "committed to looking at all ways possible to fund an airport rail link" when asked if the proposal remained Coalition policy.

"There are some options which we are looking at – at this very moment I might add – because I can not envisage Melbourne being a city with an airport of more than 30 million visitors and still not having an airport rail link," he said.

The comments came as Infrastructure Victoria released its draft 30-year strategy this week, setting out 134 recommendations to manage the state's growth over the next three decades. In terms of transport policy, the independent agency also found:

* The so-called North East Link should be built within the next 10-15 years, finally connecting the Metropolitan Ring Road in the north with the Eastern Freeway or Eastlink in the east.

* A rail line to Doncaster would not be viable because it would only generate 10 cents for every dollar spent, nor would a train line to Rowville, which would only generate up to 50 cents for every dollar.

* The City Loop should be reconfigured within 15 to 30 years to allow more passengers along the Craigieburn and Upfield corridors and to enable electrification to Wallan.

* A rail linking Newport and Clifton Hill – otherwise known as Melbourne Metro 2 – might be needed in the long term.

Renewed debate about the Melbourne Airport Rail Link comes amid figures showing that passenger demand at the Tullamarine facility is expected to increase to 64 million by 2033. However, while Infrastructure Victoria has recommended a train line within 15-30 years, it suggests that in the next decade, the focus should be on improving bus services between the airport and the CBD.

Once built, however, the train trip would replace the SkyBus service, take 25 minutes, and depart every ten minutes. Services could also run through the Metro Tunnel, connecting with the Cranbourne/Pakenham line and offering passengers along that corridor a one-seat journey to or from the airport.

Economic modelling found the rail link could cost up to $3.6 billion, but would have a benefit-cost-ratio of between $1.20 and $1.40 for every dollar spent (or up to $1.60 when wider economic benefits were taken into account) – figures that came as a surprise to some government insiders.

And while the government has traditionally been lukewarm about a Melbourne Airport train connection (it was a 2014 election promise by Coalition but was not part of Labor's agenda) its tone has shifted noticeably in recent weeks.

Asked about the proposal last week, Acting Tourism Minister Philip Dalidakis said "future projects will be guided by Infrastructure Victoria's 30-year plan". Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan also didn't rule out the idea, but noted that a rail line to the Airport couldn't be built without the Metro Tunnel first, as "it's the project that unlocks the network."

Melbourne Airport head of corporate communications Grant Smith said the airport had long recognised the need for a "mass transit solution" to service its growing number of passengers, and while it was ultimately a decision for the state government, "we welcome the conversation".

"The solution, whether rail or something else, will need to provide frequent, reliable and quick services, which will need to be competitively priced," he said.

[#Metro]

Melbourne Airport rail link could be on the cards at next election

Time to pull out the old Christmas decorations from the cupboard!

Once built, however, the train trip would replace the SkyBus service, take 25 minutes, and depart every ten minutes. Services could also run through the Metro Tunnel, connecting with the Cranbourne/Pakenham line and offering passengers along that corridor a one-seat journey to or from the airport.

The bus would compete with the train - cities often have a competing, cheaper bus service vs the train.

[verbatim9]

In the News last night ideas were flying for a bi directional mono rail to the Airport and Doncaster. 

[Gazza]

I reckon an airport line could be done by diverting the Bendigo line via the airport.

Basically aftee Sunshine, follow the Albion freight line, then follow airport drive and Melrose drive, serve the airport, then follow Sunbury Rd into Sunbury.

It would basically double as a Bendigo version of the RRL.

Then just run additional DMU services to MEL to supplement the Bendigo line services.

[verbatim9]

^^Prefer Electrified rail for any new urban or semi urban/regional expansion. They could easily extend a branch train line or extend the tram line from Airport West. Which would give more options than a congested bus for a major Capital City Airport.

[Gazza]

Why? The train wouldn't be making many stops so the benefit of  electrification is marginal.