Melbourne Airport Rail is a transformational public transport project connecting Melbourne Airport with a rail service for the first time.

The Australian and Victorian governments have committed up to $5 billion each to deliver Melbourne Airport Rail, which will connect Victoria’s entire regional and metropolitan rail network to the airport and support up to 8000 jobs during construction.

We are delivering a rail service that connects people from the airport to where they need to go — be that work, home or Victoria’s major regional centres.

Airport trains will run through the Metro Tunnel, providing passengers with a 10-minute turn-up-and-go service from Melbourne Airport and a continuous journey into the CBD in around 30 minutes.

Over thirty stations will have direct access to Melbourne Airport without changing trains, with passengers from all other metropolitan stations only needing to change once.

Project timeline

2018

• Sunshine route announced for Melbourne Airport Rail

2019

• Site investigations commenced
• Community and stakeholder engagement commenced

2020-2021

• Melbourne Airport Rail route via the Metro Tunnel announced
• Business case and design development
• Statutory planning approval process
• Market engagement
• Procurement process

2022

• Start of construction

2029

• Target completion (subject to relevant Victorian and Federal planning, environmental and other government approvals)

Melbourne Airport Rail scope

• New premium station at Melbourne Airport
• New station at Keilor East
• Bridge over the Western Ring Road (M80)
• Twin tracks next to the Albion-Jacana line
• Bridge over the Maribyrnong River Valley
• Shared use overpass in Sunshine North
• Albion flyover and station works
• Sunshine Station transport superhub
• Direct city access from Melbourne Airport via Metro Tunnel
• Direct access from Melbourne’s south-east to Melbourne Airport

New station at Keilor East

Melbourne Airport Rail will connect Keilor East with the rail network for the first time.

A brand new station to be built in Keilor East as part of the project, servicing more than 150,000 residents in the City of Moonee Valley area, and providing a new train line for commuters in Melbourne’s west.

Connecting Keilor East to the rail network for the first time via Melbourne Airport Rail and the Metro Tunnel improves access for these communities to Melbourne Airport and key employment areas including Sunshine, Parkville, St Kilda Road precinct, Monash / Clayton and Dandenong.

Local commuters will enjoy a ‘turn-up-and-go’ service every 10 minutes. It will take them to the heart of the CBD in around 27 minutes, achieving a time saving of around 20 minutes compared to existing public transport options. People travelling from Keilor East will reach Melbourne Airport in around 6 minutes.

Construction Melbourne Airport Rail

Building Melbourne Airport Rail will be a massive job working in a complex rail environment. As with any major infrastructure project, surrounding communities may experience impacts during construction.

Major construction will take place between Sunshine and Melbourne Airport and along the existing Albion-Jacana rail corridor including:

• laying kilometres of new tracks and ballast (crushed rock)
• realigning existing tracks
• changes to stations
• signalling infrastructure upgrades
• building bridges and elevated structures in some areas
• utility relocations
• construction access roads, fencing and vegetation clearing.

Further information on potential construction impacts will be communicated as planning and design for the project progresses.

We are committed to working together to minimise disruption for local residents, businesses and rail passengers as much as possible.