Melbourne Airport Rail on track and a new station added

Melbourne Airport Rail is a transformational public transport project connecting Melbourne Airport to Victoria’s regional and metropolitan train network.

This eagerly awaited project will connect people from the airport to where they need to go—be that work, home or Victoria’s key tourism destinations—via a rail service for the first time.

The Melbourne Airport Rail Business Case has been released which shows the project will deliver wide-ranging economic and connectivity benefits for decades to come and will return up to $1.80 for every dollar spent.

A new premium station will be built at Melbourne Airport, creating an impressive gateway to Melbourne.

Early works have started with utility relocation and protection underway, clearing the way for major construction.

A new station has also been announced at Keilor East, providing residents with more public transport options than ever before.

Key facts

• Trains will run from Melbourne Airport via Keilor East and Sunshine into the Metro Tunnel and the heart of the CBD before continuing on to the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines.
• A trip between the airport and the CBD will take around 30 minutes and more than 30 stations will have direct access to the airport.
• Passengers travelling from other metro stations and most regional stations will need to change only once to catch an airport train.
• Melbourne Airport Rail will support up to 8000 jobs during construction.
• A new station at Keilor East will connect more than 150,000 people to the network for the first time.

Albion Station to be rebuilt

Albion Station will be rebuilt to become a modern and accessible station – providing an important boost to this growing precinct. Recognising the growth in the west, and responding to community feedback, the station will be rebuilt as part of the Melbourne Airport Rail project.

The Department of Transport (DOT) and Rail Projects Victoria (RPV) have been working closely to explore how Albion Station can be overhauled to improve safety, enhance accessibility and provide better connectivity for the community for years to come.

Further design development, site investigations and community engagement will be undertaken in the coming months to inform the concept design and confirm the exact details of the rebuild.

Works at Albion Station will be undertaken by the Sunshine Systems Alliance works package who is delivering upgrades to Sunshine Station and new technology along the Melbourne Airport Rail route including substations and signalling, communications and rail control systems for high-capacity trains.

To stay up to date about the Albion Station rebuild, subscribe to Melbourne Airport Rail updates.

Early works underway

Work on Melbourne Airport Rail has started with utilities relocation in Tullamarine.

Early works involves the protection and relocation of utility services along the Melbourne Airport Rail route including:

• electricity
• water
• gas
• sewer
• telecommunications.

Around 250 utilities have been identified as needing to be protected, modified or relocated with Laing O’Rourke appointed as the Managing Contractor delivering this package of works.

Early works have started in Airport West and Tullamarine to relocate six electrical transmission towers between the Western Ring Road and the existing freight rail corridor.

These new transmission towers will be installed up to 25m away from their existing location, alongside the Western Ring Road. The transmission towers will enable the power lines to be lifted higher off the ground to provide greater clearance between the lines and the new elevated Melbourne Airport Rail tracks.

In the coming weeks, locals may notice works occurring in their area in preparation for utility relocation activities to take place around the project area.

What to expect during these works

While early works are occurring, you may notice an increase in noise, vibration, dust and traffic in your local area. Melbourne Airport Rail is committed to minimising these impacts where possible and will provide advance notice of works to those impacted.

We’re working with utility providers to carefully plan the works in a way that aims to minimise impacts.

To stay up to date with works happening in your area, subscribe to updates.

Rail Projects Victoria is committed to minimising the impact of construction works on properties along the Melbourne Airport Rail corridor.

Prior to construction, we will give nearby property owners the opportunity to get a property condition assessment and report.

We’ll also invite local businesses to participate in a survey to assist us to understand their business better, and mitigate potential impacts from construction and utility relocations.

New station at Keilor East

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

A brand new station will 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.

The new station will improve 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.
• Trips from Keilor East to the heart of the CBD will take around 27 minutes, a travel 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.

Next steps will include site investigations, design development and seeking relevant planning approvals. Community feedback will be sought as part of planning and designing the new station.