Melbourne Airport rail link

[#Metro]

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.

This could work really well. And the train would be very fast - could use the V/Locity sets.

[SurfRail]

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

The Velos would also give visitors a better impression of Melbourne than some clapped out vandalised Comeng set from the 1980s.

[#Metro]

It seems that the benefits would also be higher as time savings would accumulate to non-airport travellers on the Bendigo line. Plus with no electrification, you also save on costs.

Worth investigating further.

[verbatim9]

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

I don't think Melbourne residents would like more Dmus past their houses vibrating and emitting air pollution every 15mins from 6am - Midnight 7 days.

http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_vehicles/why-clean-cars/air-pollution-and-health/trucks-buses-and-other-commercial-vehicles/diesel-engines-and-public.html#.V_tVDumubqA

I bet Australian rail companies don't even comply to reduce diesel emissions either. So might as well do electric.

http://www.lungchicago.org/diesel-pollution-trains/

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> SkyBus can co-exist with Melbourne Airport rail link, says shuttle bus chief

A rail link to Melbourne Airport should not come at the expense of SkyBus, because there is no guarantee enough passengers would use the train line, according to the head of the express shuttle company.

A few weeks after Infrastructure Victoria recommended a rail line should eventually be built to meet the city's long-term needs, SkyBus has weighed into the debate, saying it already provides a "world class service" in airport transport.

"The reality is, just because you build an airport rail, it doesn't mean people want to use it," said the company's director, Michael Sewards.

"Yes, let's plan for the next 15 or 30 years, but let's also be somewhat sensible in this conversation by recognising we've had a service for over 38 years, which over 50 million passengers have used. We think we can co-exist with rail and provide a very competitive offering."

Mr Sewards' comments are the first time SkyBus has entered the debate since Infrastructure Victoria's draft strategy was released this month.

Among its 134 recommendations, Infrastructure Victoria suggested that a Melbourne Airport rail link ought to built within 15 to 30 years to meet passenger growth. The airport expects passenger demand will exceed 60 million by 2033. In the meantime, the strategy suggests, the focus over the next decade should be on improving bus services linking the airport to the city.

Economic analysis by KPMG found that an airport rail line could generate up to $1.40 for every dollar spent. However, the modelling for the project was based on an assumption that the a train connection from Tullamarine would "replace the existing SkyBus service" – an idea that the privately owned company strongly contests.

The airport rail link would potentially give passengers a 25-minute journey to and from the city, departing every 10 minutes.

Mr Sewards said the average SkyBus trip took the same amount of time from Southern Cross Station, with free Wi-Fi, hotel drop-offs and a newly revamped service to St Kilda.

In coming years, the company is also expected to upgrade services at its Southern Cross depot to allow travellers to check in for flights.

"If we ever have an airport rail, it has to deliver all those value points for customer experience," Mr Sewards said. "Melbourne Airport warrants and deserves many modes supplying the highest level of customer experience, and we think SkyBus will be one of those."

[ozbob]

Petition --> Build a Rail link to Melbourne Airport

Melbourne Airport urgently requires an Airport link via rail. How can a city be World Class Without it?

Imagine if you will a city, you could catch a train from the City to the Airport with ease. No getting stuck in traffic in a Taxi, Uber or Skybus. Just take a seat and ride the rails to catch a flight or Welcome friends to our Beautiful city.

Without an Airport link Melbourne is left behind in the Stone Age

Please Sign and Share!

Some Links

From PTUA:

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

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

From The Age Newspaper:

Tittle: Melbourne Aiport begs for rail link, warns Tullamarine Freeway faces gridlock

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/melbourne-aiport-begs-for-rail-link-warns-tullamarine-freeway-faces-gridlock-20161205-gt4hnr.html

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Melbourne Aiport begs for rail link, warns Tullamarine Freeway faces gridlock

[ozbob]

Alan Davies Criky --> Should Melbourne airport rail be put on the front-burner?

[ozbob]

Herald Sun --> Melbourne airport rail link boost: Turnbull Government to pour cash into long-awaited project

A TRAIN link to Melbourne airport has won the backing of the Turnbull Government, which will pour cash into the long-awaited project to finally get it on track.

The Herald Sun can reveal next month's Budget is expected to include money for the rail link.

The government is understood to be willing to make a multi-year commitment to kickstart it.

The funding would be part of a Victorian infrastructure package worth more than $1 billion, which would also finance upgrades to the Bairnsdale, Wodonga and Warrnambool railway lines.

The money is expected to flow from a federal-state agreement to pay Victoria more than $1 billion it is owed from the asset recycling fund for the sale of the Port of Melbourne.

The airport rail link, tipped to cost $5 billion, has won firm support from Victorian MPs.

Melbourne airport has warned that without action the Tullamarine Freeway will be gridlocked within a decade.

The federal government wants to investigate all possible alignments for the rail link, including the option of a stand-alone line separate from the current suburban rail system. The state government has so far refused to commit to the project but Premier Daniel Andrews said last year that "there'll be a time when (it) stacks up".

His comments followed the release of Infrastructure Victoria's 30-year planning blueprint, which said an airport rail link — built along the Albion East reservation — would deliver an economic benefit of up to $1.60 for every dollar spent.

Senior federal ministers Darren Chester and Dan Tehan have also lobbied strongly for Budget funding of major improvements to regional train services.

Mr Chester, the Transport Minister, travelled on a V/Line train from ­Melbourne to Albury this week and said the condition of the track was of "significant concern".

He said he had met Victorian Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan and had "very productive discussions" about the state and federal governments working together on regional rail upgrades.

The Gippsland MP said he had been fighting for regional Victoria in Budget meetings because he wanted to "see more spending" on infrastructure. "My view is we need to see the state and federal governments working together as positively as we possibly can to achieve the improvements that the community wants," Mr Chester said.

"We understand that improving connectivity in our regional towns will mean more opportunities for young people in our communities. It will mean opportunities for decentralisation and regional development. Having a good rail service is part of the answer for that."

Veterans' Affairs Minister Mr Tehan, the member for Wannon in the state's southwest, also told a local paper recently the federal government needed to work with the state government to upgrade the Warrnambool rail line.

Queensland? < 

[#Metro]

Wow, Victoria's got a good run.

- Regional fast rail
- Melbourne metro
- 50 level crossings removal

[verbatim9]

^^It needed it. Especially the rail crossing removals.  With the Airport bus around 30 bucks return A train trip wouldn't​ be anymore I  suspect.

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Andrews government talks down Melbourne Airport rail as PM pledges cash

[ozbob]

The prospect of a rail line to Melbourne Airport has been revived yet again. #7News https://t.co/NiSrf2IXQH

— 7 News Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) April 7, 2017

[ozbob]

http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/plan-to-partner-with-the-private-sector-on-airport-rail/

Plan To Partner With The Private Sector On Airport Rail

Minister for Public Transport 30 April 2017

The Labor Government will use $10 million of the money it is owed through the Asset Recycling Initiative to develop a new airport rail plan in partnership with the private sector.

Both Melbourne Airport and Southern Cross Station are privately operated and there is significant market interest in building a light or heavy rail link between these two important transport hubs.

The plan will undertake a detailed assessment of the best route for an airport rail link, how much it would cost and how best to fund and deliver it.

Infrastructure Victoria has identified the need for an Airport Rail Link in 15 to 30 years, and put the price of the project at up to $5 billion.

The plan will look at opportunities to save money and deliver it sooner than this through private sector involvement – including value capture and creation initiatives, and potential private sector proposals.

It will ensure the public gets value for money, existing passengers are not disadvantaged by the introduction of new services and that Victoria gets a proper plan for a rail line to the airport.

The former Liberal Government never had a plan, a timeline, or a single dollar for an airport rail line – they had a line drawn on the back of the envelope and a multi-million ad campaign.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan

"The plan will look at how we can save money and deliver an airport link sooner by partnering with the private sector."

"A new rail line is a huge investment and needs to be planned properly – that's what this investment is all about."

"We're planning for a rail line to the airport while we get on with the project that makes it possible – the Metro Tunnel."

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> $10 million pledge to explore rail link to Melbourne Airport

A proposal to build a rail line to Melbourne Airport through a public-private partnership will receive $10 million in next week's state budget.

The Andrews government made a surprise announcement on Sunday that it will conduct a "detailed assessment" of the best route for the rail link, its estimated cost and how best to pay for it.

The plan to investigate the rail link comes after Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said recentlythat the lack of an airport rail in Melbourne was an "omission".

It has been reported that the federal budget on May 9 could contain as much as $1 billion for rail to Melbourne Airport, even though it is not a confirmed state government project.

Earlier in April, the Andrews government played down the project's urgency, pointing to advice from Infrastructure Victoria that it would be needed within the next 15 to 30 years and would cost up to $5 billion.

But on Sunday Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said the government would use $10 million in funding from the federal government to explore ways to build it sooner and for less money.

"The plan will look at how we can save money and deliver an airport link sooner by partnering with the private sector," Ms Allan said.

"A new rail line is a huge investment and needs to be planned properly – that's what this investment is all about."

Her statement said there was "significant market interest" in a rail line between Melbourne Airport and Southern Cross Station, which are both privately owned.

Heavy and light-rail options would be investigated, Ms Allan said.

Peter O'Brien leads Airshuttle Express, a consortium that has pushed for years to build an elevated light-rail line to Melbourne Airport as a public-private partnership.

The proposal would potentially run alongside CityLink and the Tullamarine Freeway, using driverless trains powered by solar and battery technology.

"It's superior in every way to heavy rail," Mr O'Brien said of the Airshuttle proposal. "It's 35 to 40 per cent of the cost and it uses technology from 2014, not 1914."

Expert rail advocacy group the Rail Futures Institute has proposed the Air Train, a new mostly underground line between Southern Cross Station and Sunshine, which would then use the existing Albion-Jacana rail spur, making for a 15-minute ride between the city and the airport.

Rail to the airport was first envisioned in 1963 as the Tullamarine Freeway was being built.

Infrastructure Victoria's advice that the line might not be needed for 30 years conflicts with Melbourne Airport's  public comments that it expects the Tullamarine Freeway will begin to fail to handle airport-bound traffic within a decade unless a rail line is built to support demand.

Melbourne Airport currently greets about 34 million visitors a year and expects to see 64 million a year within the next 15 to 20 years.

The state government says it is entitled to $1.45 billion in Commonwealth funding after leasing the Port of Melbourne. However, the federal government argues it is not obliged to provide the funding because the Andrews government failed to meet the deadline for the asset recycling initiative.

[ozbob]

Rail might help hey? pic.twitter.com/wGYyzrLLvo

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) April 16, 2017

[ozbob]

TTF --> Greater commitment to airport transport infrastructure needed in Victorian State Budget

The Tourism & Transport Forum, Australia's leading tourism and transport advocacy group, is calling on the Victorian Government to commit to staged funding in tomorrow's State Budget for a rail line and a dedicated bus lane to Melbourne Airport

TTF Chief Executive, Margy Osmond, said improving airport transport options was one of six recommendations the organisation has put forward ahead of the Victorian Government's 2017-18 Budget to ensure that Victoria remains a great place to live and to visit.

"Tullamarine Airport opened in 1970 – that's almost half a century of indecision on an airport rail link. It's time to commit," Ms Osmond said.

"While the Victorian Government's announcement it will allocate $10 million to investigate public-private partnership funding and route options for the airport rail link is a good start, the government must commit to staged investment to finally get this project off the ground.

"By 2033, Melbourne Airport is expected to have more than 60 million passenger movements a year, which is more than existing demand for the primary airports of Los Angeles, Paris or Hong Kong.

"Providing critical transport infrastructure to enable the movement of millions of additional visitors around Melbourne and key regional tourist destinations in Victoria is paramount to the continuing success of the visitor economy."

Ms Osmond said TTF is also calling on the Victorian Government to restore funding for the State's destination marketing body, Visit Victoria, from $109 million in 2016/17 to at least the $182 million dedicated to tourism, major events and international education marketing in 2014/15.

"While tourism is a sector delivering for the Victorian economy, with increased funding tourism has the capacity to make an even greater contribution in terms of generating growth, creating jobs and attracting new investment," Ms Osmond said.

Ms Osmond also welcomed the Victorian Government's commitment to allocate $1.45 billion to upgrade every regional rail line across Victoria.

"This investment will not only deliver better and more frequent services for regional Victorians, but it will also enhance the visitor experience for the thousands of tourists who visit regional Victoria by train every year."

[ozbob]

ABC News --> How soon could we have a train line to Melbourne Airport?

Australia's fastest growing city seems one step closer to a rail link connecting the CBD to Melbourne Airport.

The Victorian Government last month said taxpayer funds should be spent on more urgent transport projects, such as upgrades to suburban train lines.

But the Government has now announced $10 million towards devising a new airport rail plan, with the money coming from the sale of the Port of Melbourne.

Premier Daniel Andrews denied the Government had suddenly changed its tune.

"It's not a change of heart at all, we've always said this is a worthy project, but it has got to be ready," he said.

"We've got a lot of stuff going on at the moment, but it's always important to invest for the future."

But the RACV's public policy manager, Brian Negus, described the announcement as a significant milestone, saying it was the first time the project had received bipartisan support from all levels of government.

    "What we've seen in recent days is the Federal Government, Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader and also the State Government, the Premier and Opposition Leader all say an airport rail link is needed," he said.

Depending on who you speak to - the line should be built within four or 30 years.
How do we get there?

The latest $10 million assessment will examine the best route for the line, how much it will cost and how to deliver it.

It is certainly not the first report into an airport rail link, with a 2013 study by Public Transport Victoria finding the high costs of the project outweighed the benefits.

It recommended eventually using part of the existing Sunshine train line, but said work should be put off until the Melbourne rail tunnel was finished in about 10 years.

Mr Negus said the latest report would go into more detail than the previous one.

"[The 2013 report] looked at a number of alternatives but mostly via conventional rail and generally as part of the metropolitan rail system," he said.

"What we need now is a full investigation."

Melbourne Airport said it catered to 34 million passengers each year, which was expected to jump to 60 million by 2033.

The RACV said one of the most important things was that it did not take any longer than 20 minutes to get to the airport by train.
Can it be built without taxpayer funds?

The Government said it would investigate partnering with the private sector, as there was "significant market interest in building a light or heavy rail link".

Infrastructure Victoria believes the rail line should be built within 15 to 30 years, but local businessman Peter O'Brien said it could be delivered in just a few years.

"Assuming the studies were completed by the end of next year, it could be completed within the following four years," he said.

Mr O'Brien is leading a consortium that wants to use existing technology to roll out a $1.5 billion driverless and partly solar-powered light rail line.

"It's well in use now for the last decade around the world, there are 300 cities in China going in that direction, they just ordered six or eight lines in Istanbul in March," he said.

Mr O'Brien said the project could be fully funded by private investors, but Professor Graham Currie from Monash University doubted that was possible.

"An airport rail link will never be viable if you include the capital costs for construction as well as the operation," he said.

"That's very true of airport links around the world.

"So we need government investment to build it."

He warned the Government about the risks of a public-private partnership.

"If they fail, these operations, governments have to pick up the pieces as happened in Sydney," he said.

"The Sydney Airport commercial railway failed because of lack of business. So governments need to be careful how they do these things."
Could Citylink or Skybus derail the project?

The project would take customers away from both the operator of the Tullamarine Freeway and the bus company directly ferrying passengers to and from the airport.

But Mr O'Brien said both companies would not pose any insurmountable legal or financial hurdles for the rail line.

"Citylink has a contract which has some adverse provisions that could affect their business," he said.

"However the airport rail link is specifically mentioned as one of the projects that could occur which wouldn't be considered in that.

"I can't really see Skybus being a barrier at all."

In fact, Mr O'Brien said it could be a good thing for the toll road operator.

"Citylink for example has an awful lot of congestion it needs to manage to the airport," he said.

"It's becoming a real constraint on its business, so to some extent it's a bit of relief for them.

"Skybus has been very clever about how it's gone about its business, it has really expanded its operations, increased its service to many new areas.

"So I think in many ways it may be preparing for the idea that a rail link may be there in the future.

[ozbob]

If you missed @RMIT_CUR&#39;s Talking Transport forum on a Melbourne Airport Rail link last night here&#39;s the recording: https://t.co/V5YD1LWRer

— Jago Dodson (@urbanizationist) May 31, 2017

[ozbob]

Herald Sun --> Driverless trains a part of expanded airshuttle proposal

DRIVERLESS trains would link Melbourne airport to the city and high-growth suburbs at Doncaster and Monash as part of a radical plan to get the city moving.

Supporters of the SkyLink RapidTransit proposal to service Tullamarine say the technology could also be extended from the CBD to service "public transport desert" suburbs and complement the existing tram and train networks around Sunbury, Ringwood and Dandenong.

Peter O'Brien, who heads up the Airshuttle Australia consortium, is behind the $1.5 billion push for super-fast rail to the airport.

Connecting Doncaster and Monash would bring the total cost up to $5 billion. Monash is the second-biggest employment centre outside the CBD with more than 85,000 workers and 40,000 students. It is projected to double to 170,000 workers over the next 30 years.

The 601 service from Huntingdale station to Clayton campus is the busiest bus route in Victoria, with 37,000 people using it weekly.

A new $5 million bus interchange will be built at the station, providing facilities for buses, taxis and bikes, as well as a drop-off area.

Mr O'Brien said Monash was the main growth corridor in Victoria.

"Doncaster is the other big corridor. There are five cities out in the east without rail — and they've been trying to get a train line for more than 100 years," he said. "We can do the airport link without doing Doncaster and Monash but it's not going to be as effective.

"Most of the travel to the airport is domestic business and holidays, and the people who do that are the middle class."

Business consultants PwC partner John Marinopoulos said the booming area around Monash University needed proper transport infrastructure.

He said PwC had investigated how the Monash precinct could be connected to the more traditional tram and light-rail network at a potential cost of less than $3 billion.

"One solution is a light rail down Dandenong Rd to Monash University and then to Burwood Highway," Mr Marinopoulos said.

"This would connect multiple train stations and lines to the Monash precinct, and provide real alternatives to private vehicle travel.

"We need to have a conversation about these kinds of solutions, whether tram, light rail or newer technologies including how they are to be funded."
Artist impression of the Melbourne to Tullamarine Airport rail link that will go along the Tulla freeway.

Transport For Victoria spokesman Adrian Darwent said Infrastructure Victoria had recommended a new mass transit network (bus and light rail) for the Monash precinct over heavy rail because it was a lower-cost solution that had greater potential to meet the needs of passengers.

"Transport for Victoria is responsible for assessing the long-term needs of the metropolitan transport network, including the need for new connections to locations such as Monash University," he said.

Infrastructure Victoria released a report last year that said a train to the airport was needed in 15 years, but assumed the solution would be a heavy rail link via the Albion East reservation.

Costing up to $5 billion to build, the trip would take up to 40 minutes — three times the cost and time of the airshuttle.

Airport users are expected to grow to 60 million passengers a year by 2033.

The airshuttle would make the shortest trip between Southern Cross station and the airport about 15 minutes with silent, rubber-tyred trains running every two to four minutes, 24 hours a day.

Every 30 minutes, an 18-minute trip would take in stops at Essendon Fields and Moonee Ponds.

Mr O'Brien said the preferred technique was at grade or in an open trench but an elevated track was needed on some routes such as the Tullamarine Freeway.

A one-way trip to or from the city would cost about $25.

The consortium has investigated an 18-minute alternative route through Maribyrnong and Keilor Park, which is 10 per cent longer and 20 per cent more expensive, but it does facilitate the development of defence land.

"We need to be carrying 12 million people a year on rail to and from the airport in 10 years from now," Mr O'Brien said. "In other words, about 20 per cent of the 60 million passengers visiting the airport each year, with another 20 per cent on buses.

"Sixty per cent will still use cars, which is 36 million vehicles, so there will be no shortage in airport carparking revenue.

"It's got to happen now because the interconnectivity needs to be planned in detail, as well as all the studies required by the federal and state governments, and then about four years to build and commission, so it's not 'come back in 10 years', which is the airport's current line.

"It's a question of 21st century light-rail technology verses 1914 heavy-rail technology — it's superior in every regard."

The trains would be 70 per cent solar-powered/battery, along the lines of the Bologna Airport Train now being built by the Swiss.
Our traffic nightmare

To run trains at two-minute intervals, Mr O'Brien said they would need to be automated.

"A computer is also far safer and more reliable. In fact, Hitachi no longer makes standard trains with drivers," he said. "If you want to run trains every two minutes, you can't use humans."

Mr Marinopoulos said Melbourne was one of the largest cities in the world not to connected by rail to its international airport.

"With the type of growth Victoria is looking at, when you start seeing traffic delays going past Mickleham Rd back to Essendon Airport, how soon until it starts going even further back?" he said.

"If we don't do anything about an airport rail link, we could be looking at up to 60-minute delays getting to the airport by 2030."

Last month, the state government announced $10 million in funding to examine proposals for the best route for an airport rail link, its cost, and how to deliver it.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/879767864739217409

[verbatim9]

^^Love the talk why would the Federal Government be interested in benefiting suburbs as Footscray and places like Highpoint Shopping centre? I have never heard them speak and advocate on a Federal level without state and council advocacy in other states regarding public transport projects of Grand scale except for Freeways and Road widening.

[ozbob]

The Conversation --> Airport rail link can open up new possibilities for the rest of Melbourne

Melburnians have been talking about a train to Tullamarine Airport since well before it opened. Now Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has made clear his enthusiasm for an airport rail line, with or without state government support.

But these conversations need to move beyond the question of getting travellers between their plane and their city hotel.

Beyond airport access, this proposal highlights the potential for rail projects to shape Melbourne and feed an integrated public transport system that could serve its growing population.

How railways shape our cities

Transport investment shapes cities, but different modes have diverse effects.

Freeways, tollways and arterial roads (used by cars, taxis, ride-sharing services and buses, as well as trucks) encourage cities to extend horizontally at low densities. Rail-based modes (trams, light rail and trains, both passenger and freight) encourage intensification of corridors and centres.

Melbourne has concentrated most of its post-war transport investment on road-based transport. It has done very little to extend the enormous rail-based legacy of trams and trains built during the first century of European settlement. This is despite transport plans that proposed doubling the tramway system in 1923, and adding several new railway lines – including to Doncaster, Rowville, and between Dandenong and Frankston.

Until 2015, the only major investment in suburban rail since the 1950s was the City Loop, which opened in 1981 after a decade of construction.

The City Loop's clear legacy has been the transformation of Melbourne's CBD into one of the highest-density mixed-use precincts in Australia. This has driven some of the fastest growth in residential population anywhere in the country.

The demonstrated desirability of apartment living in urban centres, driven by the accessibility delivered by metro-quality public transport, shows how investment in rail-based transport can reshape cities. While many have advocated this for decades, the precedents have primarily been European or North American.

Australians now have homegrown experience of what transit-oriented urbanism could mean. Sydney has many examples of substantial rail-based suburban intensification. Centres such as Chatswood, Bondi Junction, St Leonards, Strathfield and Wolli Creek (close to Sydney Airport) offer insight into opportunities for Melbourne and elsewhere.
Airport rail can give structure to city's growing west

A 25-minute metro journey from Melbourne's Southern Cross station to the airport via Maribyrnong would appear time-competitive with the profitable and popular SkyBus service.

However, unlike SkyBus, rail has the potential to fundamentally reshape Melbourne's northwestern corridor.

A metro line to the airport east of the currently favoured Albion corridor could realise the considerable intensification potential of many sites along its route. This is no bad thing. Melbourne's population is projected to rise to 8 million by 2051, with disproportionate growth in the western suburbs.

Although exact alignments are up for grabs, significant urban renewal potential exists at Flemington, Footscray, Highpoint, the former Maribyrnong Defence site, Essendon Fields, Airport West, Tullamarine, and at the airport itself.

By directly investing in rail infrastructure, the federal government would reap the benefits of the land it owns and unlock the potential of many other locations. This is what integrating public transport and land-use planning looks like. And the urban outcome is vastly different from the current paradigm of road-driven transport and land-use planning.
Realising the full potential of an integrated transport system

A rail link won't provide for all of the access demands for travel to and from the airport.

For that to occur, a comprehensive multi-modal network solution that serves a much wider catchment is needed. There will always be people living beyond an easy stroll to a train station. Their needs can only be met by a radical rethink of Melbourne's buses in addition to rail-based investment.

However, the latest proposal offers alternative ways to think about long-promised rail lines – such as Doncaster and Rowville – as part of a network, linking intensified suburban centres.

Some lines have the ability to do what Infrastructure Victoria has recommended to increase development densities in Melbourne's eastern suburbs, using light rail. For example, connecting Doncaster to the suburbs to its south and east, as well as its west, will provide great potential for intensification.

For Rowville, a light rail to Gardenvale will provide better public transport integration while maximising intensification potential.

Other comparable cities are realising the most effective combinations of public transport and land-use investment with light rail. In Montreal, Canada, the Quebec Pension Fund is investing in 67 kilometres of driverless light rail. This will link the city's airport with urban redevelopment zones and existing metro lines to create a city-wide multi-modal network.

In Melbourne, thinking about the city-shaping potential of rail-based transport should focus minds on the priority to plan and build Melbourne Metro 2. This would provide a tunnel between Clifton Hill and Newport, creating a cross-town metro from Wyndham Vale to Mernda via Fishermans Bend, which is currently bereft of quality public transport.

Melbourne Metro 2 would also improve the chances that Werribee East can realise its potential.

Turnbull is to be congratulated for his reported support for airport rail. But we should be wary of losing sight of the wood for the trees – or, more accurately, the network for the line.

Victoria urgently needs a transport plan premised on integrated public transport and land-use planning. Only then might it work toward a liveable city for 8 million people.

[ozbob]

Herald Sun --> Melbourne Airport to host 100 million passengers a year and rail link crucial for development

MELBOURNE Airport could eventually process 100 million passengers a year as the city experiences huge population growth and increasing demand for travel.

But airport management says a rail link to the CBD is crucial, as traffic on the Tullamarine Freeway would reach critical levels within a decade.

The airport, which handled more than 35 million passengers in the past year, expects this will exceed 60 million by 2033.

A new terminal, upgraded retail and arrivals areas, and hi-tech security screening of passengers are on the cards.

Airport CEO Lyell Strambi said Melbourne Airport had twice the land mass of Britain's Heathrow, so it was possible it could eventually handle 100 million passengers a year.

"One would hope by that stage we'll have an outer ring road, you'll probably have airport terminals to the west of the airport ... it'll be quite a different construct to what it is today," he said.

"It's not for my generation and it's not for the airport manager that follows me, but it will be for future generations who are able to reap the benefits of this, and it's really for the sake of Victoria."

State planning blueprints envisage another major airport in Melbourne's outer southeast, but Mr Strambi said there was a big advantage to having one highly efficient aviation hub for a city.

"Melbourne Airport is well located — it's only 26km from the city. When you do have to make the step change to a second airport, that adds a lot of cost," he said.

By the end of this year, the airport will have completed a luxury retail precinct in Terminal 2.

The first phase of the retail transformation will cost $50 million and include a "unique architectural space" featuring a sculptured ceiling.

Also due to operate by Christmas is an eighth baggage carousel in the international arrivals area which will be 155m long and will hold enough bags to cater for two extra wide-body aircraft.

It is likely a fifth terminal, close to Terminal 4, will have been added by 2033.

Mr Strambi, a former Qantas senior executive, said the airport was working with other airports and airlines to determine the next level of security screening.

"Unfortunately the terror threat is not going to go away and it's about how do you constantly evolve to match that," he said.

"If you can do the positive ID on people using biometrics but without imposing huge queues to do those ID matches, then you get a better security outcome and you don't have another problem being caused, which is more people standing around in big masses that could be attacked outside the security cordon."

"Our goal is to get people secured and screened and through into a safe environment as fast as possible"

The State Government has not yet committed to building an airport rail link, but has indicated it is willing to work with the Federal Government on options.

Mr Strambi said now was the time to start planning a route and business case.

"It's probably about eight years or so to build, and you'd need to do a really good study to make sure you understand what it is you're trying to achieve, because it's not just about airport to city traffic," he said.

"It should be part of a much bigger congestion solution for Melbourne."

[ozbob]

Herald Sun --> Melbourne airport rail link can transform Victoria, Daniel Andrews says

MELBOURNE airport's rail link will be designed to enable new high-speed regional train services running to Geelong and Ballarat, Premier Daniel Andrews says.

In a sign Labor is now locked into developing the long-awaited Tullamarine connection, Mr Andrews says construction could be "well under way" before the $11 billion Melbourne Metro Rail tunnel opens in 2026.

But in a speech he will deliver today, the Premier will argue its scope should be tweaked to broaden its appeal, and potential use.

"It can't just be an expensive funnel for tourists and businesspeople between the CBD and airport," he will tell the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

"Instead, it can transform the way people live, work, and travel across Victoria."

Building an airport link, which is also backed by the Turnbull Government that has provided $30 million for a business case, could modernise other parts of the network, according to Mr Andrews.

For example, Geelong and Ballarat high-speed connections would be enabled by "unlocking" better line capacity in the west and north of Victoria.

"It can create the extra cap­acity we need in the congested Melbourne to Sunshine corridor — which means we can untangle the regional and metropolitan network on the Geelong and Ballarat lines."

According to the Premier, this would see the booming population west of Melbourne get electrified services and faster trains.

The state's major transport co-ordinator general, Corey Hannett, will be asked to plan the vision.

"Imagine travelling from Geelong to Melbourne in under 40 minutes. It would change the way people work and live. And it would change the face of our state forever," Mr Andrews will say.

The Premier is expected to reveal further details of the link next year, and said this was an opportunity to get out of "election-cycle infrastructure delivery" through long-term planning.

Meanwhile, federal Transport Minister Darren Chester has revealed meetings have begun for the Commonwealth's business case.

Mr Chester said the federal government would "work with the local councils, the industry, the Victorian government as much as we possibly can to make sure we deliver it as soon as we possibly can".

"Our expectation is we need to work with the Victorian government, that they need to get on board and be fair dinkum about this process — and we think we can get this done in 12 months," he said.

Mr Chester said the governments could then "get on with the job of working out how we fund it".

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/9NewsMelb/status/933612518886473728

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/933743359591514112

[ozbob]

https://www.paulfletcher.com.au/media-releases/media-release-airport-rail-link-planning-takes-off

Media Release: Airport Rail Link planning takes off

Plans are underway to give Melbourne the world-class airport rail link it deserves, with the Australian and Victorian governments meeting today to brief key industry and community stakeholders on the project.

Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester and Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure Paul Fletcher joined state representatives to meet with industry and local government to discuss the Melbourne Airport rail link business case.

The Australian Government has allocated $30 million in the Federal Budget to develop the Tullamarine Airport Rail Link business case.

Mr Chester said the business case would look at potential corridors for the rail link, existing and future rail upgrades across the metropolitan network, and proposals from private industry.

"The Australian Government is delivering a record $20 billion investment in rail. We are getting on with the job of delivering this vital rail link between Australia's second busiest airport and the city with $30 million already set aside in the Budget," Mr Chester said.

Mr Fletcher said planning work on the project was part of the Australian Government's record $75 billion investment in infrastructure with the airport link set to benefit local communities as well as airport travellers.

"Melbourne Airport rail is a missing link in the urban transport network in Victoria. Sydney has a rail connection between the airport and the city, Brisbane has one, Perth is building one – a city of the scale and importance of Melbourne deserves such a connection and that's why the Turnbull Government is getting this important process underway," Mr Fletcher said.

The Victorian community and industry stakeholders will be consulted throughout the business case process.

The study will build on previous studies to examine potential transport improvements for Melbourne Airport, along with new detailed transport planning and analysis.

The business case will ensure the Melbourne Airport Rail Link:

    addresses network pressures in and around Melbourne, including population growth and increasing congestion
    ensuring financial and economic sustainability of the rail link
    maximising benefits for passengers through frequent and reliable services and improved amenity, and
    integrating the rail link into the urban and transport network
    The business case will be delivered in two stages, with a preliminary business case to be completed in 2018 for consideration by both governments, ahead of a detailed business case being prepared on the preferred alignment

[verbatim9]

^^Great benefit to Geelong and Ballarat residents having an high speed Electrified service to their respective cities as well as the Airport. I suspect the train would only reach up to 200km in some sections. Will it be broad or standard guage? Will this line eventually extend to Adelaide as previously stated in long term rail connections in Australia. HSR east coast, connection Mel-Adl moderate speed. Same as in Perth local moderate speed connections up to 200km.

[#Metro]

How large is the time saving from having the train travel at 200 km/hr to Melbourne Airport versus one travelling at "normal speed" stopping at

stations then to the Airport?

Is there really a big time saving over such a short distance? If it is only going to save say 10 minutes, it might not be worth spending all the

extra money on HSR trains, fancy signalling, super straight track for that, and just use normal trains at normal speeds.

[verbatim9]

How large is the time saving from having the train travel at 200 km/hr to Melbourne Airport versus one travelling at "normal speed" stopping at

stations then to the Airport?

Is there really a big time saving over such a short distance? If it is only going to save say 10 minutes, it might not be worth spending all the

extra money on HSR trains, fancy signalling, super straight track for that, and just use normal trains at normal speeds.

I believe that trains up to 180-200kph are not classified as HSR but moderate speed trains. There are lots of trains that Cruise around Europe at 160-180kph which are not HSR.

Sent from my XT1562 using Tapatalk

[ozbob]

Melbourne Age --> Malcolm Turnbull pledges $5b for Melbourne airport rail link

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has promised $5 billion for a Melbourne airport train line - but he doesn't know its route yet.

The pledge - which follows a promise from Canberra to study the project in its 2017 budget - received a tepid welcome from Victoria's Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan on Thursday, who said the state was already working on the airport rail link.

"It's good the Prime Minister has finally found Victoria on a map, and we'll accept this funding given how much he short changes our state," she said.

Mr Turnbull wrote to Premier Daniel Andrews late on Wednesday night - after telling media about the plan earlier that day - suggesting a 50-50 funding arrangement with the state. The plan would use the $2 billion Victoria will get from selling its share of the Snowy Hydro scheme.

The letter from Mr Turnbull proposes the federal government retain a 50 per cent ownership stake in the airport rail line.

The Victorian government is understood to be concerned that the offer by Mr Turnbull for the federal government to take a half stake in the project means Canberra will be more focused on long-term financial returns from the rail line rather than the best route for Melbourne's transport network.

Mr Turnbull told 3AW radio host Neil Mitchell that the route would be worked out in conjunction with the Victorian government, and that there had been far too much delay to a project first mooted by former state premier Henry Bolte.

Mr Turnbull said he had no doubt an agreement would be reached with the Victorian government.

"We will own and build the rail link together as partners," he said. "There's no politics here. I'm putting five billion on the table and I want to get on with construction and build it.

"This is a very big deal. This has been in the too-hard basket for far too long."

Mr Turnbull said suggestions the works could be underway in 2020 were "ambitious".

"We should be able to get it started not long after that."

He said he did not favour a particular route and that the route needed to be "looked at carefully".

Treasurer Scott Morrison rebuffed suggestions it was inappropriate to tell media before writing to the Premier about the matter, saying the federal government was entering a "very new type of partnership".

"What we're doing here with Tulla rail is the single biggest announcement I'll be making in this year's budget on infrastructure. I'll have more to say about that at the time of the budget," Mr Morrison told ABC radio.

"We see the Tulla rail as big, in fact it's bigger, than that [Western Sydney Airport] project in New South Wales, and it's a project of national significance."

He said private sector investment would be welcomed. "The current estimates are that the project is around about a $10 billion cost - we also welcome private sector investment from this as well."

Work on a preliminary business case for the airport rail line started last September, with $30 million of the project costs spent by the Victoria to be reimbursed to it by the Turnbull government.

The study, which aims to recommend a preferred route, is due in September.

A rail link to Melbourne Airport has been debated since Tullamarine first opened in 1970. The Andrews government's advisor Infrastructure Victoria has said the link would be needed within the next 15 to 30 years and would cost up to $5 billion.

The four rail link options the Prime Minister will outline on Thursday closely follow those discussed in a 2013 report completed by Public Transport Victoria.

The federal government's preferred route is likely to be through Maribyrnong, via Highpoint Shopping Centre and Victoria University, and also through the former Maribyrnong Defence Site - which Canberra is trying to sell to the private sector for development of up to 6000 homes.

Mr Andrews promised last November that construction on the rail link would be underway within the next decade, but the government has argued a train can't run until the Metro Tunnel opens in 2026.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has backed the link.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/SkyNewsAust/status/984218969136484352

Yawn .....

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/political_alert/status/984226205938335744

[Golliwog]

So from Infrastructure Australia, the "Melbourne Airport to the CBD public transport capacity" project is a priority initiative with a medium term 5-10 year delivery timeframe. And yet it's getting funding promised now?

[ozbob]

Appears Mal et al are on a Nation wide ' pork barrel ' tour.  Political panic does strange things ...

[Golliwog]

Appears Mal et al are on a Nation wide ' pork barrel ' tour.  Political panic does strange things ...

Yep. Just find it laughable when that was the same reason they couldn't give funding to CRR. Shows what a farce the supposed 'system' is.

[verbatim9]

I find the price tag a bit excessive. They must be including new rail stock and lots of tunnelling. Will the track be standard, wide or dual guage?

[#Metro]

Despite all the cynical comments on this thread, this is a welcome development. It sets a nice precedent for a "Railway of national significance", a concept that could include Sunshine Coast line and other regional rapid rail.

If Abbott et al were in charge, I'm sure we would be talking about a new freeway to Melbourne airport.

[red dragin]

Appears Mal et al are on a Nation wide ' pork barrel ' tour.  Political panic does strange things ...

Must be that 31st newspoll that's due soon