We must remember that the Melbourne airport is an airport in name only. As a business, it's more accurate to think of it as profit-making mega carpark and shopping centre, with a runway attached.
For reference, parking is their second biggest revenue maker, only coming in behind actually charging the airlines to fly. No wonder they've been dragging their heels on this to no end.
@@Reduszebrus Interesting, I thought they actually made more money from car-parking fees. But either way, they certainly have been dragging their feet. They absolutely don't want a rail link, unless they can charge the government for access, which they probably will. And transurban doesn't want a rail link either, as any reduction in car traffic means less money for them too. Thanks to former governments for leaving us with this mess.
The same goes for our ports and freeways. Even if our freeways have to be tolled to make up the cost of them, it should be done by a state owned corporation like what's happening with the northeast link.
Annoying thing is that in my local area (Devonport) they are proposing to privatise the airport because "it will improve routes offered" which.... Doesn't make any sense.
If the airport authority wants the station to be underground and they genuinely think it's so much better, then I'm sure they'll be happy to pay the difference in the cost. It's easy for money to be no object when someone else is paying.
Don't know why the clowns can't just use the revenue they get from all the parking fees. I would honestly quite happily pay to park at Tullamarine if I knew every cent was going to an underground airport station.
I think the Avalon rail link should be built also then see who would use that instead of Tullamarine for flights, etc. etc. Maybe it'll get an upgrade too before the 3rd airport is built
The first time I visited Melbourne was in about 1978. I remember being astonished even then that there were no public transport links to the airport but a far, far more expensive (at the time) freeway was built to it. This hasn't changed. What these muppets forgot then and keep forgetting is that Melbourne is roughly doubling in population every 50 or so years and is likely to keep doing so. Tullamarine's lack of a link to the metro network is increasingly going to create pressures for a third Melbourne airport (Avalon is far too poorly located to do its proper job) and this would be an awful lot more expensive than a short train spur.
Sydney in 2000, Brisbane in 2001 and Perth in 2022 have rail links to their major airports. Sydney's second airport will have a rail link when it is completed in 2026. Melbourne, Australia's largest city by population, will get a rail link to the airport in ??? The line needs to be built ASAP.
@@quarkcypher you even might end up being able to get a train all the way from Brisbane airport to Coolangatta airport before Melbourne airport gets its line!
Yeah but when would Sydney have been built without the Olympics? Sydney was MUCH worse to get from the airport to the CBD before the rail link was built.
Back in 1984, Interstate Trains into and out of Adelaide were moved from the city to Keswick. We were promised a rail connection (Tram) between the city and the airport via the Interstate Terminal. 40 years later...😡😡😡😡😡😡 I hate politicians sometimes, I really do.
the privately owned airport wants to change the railways alignment to better suit them? make them foot the difference in the bill, probably solved same goes for when railway routes get rerouted because it 'disrupts the view' of some country club or some shit
Private airport taking the public hostage... if they want the underground station so bad they should pay for the extra instead of demanding the taxpayer pays
@@Dave_Sisson funding has never been committed to an airport rail, ever. This is the only attempt that has been fully funded. So this "always gets diverted" is incorrect. Can't have a history of diverting funding if it was never there in the first place mate.
@@mathewferstl7042In the meanwhile why doesn't the State Government provide interim improvements to the pathetic Public Transport to the airport, like extending the 479 bus to Sunshine and extend the operating hours and extend the 59 tram.
above ground airport station would be fine if the alignment was not so dumb. the current design can only be a terminus type station (as it ends facing the terminals and beyond that the ramp areas) requiring trains to leave in opposite direction. If someday the SRL passes through the airport it will need a completely new station.
I thought about that too. It should be parallel to the airport entrance, not at 90 degrees. Being able to extend it might come in very handy in the future. I
Agree. As much of a pest as the Airport have been, they have a very valid point. Where they f@#$%d up was not offering to pay for the underground station themselves given how much profit they make from parking fees. The dopey VIC Government clearly doesn't have through-station in mind, and they're obviously planning for the SRL North to simply converge with the Airport Link line in the same direction before both lines terminate at the building, with the Airport Station having to juggle two possibly rapid-transit lines sharing the same platform. Good grief, I can already visualise the inevitable buyer's remorse migranes from decades away 🤦♂️. Is the Government really this stupid?
Melbourne officially became the largest city in Australia when the Shire of Melton was formally gazetted as a constituent part of Greater Melbourne in March this year.
I just got back from Melbourne after flying there for the first time in my life. I was genuinely shocked with how poor public transport links are to and from the airport. People go on about Sydney trains being crap and Melbourne having god tier trams. It definitely didn't feel like it though, with disjointed timetables, no real logic or design to way finding, and costs are absurd for what you get in return. I guess that driving down to Melbourne as a kid throughout my life has given me a really skewed view of how amazing Melbourne is as a city, I just wish they had a fully thought out public transport network.
Melbourne keeps trams ✔️ Melbourne builds superb freeways ✔️ Melbourne builds superb skyline✔️ Melbourne replaces Essendon Airport with Tullamarine ✔️ Melbourne stops. ❌ Sydney builds a new airport WITH train link BEFORE Melbourne can build a train to their aging airport. Sydney builds an entirely new driverless Metro BEFORE Melbourne builds an underground existing suburban rail link under the CBD. 😭 As a Sydneysider who loves Melbourne, I don't want competition; but I do want Melbourne to keep up. As an Aussie I want every city to excel, which is why i want Melbourne to go from strength to strength, not fall behind.
Well said. I wan't Melbourne to keep up with Sydney, but some here just want to throw shade on Sydney, for being Sydney. Yes a city that has far better Transport than Melbourne.
you can get off the plane and go get a beer at the opera house in less than 40 minutes in Sydney. its quite shameful that melbourne can not work this out given that there are already train tracks and trams already walking distance from the airport
@@tristandavies9597 it's not bad the bus from southern cross, sometimes it can be a roll of the dice depending on the traffic. at least they have free wifi
@ChrisJohannsen Of course it is serious Chris. Why can WA Build a new mainly tunneled railway to their Airport for $3 Billion and we in Victoria is building basically a 10 km spur line with 2 above ground stations for 13 billion and its taking 9 years to build. Please explain that Chris? Jacinta Allan is only interested in the SRL.
I've only encountered one person who doesn't support it. Seems this individual has a bias towards buses, possibly owns part of a bus company...so obviously someone who comes up with the worst arguments against it...
I bet that twerp is forever reading the Herald Sun's neverending stream of hit-piece articles on the Suburban Rail Loop too. And I bet had he been alive in the early 70s, he would've strongly opposed the City Loop project aswell. Ignore these kinds of people.
The owners of Melbourne Airport are to blame for this as they deliberately stalled the project in order to protect their parking venue so they can continue to charge people for their exorbitant parking fees. I wouldn't be surprised if this delay is continued indefinitely.
How does the airport link relate to the suburban rail loop north (part 2). Both of them as planned end at the airport - airport link via sunshine and suburban rail loop from Cheltenham via Boxhill and Broadmeadows. With the current design of the airport link terminal it makes it impossible to connect this line to the other line and the original plan was to have the suburban rail loop as one line from Cheltenham to Werribee.
Well considering Sydney airports train to the CBD hovers around the $20 mark and that’s the cost of the Skybus in Melbourne to Southern Cross there’s no cost saving there in comparison for passengers. Obviously it’s more efficient to have a rail transfer over bus though. Be interesting to see what the ticket prices will be.
I love that us Western Australians can rub our airport link in Victorian's faces 😆 It also costs just over $5 to use it, so we can rub it in the faces of Brisbane and Sydney too. There is no way this line should cost $13 billion. Perth would be able to build 3 or 4 airport links for that kind of money.
I feel as if there is a way to safeguard a future route for the airport station, and that is to make the station through running and build a train depot just to the west of the airport on what is now unused land. And Melbourne hasn't yet got a rail link when Sydney has not just an existing airport with two stations on its suburban train network, but a second airport with a Metro line being built concurrently. Perth opened a rail link almost two years ago. For a city its size, Melbourne needs to pull it together.
I'll be visiting Melbourne in March, from regional NSW, and I'll most likely be taking the overnight XPT. Whilst it costs less than flying for me (I'd need to overnight in Sydney at both ends if flying, not so with the train), it'll be city centre to city cit centre. No need to pay the ridiculous airport "access fee" in Sydney, or the "Skybus" in Melbourne. Just get off the train at Southern Cross and walk to the hotel, or catch a suburban train a couple of stops...if I can figure out how to use the Melbourne rail network.
Thanks for the interesting video update on the Melbourne airport train line. It will be interesting to eventually see this line in action. Glad to hear that they have finally agreed on the airport station being above ground. It is a pity that it has been delayed for so long. It is certainly well needed. One thing I am curious about is why don't they extend the tram line from Airport West to Tullamarine Airport? That shouldn't be that expensive and could be built quite quickly. also, it would an extra alternative while waiting for the Airport Rail Link to open.
Few people would use that extended Airport West tram line once the alternative heavy rail link is finally up and running. I would say that a higher priority would be to connect up some of the major shopping centres with tram lines. Another thing that Melbourne does a real pisspoor job at (compared with Sydney atleast) is building shopping centres directly next to train stations. A 20 minute walk from Chadstone Shopping Centre to Hughsdale Station just doesn't cut it and just seems like idiotic shortsightedness given it's so close of a drive yet so far of a walk to not only the Pakenham/Cranbourne Line, but the Alamein Line aswell. So a short tram line connecting Alamein Station to Hughsdale Station (through Chadstone of course) is a nice conciliation. That's just one example. The VIC Government needs to grow a spine and learn how to just show the middle finger to local resident NIMBY's (like NSW politicians do) and just get things done. And no "trackless tram" BS either. Either proper rail tram or nothing.
I am all for the airport rail and not over spending on infrastructure. I want airport rail today, it is a disgrace we don’t have it yet. But one thing I am concerned about is the fact all the renders for it only show a 2 platform terminus station but I have not heard anything about how that would be adapted now that it will become part of the suburban rail loop project. As part of SRL it will have to have the purpose built automated trains through running in both directions as well. Will these be another set of tracks above? Below? As they will be automated and a completely different spec to the HCMTs, they will need to be completely separated. I know SRL north is not due to be completed in this century (😂) but the station needs a minimum of 3 platforms (1 metro tunnel terminus, 2 SRL) and preferably 4 (add one more to the metro tunnel terminus for shunting and eventual north running future proofing). Same goes for the Keillor east station (unless they realign the SRL to service other parts of the north west and west). I may be putting the cart before the horse but I think it’s worth considering. With an underground, it would have potentially worked well for this kind of expansion (given SRL is going to be all/mostly underground anyway).
Let's be realistic, even members of the party that is currently in government privately admit that it is so expensive and Victoria is so broke, that it probably won't be built.
@@Dave_Sisson Yeah because they insist in gold plating the project. The infrastructure which admittedly will need widening in a few places exists all the way to Airport West. They do not even need to use the Melbourne Metro. That should reserved for trains from Melton and Wyndhamvale. The section of track from South Ken to North Melbourne will be surplus to requirements when the mm1 is up and running. The trouble is when it comes to planning PT Projects Victoria is crap.
@@mjcats2011 New stations being built for future suburbs are insanely gold plated with things like lifts accessing pedestrian bridges between two platforms, huge awnings that could shelter hundreds and all sorts of other unnecessary features. These cost twice as much to build as something similar to hundreds of existing suburban stations with simple shelters where the very few people who want to change between platforms simply use a nearby level crossing. These overly expensive stations mean there is less money for other rail projects.
According to the wikipedia articles on the project, only parts 1, 2, and possibly 4 will be automated. Part 3 is the airport rail link. No use doubling up on infrastructure. And nobody is quite sure what stage 4 will be yet, but it will run from Sunshine westwards
A delay is a good as cancelled. The metro tunnel caused a delay was a pretext. And the Labor government keeps shooting itself in the foot condemning us to ten years of conservative rule which loves freeways.
I guess that’s the thing. In NSW there’s a bipartisan consensus that more roads will not solve Sydney’s transport woes. That consensus hasn’t happened in Victoria, and given Melbourne’s vast sprawl, the car culture appears here to stay.
@@paulorocky The other day this economist said the SRL should be scrapped and rescources given to “Schools, Hospitals and ROADs”. So rail should be scrapped in favour of roads. I reality I don’t think the SRL is Tory proof, the Libs will scrap it ASAP.
I don't get the delays. In Perth it was so quick and easy to build a tunnel under the river and underground to the airport. It wasn't really needed either and most people prefer cars. So the airport may be concerned over nothing as most people want to drive.
As much as I think an airport link train is important, as this model is, it won't help people in the Eastern and especially North Eastern suburbs. To use it, we would have to go into the city and switch trains which would take longer than driving there or using the 901 bus.
I was in Melbourne last month. Yes, a direct train route into the CBD would be fantastic. But I must say that I was very impressed by how much more efficient the Airbus operation has become. At both the Tullamarine and Southern Cross ends I waited for fewer than 5 minutes, and the trips were seamless. A far cry from the pathetic bus service that used to exist.
Don't care. I'm a Melbournian and I'm still embarrassed. A good bus service is still second rate to potential heavy rail. And it's only a good service because it has to be as there's no rail alternative. Even once the rail line is finally built, it'll still be nothing special until the SRL North is constructed, hence providing another route for passengers who can then bypass the CBD and head straight to Box Hill. But I wouldn't be holding my breath for SRL North ever actually getting started.
The airport could build a people mover to connect to future terminals. If this needs to be underground the tunnels could be much smaller than a train tunnel
Not quite. The best time to build it was 60 years ago, when Tullamarine was built and the surrounds were just farms. The failure to build a train or tram link to it was controversial even then.
@@kenoliver8913 You're right but I got "20 years" from a Chinese (?) proverb that goes “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”
Although initially stating that the Airport line would be serviced by direct trains from the City on the Melbourne Metro line, they now seem to be saying that it will be a shuttle from Sunshine. Who wants to change trains with their luggage halfway from the airport and try to get onto an already crowded train at peak hour after a long flight? And this would make a slower trip than the direct Skybus! Every other airport line around Australia and overseas runs direct to the main city.
If I may argue to the contrary, it would be a fairly minimal inconvenience. It would also prevent airport services from being disrupted by problems elsewhere on the network, such as the numerous “trespassing” incidents that seem to constantly plague the network. What they could do is create a check in facility, at least for domestic flights, so passengers can tag their bags and then set up a bag drop at the airport station to allow seamless connection, but that’s another episode of Utopia for now
@@paulorocky The same disruptions would stuff you up getting to or from Sunshine. And your experience of arriving at an airport after a long flight and trying to get to the City must have been different from the many I have done. The Skybus would be faster and more convenient.
The future proofing argument for an under ground station doesn't really stack up imo. The kind of expansion that would require an additional train station would have a timeline in the decades and it's perfectly normal for airports to have 50 year masterplans. The Melbourne Airport could very easily adapt to the requirements of extending from an above ground station if necessary. However, I don't think that even with significant airport expansion, extending the heavy rail link would be necessary. Most modern oversized airports have internal people mover systems. It makes more sense to have a single heavy rail connection with lighter duty people movers distributing passengers to terminals from that station. They are cheaper to build, cheaper to operate and more suited to the capacity demands to individual terminals (as opposed to the travel demand to the entire airport as a whole). As for an above ground station being a greater distance from the terminal, well, to be blunt, cope? The above ground station is going to be closer then most the car parks. Gauging by the available plans and images it looks to me like that station will be about as close to the terminal as the Airport stations in Brisbane are, and they do just fine. Beside, you will probably do more walking once you are in the terminal then you will getting from the station to the terminal. Another argument I've seen a lot, less from the Airport itself but more from random people on social media, is that above ground isn't 'befitting' of an airport, and that a true modern city would have an underground station. This is pretty laughable, as when you look across the major world connecting airports with dedicated PT links, there is no consistent trend between the use of above ground, at ground level and underground stations (some even have 'only' LRT!). The more you look into it, the clearer it becomes that the decision between above ground, at ground level and underground is entirely based on local context. Compare Brisbane and Sydney. The Airport line in Brisbane travels through industrial land and onto a sprawling Airport lot, easy above ground build. Sydney on the other hand had to get through dense urban environments and traverse an awkwardly shaped and confined Airport grounds, with terminals laid-out in such a way that routeing the line under taxiways was necessary. A tunnel was the only viable option. Melbourne can do this without a tunnel, ergo, Melbourne should do this without a tunnel.
On how they don't have a CBD through station? And how they don't even have a fully electrified network? 😂 But in all seriousness, I quite like Adelaide. It unfortunately gets the Federal funds crumbs because it's the smallest and slowest growing of the five major State capitals. Melbourne can't really brag much either until the Melton and Whyndam lines are converted from V/Line to Metro.
It's kinda sad and hilarious that Sydney will get a 2nd major airport and a metro line from it connecting to the rest of the rail network before poor Melbourne will even get one.
They'll have three rail connections soon enough because the NSW government is already investigating converting Glenfield to Metro to extend to the Western Sydney Airport for South West access. It is high priority.
I don't think the airport needs to worry about losing car park money to the rail service Perth air port still charge a arm and a leg to use the dogs breakfast they call a car park.
Infrastructure projects in Australia cost way more than they have to. The cost of laying rail per kilometre is over twice what other developed nations would pay. One reason is the insane union wages construction workers get in Australia, they’re the highest paid in the world by far and the taxpayer has to fork over that bill. But that’s not the whole story.
@@zachb1706 No. The big cost of railways and metros in Australian cities is land resumption, because our property prices are extremely high (actual construction costs are not particularly high relative to others). Which when you think about population densities is pretty ridiculous. It is why we tend to go for tunnels more than others.
@@kenoliver8913 right and that drives up the cost as well, because of bad foresight Sydney is forced to build underground. But those rails underground wouldn’t be as expensive if they were built in the UK, Germany, France, etc. Actually most infrastructure is cheaper there. No it isn’t land prices (land procurement is a tiny percent of a projects cost). And no it’s not just high wages, it’s a lot of factors. Wages are one of them though (a Aussie labourer is paid 50-100% more than a French labourer for example)
The idea is that with a rail link to Avalon it's then easier for travellers and airlines would schedule more flights to Avalon. The link would easily be a short branch line off the Geelong line. New terminals would probably need to be built to cope with a significant increase in flights and passengers.
It’s a pretty good lurk really , charge people for everything and sundry to transport them and their stuff , and then charge them an arm and a leg to store the car , it’s like a machine to print money , definitely do not want pesky train services stunting the money tree 😊😊😊😊.
Avalon airport is a wasted opportunity, there should be a direct high speed rail service to Avalon and the federal government should mandate that more regional and domestic flights operate out of Avalon. The Melbourne Airport rail link will never go ahead !
The issue with the above ground station option. Is that it will have to compete with the car parking. Meaning that the station will likely be some distance to the terminals. The benefit of underground station option is it can be closer to the terminals or even in one of the terminals. Think carefully about what you want, you just may get it.
I guess I'm the 28% here but should this really be such a high priority. I mean the three groups most likely to benefit from the rail line are airport workers, frequent business flyers and external tourists. Airport workers largely live in the immediate surrounding suburbs so mostly wouldn't be able to use the line and would be better server by bus improvements, which leaves foreigners and rich business bros as the reason we're spending this money. Surely MM2, Melton/RRL electrification or Wollert rail should be higher priorities?
Batteries are already good enough for short-haul flights (1000 miles or less). So there will definitely still be some flying. We'll probably go back to the days short-range aircraft: Where you'll still be able to fly to London, but will have to charge planes a few times.
@@domtweed7323 The weight of the batteries will severely reduce the carrying capacity of the aircraft and make it too expensive for the vast majority of people. Air travel will be for the ultra wealthy only so there is no need for a rail link.
No, but arguably the Suburban rail loop is more vital for shattering people’s norms for travelling around greater Melbourne. They probably should have made the first line closer to the cbd to get around the inner suburbs
Except the SRL won't be completed for generations, is a money pit for infrastructure funding and doesn't help the areas in most need of transport infrastructure (north and west). As much as I love the idea of SRL, it's a political project, and should never have gotten off the ground.
@@MathMischief Totally agree. Some refuse to acknowledge that fact. Our Bus network is dreadful, most of the Rail Network run to average frequencies, there is a looming crisis with our tram network with the majority of routes operating with old life expired high floor trams and the booming western suburbs have to make do with not fit for purpose vline services and still some bang on about the SRL being so important. It a nice to have project. That's it.
It is embarrassing that a city like Melbourne is still reliant on an outdated bus service from the city to the airport but what do you expect with Daniel Andrews running the state for so long now the female version of him in charge!
@@Unknownboi88The Broadmeadows corridor is at capacity. What needs to happen before you can use that corridor is to remove all vline trains and the numerous level crossings.
@@mjcats2011 But the best form of government have govt swaps every 2 terms, 3 at most. I find it hard to believe that Labor in Victoria is a better option. They have been in for a number of terms and have clear beneficial treatment from the media I believe. Plus big money and corporate dollar fully back them and their positions on all kinds of issues including social issues. So its very easy in that situation to make Liberals appear out of touch and incompetent. I think if people are too stupid to vote for the alternative then they deserve the government they get. I'm not Victorian and I don't really follow Victorian politics. But I have seen how they behave in a number of issues and seen quite a large number of issues relating to entitlement which is evidenced in all the dodgy dealings. Anyway, that's from an outsider looking in. I see a party that's tired, entitled, with dodgy dealings, trying to stay in power.
@@mjcats2011 To be fair the same happened with the Wran govt in NSW, the Bjeke Peterson in Qld. Burke WA govt went dodgy too, but that was from their first term.
@@BDub2024 The Victorian Liberals are not the NSW Liberals. The NSW Liberals are relatively progressive and forward thinking. The Liberals here are right wing jokers. They are more concerned with Transgenders than providing decent infrastructure for the state. So unless people like Moira Deeming and Brad Battin are weeded out the Vic Liberals can eff all the way off as far as I am concerned.
Both Labour and Liberals have no intention of having a rail line out to the airport, this is an embarrassment, but they want to waste money on the Metro Rail Tunnel (inner circle line 2.0) and the Suburban Rail Loop (outer circle line 2.0). A line out to airport is needed, a lot of tourists are put off coming to Melbourne because of the lack of public transport coming out from the airport.
both labor and liberals want a train to the airport, its just the airport doesn't want it, all they want is to capitalize off the carparking monopoly they've accumulated. Both Metro tunnel and suburban rail loop aren't a waste of money, they are vital for the ever-growing population of Melbourne, and an at-capacity rail network. Metro tunnel is needed to increase capacity in all train lines, while the suburban rail loop is needed to allow commuters for cross city/ intersuburban journeys, and a catalyst for new housing.
If both Labour and Liberals want a train line to the Airport so why are they being so stubborn, as for the Metro Rail Tunnel it's going to create a nightmare for those who use the E Pakenham/Cranbourne and Sunbury lines, if you don't use any of those lines then SHUT UP.
@@sandrafowler6717 I know for a fact that labor wants a rail link to the airport, so does everyone else, the stubbornness doesn't come from the government but from those who own the airport. (which is pretty evident) as for the metro tunnel, why is it going to be a nightmare for the Pakenham/Cranbourne and Sunbury lines, these lines will get the most benefit out of the metro tunnel, which is a much higher frequency.
You can stick to Skybus then. Problem solved. I for one hate buses and the sheer site of ugly 10-lane-wide (5 each way) freeways. And with the rate Melbourne's growing at, the widened freeway will only last so long before it's back to choking point anyway.
It would not even have to be a project in isolation. If the Government is unwilling to reactivate the Somerton Link, what it should do is use the Airport West corridor to divert v/line trains away from the Essendon corridor. It can even attach these works to the Regional Rail Revival. The ARTC has already built 600 metres of BG double track from Albion Junction. Then allocate some money for the Airport West to the Airport which is only 6 to 7 kms away.
Honestly, imagine your paying $1000+ to fly around the world, and the Uber ticket price is a factor for you? If you want to go to the airport, stop being cheap and pay. Seriously, my boss paid $300 for rideshare in Japan and your worried about paying $26 for a private bus or $80 for rideshare?
-State Government: announces funding and timeline, starts pre-construction work for utility relocation 👷♂️ -Airport: NO, UNDERGROUND STATION ONLY 🙅♂️ -State Government: Please let us build it elevated so we can get value for taxpayers and open earlier 🚜 -Airport: NO, This is not going ahead because UNDERGROUND🙅♂️ -State Government: *sigh* Thanks for the needless delay I guess we have to focus on other projects we can achieve -State and Federal Government’s mediator, after years of the airport delaying: build it above ground -Airport: Oh shit okay PLEASE BUILD IT RIGHT NOW & OPEN ON TIME, even though we have been the primary source of this 4-year delay.
We must remember that the Melbourne airport is an airport in name only. As a business, it's more accurate to think of it as profit-making mega carpark and shopping centre, with a runway attached.
For reference, parking is their second biggest revenue maker, only coming in behind actually charging the airlines to fly. No wonder they've been dragging their heels on this to no end.
@@Reduszebrus Interesting, I thought they actually made more money from car-parking fees. But either way, they certainly have been dragging their feet. They absolutely don't want a rail link, unless they can charge the government for access, which they probably will. And transurban doesn't want a rail link either, as any reduction in car traffic means less money for them too. Thanks to former governments for leaving us with this mess.
And a sh1t one at that!
Basically the private ownership of the airport has been effectively harming the public forcing car usage for money the dogs
160m a year with many government people charging the government to park. It should have been done first. But there was anti trains back then
The lack of Koo Wee Rup airport has been hurting more
@@Secretlyanothername We don’t even have Koo Wee Rup rail unlike the eighties.
And the private ownership of the road to get there, which should have long ago returned to public ownership.
Major airports should be in public hands, and NOT privately owned.
Yep. They are all monopolies. Residents, travellers, and even airlines are all held hostage to their capricious whims and money making schemes.
The same goes for our ports and freeways. Even if our freeways have to be tolled to make up the cost of them, it should be done by a state owned corporation like what's happening with the northeast link.
Annoying thing is that in my local area (Devonport) they are proposing to privatise the airport because "it will improve routes offered" which.... Doesn't make any sense.
@@afropenguin Unless they are planning to fly the airport itself. 🤣
Welcome to australia - mass privatization of the 70s having it's effects seen now
If the airport authority wants the station to be underground and they genuinely think it's so much better, then I'm sure they'll be happy to pay the difference in the cost. It's easy for money to be no object when someone else is paying.
That was my thought. They can pay the gap between the cost of an above ground solution and their 'preferred model'
Don't know why the clowns can't just use the revenue they get from all the parking fees. I would honestly quite happily pay to park at Tullamarine if I knew every cent was going to an underground airport station.
I think the Avalon rail link should be built also then see who would use that instead of Tullamarine for flights, etc. etc.
Maybe it'll get an upgrade too before the 3rd airport is built
@@Zacch14 No way. Tullamarine is far enough. Avalon is over twice the distance from the CBD.
The first time I visited Melbourne was in about 1978. I remember being astonished even then that there were no public transport links to the airport but a far, far more expensive (at the time) freeway was built to it. This hasn't changed.
What these muppets forgot then and keep forgetting is that Melbourne is roughly doubling in population every 50 or so years and is likely to keep doing so. Tullamarine's lack of a link to the metro network is increasingly going to create pressures for a third Melbourne airport (Avalon is far too poorly located to do its proper job) and this would be an awful lot more expensive than a short train spur.
Unbelievable how there's such little talk over a sout east based airport, out near Hallam or something.
Moorabbin…
Sydney in 2000, Brisbane in 2001 and Perth in 2022 have rail links to their major airports. Sydney's second airport will have a rail link when it is completed in 2026. Melbourne, Australia's largest city by population, will get a rail link to the airport in ??? The line needs to be built ASAP.
@@quarkcypher you even might end up being able to get a train all the way from Brisbane airport to Coolangatta airport before Melbourne airport gets its line!
@@quarkcypher I think even Canberra will have a light rail link sooner.
Yeah but when would Sydney have been built without the Olympics? Sydney was MUCH worse to get from the airport to the CBD before the rail link was built.
@@timloader actually not true. Sydney airport is much closer to the cbd than Melbourne airport.
@@JimmiAlli yet it went through suburban city streets, and was not a whole lot quicker than the skybus.
A private capitalistic company getting in the way of public infrastructure plan I’m so shocked (NOT)
Back in 1984, Interstate Trains into and out of Adelaide were moved from the city to Keswick. We were promised a rail connection (Tram) between the city and the airport via the Interstate Terminal.
40 years later...😡😡😡😡😡😡 I hate politicians sometimes, I really do.
So true, Keswick is such a downer...and the silly nonsense about 1hour check in before you get the Overland. Laughable dated nonsense.
@@noway5347 thanks really makes no sense to me. I get it for the multiday luxury trains, but for a simple 10 hour jaunt, no sense whatsoever.
Adelaide would be a no-brainer and would cost hardly anything.
Airport parking costs are obscene.
the privately owned airport wants to change the railways alignment to better suit them?
make them foot the difference in the bill, probably solved
same goes for when railway routes get rerouted because it 'disrupts the view' of some country club or some shit
Private airport taking the public hostage... if they want the underground station so bad they should pay for the extra instead of demanding the taxpayer pays
@@hamishashcroft3233 It's not going to be built regardless because the Government is hell bent on breaking the bank to deliver it.
I’m happy that it’s going ahead
Don't hold your breath. Politicians (from both sides) have been promising that it will definitely be built for the last 60 years.
@Dave_Sisson funding is committed and support is bi partisan.
@@mathewferstl7042 But support has always been bipartisan, it's just that the "committed" funding always gets diverted to some other purpose.
@@Dave_Sisson funding has never been committed to an airport rail, ever. This is the only attempt that has been fully funded. So this "always gets diverted" is incorrect. Can't have a history of diverting funding if it was never there in the first place mate.
@@mathewferstl7042In the meanwhile why doesn't the State Government provide interim improvements to the pathetic Public Transport to the airport, like extending the 479 bus to Sunshine and extend the operating hours and extend the 59 tram.
above ground airport station would be fine if the alignment was not so dumb.
the current design can only be a terminus type station (as it ends facing the terminals and beyond that the ramp areas) requiring trains to leave in opposite direction.
If someday the SRL passes through the airport it will need a completely new station.
I thought about that too. It should be parallel to the airport entrance, not at 90 degrees. Being able to extend it might come in very handy in the future. I
Agree. As much of a pest as the Airport have been, they have a very valid point. Where they f@#$%d up was not offering to pay for the underground station themselves given how much profit they make from parking fees. The dopey VIC Government clearly doesn't have through-station in mind, and they're obviously planning for the SRL North to simply converge with the Airport Link line in the same direction before both lines terminate at the building, with the Airport Station having to juggle two possibly rapid-transit lines sharing the same platform. Good grief, I can already visualise the inevitable buyer's remorse migranes from decades away 🤦♂️. Is the Government really this stupid?
Melbourne officially became the largest city in Australia when the Shire of Melton was formally gazetted as a constituent part of Greater Melbourne in March this year.
@@johnlang4198 (Brisbane annexes Logan, Ipswich, and the Gold Coast)
@@doctorscootstill smaller
Yeah anyone who says Sydney is bigger is objectively wrong. Especially since they count the central coast and that is way worse than counting Melton
@@ChrisJohannsen And their Transport system is much better than ours. I could not care less if we are bigger than Sydney.
@doctorscoot
Melbourne just by itself is only a few hundred thousand short of outpopulating the whole of Queensland.
I just got back from Melbourne after flying there for the first time in my life. I was genuinely shocked with how poor public transport links are to and from the airport.
People go on about Sydney trains being crap and Melbourne having god tier trams. It definitely didn't feel like it though, with disjointed timetables, no real logic or design to way finding, and costs are absurd for what you get in return. I guess that driving down to Melbourne as a kid throughout my life has given me a really skewed view of how amazing Melbourne is as a city, I just wish they had a fully thought out public transport network.
Melbourne keeps trams ✔️
Melbourne builds superb freeways ✔️
Melbourne builds superb skyline✔️
Melbourne replaces Essendon Airport with Tullamarine ✔️
Melbourne stops. ❌
Sydney builds a new airport WITH train link BEFORE Melbourne can build a train to their aging airport.
Sydney builds an entirely new driverless Metro BEFORE Melbourne builds an underground existing suburban rail link under the CBD. 😭
As a Sydneysider who loves Melbourne, I don't want competition; but I do want Melbourne to keep up.
As an Aussie I want every city to excel, which is why i want Melbourne to go from strength to strength, not fall behind.
Well said. I wan't Melbourne to keep up with Sydney, but some here just want to throw shade on Sydney, for being Sydney. Yes a city that has far better Transport than Melbourne.
you can get off the plane and go get a beer at the opera house in less than 40 minutes in Sydney. its quite shameful that melbourne can not work this out given that there are already train tracks and trams already walking distance from the airport
Skybus gets you into the cbd in around 25 minutes, but yes a train would be much nicer
@@tristandavies9597 it's not bad the bus from southern cross, sometimes it can be a roll of the dice depending on the traffic. at least they have free wifi
The bus smells funny
@@robvegas9354Skybus needs an express lane
Loved your thoughts on the privatisation of key infrastructure. The airport asking to go below ground is pathetic
Look. You can bang on about the Airport, but the Government was never serious about the airport link.
If everything is being done as cheap as possible, why does it cost $13 billion?
Is that a serious question?
@@ChrisJohannsen my question is, not sure about yours.
@ChrisJohannsen Of course it is serious Chris. Why can WA Build a new mainly tunneled railway to their Airport for $3 Billion and we in Victoria is building basically a 10 km spur line with 2 above ground stations for 13 billion and its taking 9 years to build. Please explain that Chris?
Jacinta Allan is only interested in the SRL.
@@mjcats2011 yes completely agree!! 👍
CFMEU?
I've only encountered one person who doesn't support it. Seems this individual has a bias towards buses, possibly owns part of a bus company...so obviously someone who comes up with the worst arguments against it...
Nothing against it but I’ve never had an issue with sky bus
I support it...but I don't think it is a priority. A bit like the East-West link. Worthwhile projects, but there are so many other priorities.
I bet that twerp is forever reading the Herald Sun's neverending stream of hit-piece articles on the Suburban Rail Loop too. And I bet had he been alive in the early 70s, he would've strongly opposed the City Loop project aswell. Ignore these kinds of people.
@@Will5353_ I found SkyBus to be quite efficient whenever i've used it, but it would be nice to have another alternative.
Agreed. Like fixing the network we already have.
The owners of Melbourne Airport are to blame for this as they deliberately stalled the project in order to protect their parking venue so they can continue to charge people for their exorbitant parking fees. I wouldn't be surprised if this delay is continued indefinitely.
How does the airport link relate to the suburban rail loop north (part 2). Both of them as planned end at the airport - airport link via sunshine and suburban rail loop from Cheltenham via Boxhill and Broadmeadows. With the current design of the airport link terminal it makes it impossible to connect this line to the other line and the original plan was to have the suburban rail loop as one line from Cheltenham to Werribee.
Well considering Sydney airports train to the CBD hovers around the $20 mark and that’s the cost of the Skybus in Melbourne to Southern Cross there’s no cost saving there in comparison for passengers. Obviously it’s more efficient to have a rail transfer over bus though. Be interesting to see what the ticket prices will be.
Make it part of the Myki network not a special $30 airport access levy
I love that us Western Australians can rub our airport link in Victorian's faces 😆 It also costs just over $5 to use it, so we can rub it in the faces of Brisbane and Sydney too. There is no way this line should cost $13 billion. Perth would be able to build 3 or 4 airport links for that kind of money.
Perth is a much smaller and less dense city
@@ChrisJohannsenThat is a stupid argument, a complete red herring.
It’s called corruption that’s why it will cost 13bill
@@ChrisJohannsen Yeah true, but its shouldn't be 3-4x the time the cost. Should be double or 2.5% at most the cost.
Sydney's obscene airport rail costs are only in contract till 2030, by the end of the decade it should decrease by a significant amount.
I feel as if there is a way to safeguard a future route for the airport station, and that is to make the station through running and build a train depot just to the west of the airport on what is now unused land.
And Melbourne hasn't yet got a rail link when Sydney has not just an existing airport with two stations on its suburban train network, but a second airport with a Metro line being built concurrently. Perth opened a rail link almost two years ago. For a city its size, Melbourne needs to pull it together.
How does north-east link and suburban rail loop get built but this doesn’t this has more support than both of those projects
I'll be visiting Melbourne in March, from regional NSW, and I'll most likely be taking the overnight XPT. Whilst it costs less than flying for me (I'd need to overnight in Sydney at both ends if flying, not so with the train), it'll be city centre to city cit centre. No need to pay the ridiculous airport "access fee" in Sydney, or the "Skybus" in Melbourne. Just get off the train at Southern Cross and walk to the hotel, or catch a suburban train a couple of stops...if I can figure out how to use the Melbourne rail network.
Should also have more bus connections to nearby suburbs and train lines and extend route 59 tram
Thanks for the interesting video update on the Melbourne airport train line. It will be interesting to eventually see this line in action. Glad to hear that they have finally agreed on the airport station being above ground. It is a pity that it has been delayed for so long. It is certainly well needed. One thing I am curious about is why don't they extend the tram line from Airport West to Tullamarine Airport? That shouldn't be that expensive and could be built quite quickly. also, it would an extra alternative while waiting for the Airport Rail Link to open.
Few people would use that extended Airport West tram line once the alternative heavy rail link is finally up and running.
I would say that a higher priority would be to connect up some of the major shopping centres with tram lines. Another thing that Melbourne does a real pisspoor job at (compared with Sydney atleast) is building shopping centres directly next to train stations. A 20 minute walk from Chadstone Shopping Centre to Hughsdale Station just doesn't cut it and just seems like idiotic shortsightedness given it's so close of a drive yet so far of a walk to not only the Pakenham/Cranbourne Line, but the Alamein Line aswell. So a short tram line connecting Alamein Station to Hughsdale Station (through Chadstone of course) is a nice conciliation. That's just one example. The VIC Government needs to grow a spine and learn how to just show the middle finger to local resident NIMBY's (like NSW politicians do) and just get things done. And no "trackless tram" BS either. Either proper rail tram or nothing.
@@eddielong8663 It would be good for local traffic especially replacing the 478 and 479 buses which have such piss poor frequencies.
Opening 2033?! Are they building the airport with 1850s equipment?
I am all for the airport rail and not over spending on infrastructure. I want airport rail today, it is a disgrace we don’t have it yet. But one thing I am concerned about is the fact all the renders for it only show a 2 platform terminus station but I have not heard anything about how that would be adapted now that it will become part of the suburban rail loop project. As part of SRL it will have to have the purpose built automated trains through running in both directions as well. Will these be another set of tracks above? Below? As they will be automated and a completely different spec to the HCMTs, they will need to be completely separated. I know SRL north is not due to be completed in this century (😂) but the station needs a minimum of 3 platforms (1 metro tunnel terminus, 2 SRL) and preferably 4 (add one more to the metro tunnel terminus for shunting and eventual north running future proofing). Same goes for the Keillor east station (unless they realign the SRL to service other parts of the north west and west).
I may be putting the cart before the horse but I think it’s worth considering. With an underground, it would have potentially worked well for this kind of expansion (given SRL is going to be all/mostly underground anyway).
Let's be realistic, even members of the party that is currently in government privately admit that it is so expensive and Victoria is so broke, that it probably won't be built.
@@Dave_Sisson Yeah because they insist in gold plating the project. The infrastructure which admittedly will need widening in a few places exists all the way to Airport West. They do not even need to use the Melbourne Metro. That should reserved for trains from Melton and Wyndhamvale. The section of track from South Ken to North Melbourne will be surplus to requirements when the mm1 is up and running.
The trouble is when it comes to planning PT Projects Victoria is crap.
@@mjcats2011 New stations being built for future suburbs are insanely gold plated with things like lifts accessing pedestrian bridges between two platforms, huge awnings that could shelter hundreds and all sorts of other unnecessary features. These cost twice as much to build as something similar to hundreds of existing suburban stations with simple shelters where the very few people who want to change between platforms simply use a nearby level crossing. These overly expensive stations mean there is less money for other rail projects.
According to the wikipedia articles on the project, only parts 1, 2, and possibly 4 will be automated. Part 3 is the airport rail link. No use doubling up on infrastructure. And nobody is quite sure what stage 4 will be yet, but it will run from Sunshine westwards
@@briannem.6787 I admire your optimistic nature, I'm more cynical and I doubt any of it will ever happen.
How long will the travel time be between the airport and the CBD?
How about extending the airport rail to Craigieburn??
No point.
A delay is a good as cancelled.
The metro tunnel caused a delay was a pretext.
And the Labor government keeps shooting itself in the foot condemning us to ten years of conservative rule which loves freeways.
I guess that’s the thing. In NSW there’s a bipartisan consensus that more roads will not solve Sydney’s transport woes. That consensus hasn’t happened in Victoria, and given Melbourne’s vast sprawl, the car culture appears here to stay.
@@paulorocky The other day this economist said the SRL should be scrapped and rescources given to “Schools, Hospitals and ROADs”. So rail should be scrapped in favour of roads.
I reality I don’t think the SRL is Tory proof, the Libs will scrap it ASAP.
I don't get the delays. In Perth it was so quick and easy to build a tunnel under the river and underground to the airport. It wasn't really needed either and most people prefer cars. So the airport may be concerned over nothing as most people want to drive.
Explain to me why they can't build an express tram link to the airport.
As much as I think an airport link train is important, as this model is, it won't help people in the Eastern and especially North Eastern suburbs. To use it, we would have to go into the city and switch trains which would take longer than driving there or using the 901 bus.
I was in Melbourne last month. Yes, a direct train route into the CBD would be fantastic. But I must say that I was very impressed by how much more efficient the Airbus operation has become. At both the Tullamarine and Southern Cross ends I waited for fewer than 5 minutes, and the trips were seamless. A far cry from the pathetic bus service that used to exist.
Don't care. I'm a Melbournian and I'm still embarrassed. A good bus service is still second rate to potential heavy rail. And it's only a good service because it has to be as there's no rail alternative. Even once the rail line is finally built, it'll still be nothing special until the SRL North is constructed, hence providing another route for passengers who can then bypass the CBD and head straight to Box Hill. But I wouldn't be holding my breath for SRL North ever actually getting started.
The airport could build a people mover to connect to future terminals. If this needs to be underground the tunnels could be much smaller than a train tunnel
Why Melbourne Airport isnt like Sydney's. its very compact. You can walk the length in 10 - 15 mins. Travelators would be fine.
The best time to build it was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.
Not quite. The best time to build it was 60 years ago, when Tullamarine was built and the surrounds were just farms. The failure to build a train or tram link to it was controversial even then.
@@kenoliver8913 You're right but I got "20 years" from a Chinese (?) proverb that goes “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”
Although initially stating that the Airport line would be serviced by direct trains from the City on the Melbourne Metro line, they now seem to be saying that it will be a shuttle from Sunshine. Who wants to change trains with their luggage halfway from the airport and try to get onto an already crowded train at peak hour after a long flight? And this would make a slower trip than the direct Skybus! Every other airport line around Australia and overseas runs direct to the main city.
If I may argue to the contrary, it would be a fairly minimal inconvenience. It would also prevent airport services from being disrupted by problems elsewhere on the network, such as the numerous “trespassing” incidents that seem to constantly plague the network.
What they could do is create a check in facility, at least for domestic flights, so passengers can tag their bags and then set up a bag drop at the airport station to allow seamless connection, but that’s another episode of Utopia for now
@@paulorocky The same disruptions would stuff you up getting to or from Sunshine. And your experience of arriving at an airport after a long flight and trying to get to the City must have been different from the many I have done. The Skybus would be faster and more convenient.
Why would the rail link cost $13 billion when it's not even digging a tunnel - where is this money goingggg
Cfmeu
The future proofing argument for an under ground station doesn't really stack up imo. The kind of expansion that would require an additional train station would have a timeline in the decades and it's perfectly normal for airports to have 50 year masterplans. The Melbourne Airport could very easily adapt to the requirements of extending from an above ground station if necessary. However, I don't think that even with significant airport expansion, extending the heavy rail link would be necessary. Most modern oversized airports have internal people mover systems. It makes more sense to have a single heavy rail connection with lighter duty people movers distributing passengers to terminals from that station. They are cheaper to build, cheaper to operate and more suited to the capacity demands to individual terminals (as opposed to the travel demand to the entire airport as a whole).
As for an above ground station being a greater distance from the terminal, well, to be blunt, cope? The above ground station is going to be closer then most the car parks. Gauging by the available plans and images it looks to me like that station will be about as close to the terminal as the Airport stations in Brisbane are, and they do just fine. Beside, you will probably do more walking once you are in the terminal then you will getting from the station to the terminal.
Another argument I've seen a lot, less from the Airport itself but more from random people on social media, is that above ground isn't 'befitting' of an airport, and that a true modern city would have an underground station. This is pretty laughable, as when you look across the major world connecting airports with dedicated PT links, there is no consistent trend between the use of above ground, at ground level and underground stations (some even have 'only' LRT!). The more you look into it, the clearer it becomes that the decision between above ground, at ground level and underground is entirely based on local context. Compare Brisbane and Sydney. The Airport line in Brisbane travels through industrial land and onto a sprawling Airport lot, easy above ground build. Sydney on the other hand had to get through dense urban environments and traverse an awkwardly shaped and confined Airport grounds, with terminals laid-out in such a way that routeing the line under taxiways was necessary. A tunnel was the only viable option.
Melbourne can do this without a tunnel, ergo, Melbourne should do this without a tunnel.
Yep, Gatwick, Manchester, Stansted, Toronto, Brisbane all have above ground platforms.
Follow the money. Who loses out if that line gets built? They lobby politicians not to build it. When money gets tight, those voices get heard.
Tullamarine opened in the 1960s, not the 1970s.
Can you do a video on Adelaide?
On how they don't have a CBD through station? And how they don't even have a fully electrified network? 😂
But in all seriousness, I quite like Adelaide. It unfortunately gets the Federal funds crumbs because it's the smallest and slowest growing of the five major State capitals. Melbourne can't really brag much either until the Melton and Whyndam lines are converted from V/Line to Metro.
It's kinda sad and hilarious that Sydney will get a 2nd major airport and a metro line from it connecting to the rest of the rail network before poor Melbourne will even get one.
They'll have three rail connections soon enough because the NSW government is already investigating converting Glenfield to Metro to extend to the Western Sydney Airport for South West access. It is high priority.
I don't think the airport needs to worry about losing car park money to the rail service Perth air port still charge a arm and a leg to use the dogs breakfast they call a car park.
I'm just hoping it's not gonna be another Sydney airport station where you get charged $15 flagfall 😅
I don’t understand how this project is so expensive when it’s not even underground
Infrastructure projects in Australia cost way more than they have to. The cost of laying rail per kilometre is over twice what other developed nations would pay.
One reason is the insane union wages construction workers get in Australia, they’re the highest paid in the world by far and the taxpayer has to fork over that bill. But that’s not the whole story.
@@zachb1706 No. The big cost of railways and metros in Australian cities is land resumption, because our property prices are extremely high (actual construction costs are not particularly high relative to others). Which when you think about population densities is pretty ridiculous.
It is why we tend to go for tunnels more than others.
@@kenoliver8913 right and that drives up the cost as well, because of bad foresight Sydney is forced to build underground.
But those rails underground wouldn’t be as expensive if they were built in the UK, Germany, France, etc. Actually most infrastructure is cheaper there. No it isn’t land prices (land procurement is a tiny percent of a projects cost). And no it’s not just high wages, it’s a lot of factors. Wages are one of them though (a Aussie labourer is paid 50-100% more than a French labourer for example)
@@kenoliver8913 They are building the Rail line from Sunshine utilizing an existing rail corridor and building along airport drive.
Why on earth would they build a rail link to Avalon when the planes go to Tullamarine - would they then do a helicopter shuttle?
The idea is that with a rail link to Avalon it's then easier for travellers and airlines would schedule more flights to Avalon. The link would easily be a short branch line off the Geelong line.
New terminals would probably need to be built to cope with a significant increase in flights and passengers.
@@Wdeane1957 much easier just to build a rail line to where the planes land.
@@Wdeane1957 Avalon is sooo far away.
Melbourne airport is not privately owned is leased for 99 years to private co.
urban surf could get its own station
The mediators notice should have come with a big financial slap to the airport corp for making shit up and causing unnecessary delays. Send a message.
It’s a pretty good lurk really , charge people for everything and sundry to transport them and their stuff , and then charge them an arm and a leg to store the car , it’s like a machine to print money , definitely do not want pesky train services stunting the money tree 😊😊😊😊.
Not until they break the monopoly of Skybus.
SkyBus is hardly mass transit.
Transurban is the real problem here. More so than Skybus.
If you are a visitor to Melbourne, two ways of travelling to the city, taxi, or Skybus.
Avalon airport is a wasted opportunity, there should be a direct high speed rail service to Avalon and the federal government should mandate that more regional and domestic flights operate out of Avalon.
The Melbourne Airport rail link will never go ahead !
No bloody way. Avalon is over 50kms away from the CBD!!!
The issue with the above ground station option. Is that it will have to compete with the car parking. Meaning that the station will likely be some distance to the terminals. The benefit of underground station option is it can be closer to the terminals or even in one of the terminals. Think carefully about what you want, you just may get it.
I guess I'm the 28% here but should this really be such a high priority. I mean the three groups most likely to benefit from the rail line are airport workers, frequent business flyers and external tourists. Airport workers largely live in the immediate surrounding suburbs so mostly wouldn't be able to use the line and would be better server by bus improvements, which leaves foreigners and rich business bros as the reason we're spending this money. Surely MM2, Melton/RRL electrification or Wollert rail should be higher priorities?
what other international airport has a rail network to it, oh wait, every single one in the world does, except Melbourne. lol
With NET zero there will be no air travel so there is no point building a rail link now.
Batteries are already good enough for short-haul flights (1000 miles or less). So there will definitely still be some flying.
We'll probably go back to the days short-range aircraft: Where you'll still be able to fly to London, but will have to charge planes a few times.
@@domtweed7323 The weight of the batteries will severely reduce the carrying capacity of the aircraft and make it too expensive for the vast majority of people.
Air travel will be for the ultra wealthy only so there is no need for a rail link.
Hey city moose
No, but arguably the Suburban rail loop is more vital for shattering people’s norms for travelling around greater Melbourne.
They probably should have made the first line closer to the cbd to get around the inner suburbs
Except the SRL won't be completed for generations, is a money pit for infrastructure funding and doesn't help the areas in most need of transport infrastructure (north and west).
As much as I love the idea of SRL, it's a political project, and should never have gotten off the ground.
Suburban rail loop also goes to the airport
@@ChrisJohannsen thirty years from now. Again, doesn't tackle the areas in most need of transport infrastructure today.
@@MathMischief Totally agree. Some refuse to acknowledge that fact. Our Bus network is dreadful, most of the Rail Network run to average frequencies, there is a looming crisis with our tram network with the majority of routes operating with old life expired high floor trams and the booming western suburbs have to make do with not fit for purpose vline services and still some bang on about the SRL being so important. It a nice to have project. That's it.
@@mjcats2011agreed, the government is even thinking of ripping up a few tram lines to get rid of the old stock😢😢😢
never, ever going to happen sadly.
It is embarrassing that a city like Melbourne is still reliant on an outdated bus service from the city to the airport but what do you expect with Daniel Andrews running the state for so long now the female version of him in charge!
Should have branched off at Broadmeadows 😒
You have no idea
Why?
@@Unknownboi88The Broadmeadows corridor is at capacity. What needs to happen before you can use that corridor is to remove all vline trains and the numerous level crossings.
Yes come please How I Not Like Bus Lot Car Road 😡 Better Train 👍 NOT LATE 😡😡😡of Victoria 😡😡🤦♀️🤦♀️. Good Train Plane QLD and NSW and WA 😀
I don’t think this will ever happen. We have a very deceptive state government and premier. 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢
who keeps voting them in then???
@@BDub2024 The reason why is because the alternative is absolutely dreadful.
@@mjcats2011 But the best form of government have govt swaps every 2 terms, 3 at most. I find it hard to believe that Labor in Victoria is a better option. They have been in for a number of terms and have clear beneficial treatment from the media I believe. Plus big money and corporate dollar fully back them and their positions on all kinds of issues including social issues. So its very easy in that situation to make Liberals appear out of touch and incompetent. I think if people are too stupid to vote for the alternative then they deserve the government they get. I'm not Victorian and I don't really follow Victorian politics. But I have seen how they behave in a number of issues and seen quite a large number of issues relating to entitlement which is evidenced in all the dodgy dealings. Anyway, that's from an outsider looking in. I see a party that's tired, entitled, with dodgy dealings, trying to stay in power.
@@mjcats2011 To be fair the same happened with the Wran govt in NSW, the Bjeke Peterson in Qld. Burke WA govt went dodgy too, but that was from their first term.
@@BDub2024 The Victorian Liberals are not the NSW Liberals. The NSW Liberals are relatively progressive and forward thinking. The Liberals here are right wing jokers. They are more concerned with Transgenders than providing decent infrastructure for the state.
So unless people like Moira Deeming and Brad Battin are weeded out the Vic Liberals can eff all the way off as far as I am concerned.
Both Labour and Liberals have no intention of having a rail line out to the airport, this is an embarrassment, but they want to waste money on the Metro Rail Tunnel (inner circle line 2.0) and the Suburban Rail Loop (outer circle line 2.0). A line out to airport is needed, a lot of tourists are put off coming to Melbourne because of the lack of public transport coming out from the airport.
Skybuss works fine
We use the SkyBus every time we go to the Airport, and it's not the expensive, cheaper than a Taxi.
both labor and liberals want a train to the airport, its just the airport doesn't want it, all they want is to capitalize off the carparking monopoly they've accumulated. Both Metro tunnel and suburban rail loop aren't a waste of money, they are vital for the ever-growing population of Melbourne, and an at-capacity rail network. Metro tunnel is needed to increase capacity in all train lines, while the suburban rail loop is needed to allow commuters for cross city/ intersuburban journeys, and a catalyst for new housing.
If both Labour and Liberals want a train line to the Airport so why are they being so stubborn, as for the Metro Rail Tunnel it's going to create a nightmare for those who use the E Pakenham/Cranbourne and Sunbury lines, if you don't use any of those lines then SHUT UP.
@@sandrafowler6717 I know for a fact that labor wants a rail link to the airport, so does everyone else, the stubbornness doesn't come from the government but from those who own the airport. (which is pretty evident) as for the metro tunnel, why is it going to be a nightmare for the Pakenham/Cranbourne and Sunbury lines, these lines will get the most benefit out of the metro tunnel, which is a much higher frequency.
Do we need it ?
I’ve had zero issues with skybus
You can stick to Skybus then. Problem solved. I for one hate buses and the sheer site of ugly 10-lane-wide (5 each way) freeways. And with the rate Melbourne's growing at, the widened freeway will only last so long before it's back to choking point anyway.
It would not even have to be a project in isolation. If the Government is unwilling to reactivate the Somerton Link, what it should do is use the Airport West corridor to divert v/line trains away from the Essendon corridor. It can even attach these works to the Regional Rail Revival. The ARTC has already built 600 metres of BG double track from Albion Junction.
Then allocate some money for the Airport West to the Airport which is only 6 to 7 kms away.
Honestly, imagine your paying $1000+ to fly around the world, and the Uber ticket price is a factor for you? If you want to go to the airport, stop being cheap and pay. Seriously, my boss paid $300 for rideshare in Japan and your worried about paying $26 for a private bus or $80 for rideshare?
-State Government: announces funding and timeline, starts pre-construction work for utility relocation 👷♂️
-Airport: NO, UNDERGROUND STATION ONLY 🙅♂️
-State Government: Please let us build it elevated so we can get value for taxpayers and open earlier 🚜
-Airport: NO, This is not going ahead because UNDERGROUND🙅♂️
-State Government: *sigh* Thanks for the needless delay I guess we have to focus on other projects we can achieve
-State and Federal Government’s mediator, after years of the airport delaying: build it above ground
-Airport: Oh shit okay PLEASE BUILD IT RIGHT NOW & OPEN ON TIME, even though we have been the primary source of this 4-year delay.
Melbourne is like 30 years behind