DRIVE A2B May 2018

CBD TO
MELBOURNE
AIRPORT
RAIL LINK
Since the planning stages of
Melbourne Airport’s construction
in 1963, a CBD-Airport rail link
has been a reoccurring potential
project. It was during this
period that the Commonwealth
Government suggested the idea to
connect the two hubs and create
an aerotropolis.
Since then, the concept of a
Melbourne CBD to airport rail link
has always been in the back of the
government planners’ minds.
2001
A rail link via Southern Cross from
Albion East to Melbourne Airport
was put forward but never gained
traction.
2013
Public Transport Australia created
their Melbourne Airport Rail Link
Study in support for the project.
2014
During the Victorian election
campaigning, Denis Napthine
pledged to build a Melbourne
Airport rail link, then, when he lost
the election, the idea was dumped.
2016
A $1.2 billion monorail from
Melbourne’s CBD to the Airport
was suggested within the Victorian
Government, but Daniel Andrews
publicly stated that the project was
not high on their agenda.
2017
The Federal Government expressed
support for the Melbourne Airport
Rail Link which resulted in $30
million being set aside in the next
Federal Budget to go toward the
Link.
Data from Public Transport
Australia’s 2013 report shows a
need for such a project in response
to the growing number of visitors,
both national and international,
to the region. When the report
was released it estimated that
Melbourne Airport had catered
for 28 million air passenger trips
that year. This number is, at least,
expected to double by 2032.
24 DRIVE A2B magazine · May 2018