SYD Airport Train Proposal from 1991

[toowongman]

A very early video promoting the proposal to link Kingsford Smith Airport with the CBD, which was to eventuate with the construction of the New Southern Railway in the late 1990s. Two concepts are proposed, one of which was to utilise the existing freight line & one that was to tunnel under Mascot. Particular reference is made in the video, that the financing of the project is to be undertaken by the private sector (which was a new development in Australia at that time, similar to how Sydney's motorways were funded at that time also).

 

[markis10]

5 years before it reverts to state government ownership, wonder if the gate charges disappear then, nah, unlikely.

 

[antycbr]

5 years before it reverts to state government ownership, wonder if the gate charges disappear then, nah, unlikely.

My understanding is that the NSW state government gets 85 percent of the gate revenue.

From the below article:

“It takes the total amount the state has reaped from station access fees at the airport over the past 10 years to about $740 million” - note this includes the pandemic years so would have been close to $1bn otherwise.

The winners and losers from Sydney’s most annoying train surcharge

Adult passengers are charged more than $17 on top of their train fare when they pass through station gates at Sydney Airport.

www.smh.com.au

One thing that didn’t come true is the equivalent of HKG in town check in. If they tried to do that now your bags would most likely end in Macarthur.

 

[markis10]

My understanding is that the NSW state government gets 85 percent of the gate revenue.

One thing that didn’t come true is the equivalent of HKG in town check in. If they tried to do that now your bags would most likely end in Macarthur.

They do, and they use those funds to subsidise the green square and mascot stations by a payment back to Airportlink of $2 per passenger in place of a gate fee, which would have been circa 30 million last year,.

 

[antycbr]

They do, and they use those funds to subsidise the green square and mascot stations by a payment back to Airportlink of $2 per passenger in place of a gate fee, which would have been circa 30 million last year,.

Still, not a bad earner of $70m/year after the cross subsidy.

 

[kpc]

At not insignificant inconvenience, I almost always take the train to / from Mascot train station, then I bus it to / from Sydney Domestic. I refuse to pay this extortionate gate fee of which a signficant chunk goes to the greedy NSW government!

 

[antycbr]

Watching the whole video, I’ll just leave this here.

 

[moa999]

Still, not a bad earner of $70m/year after the cross subsidy.

My understand is it was a lot closer to netting off these days.
Mascot and Green Square usage went up substantially when the fee was subsidised, and usage has continued to grow quicker than the airport stations due to the substantial amount of highrise at both locations.

What might be more interesting is what happens in late 2026/ early 2027 when the late running WSI Metro opens - we wouldn't want differential treatment