The federal government has committed $2 billion to revive Melbourne’s long-awaited airport rail link, a project that has faced significant delays. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the funding during a luncheon in Melbourne, emphasising the necessity of the rail link for the city. He remarked, “This vital project has been delayed for far too long,” and noted that postponing it has not made it any more cost-effective.
Albanese highlighted the importance of the airport rail for a major global city like Melbourne, underscoring its essential role. The project, which had been on hold since last year’s state budget, is now set for a reboot, although Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan did not provide a specific start date. However, she confirmed that work would commence on upgrading the Sunshine station, which is a prerequisite for the project to reach the airport.
Allan explained that the government must reset the timeline for the overall project delivery, stating, “You can’t deliver airport rail without delivering the Sunshine part.” The upgrades to the Sunshine station are considered critical to the completion of the airport rail link and are expected to take around five years to finish.
In summary, the funding announcement marks a significant step towards realising Melbourne’s airport rail link project, which is vital for enhancing the city’s transport infrastructure, connecting it more effectively to its airport, and supporting its status as a key global city.