Proposal for high speed monorail to Melbourne Airport

[whatmeworry]

Just saw this on the news. The report says it even has an escape hatch!

Can't help think of the Simpsons.



Plan for monorail to Melbourne Airport

No Cookies | Herald Sun

 

[Must...Fly!]

Actually like the idea and they could probably charge a decent amount ($30 ow, $50 rtn perhaps) for a trip that truly took 8-10 minutes in to Southern Cross or Flinders St with regular enough frequencies.

 

[whatmeworry]

I think a high speed monorail would be great as long as it doesn't stop the rail link going ahead.

The price for the monorail can't be more then what the Skybus costs for it to work.

 

[TomVexille]

Why stop there? Why not a maglev while we're at it?

Quite simply, any sort of rail link finished before 2034 it would cost way too much due to the clause in the Transurban contract.

This simply wont happen for numerous reasons, but forward planning in regards to infrastructure is not a strong suit in this country.

 

[Limewood]

Dam good idea but probably be in the new Sydney airport time frame, never.

Hope they don't want any Fed. dosh to build it, it won't be coming.

 

[Must...Fly!]

The price for the monorail can't be more then what the Skybus costs for it to work.

Why not? I think they could certainly charge a premium if it is a true 8-10 minute journey in to the CBD.

 

[whatmeworry]

Why not? I think they could certainly charge a premium if it is a true 8-10 minute journey in to the CBD.

I can't see it being viable at your aforementioned price suggestions.

 

[whatmeworry]

I like some of the comments from passerby's.

Many readers were quick to draw comparisons to the famous Simpsons episode, in which the town of Springfield is duped into building a monorail that ultimately failed.
“Is Lyle Landy in town? It’s more of a Shelbyville idea anyway, we would never go for it,” Mark said.
“Monorails were sold to Brockway, Ogdenville and North Haverbrook and by gum it put them on the map!” Stuart said.

And I found a picture of the Monorail escape slide from the Simpsons.

 

[serfty]

Why stop there? Why not a maglev while we're at it?

Quite simply, any sort of rail link finished before 2034 it would cost way too much due to the clause in the Transurban contract. ...

Actually, no - it appears the clause related to Freight!

This is one of the most persistent urban myths going in Melbourne. It is simply not true.

Myth: The Citylink contract forbids airport trains

Although the Citylink Concession Deed requires the State Government to compensate Transurban if it acts in certain ways that might restrict Citylink revenue, the terms of the contract indicate an airport rail link would only trigger compensation if it carries freight.

I wish governments would spend on making public transport more frequent. I think that this would meet a lot of the difficulties that are faced. It is a remarkably poor use of capital equipment that a lot of the trains used for peak hour are parked for the rest of the day and weekends. Airlines could teach them a trick or two.

 

[Programme]

Monorail? What! Why?

Rail links to the airport in the news again. Must be election time.

 

[TomVexille]

Actually, no - it appears the clause related to Freight!

Interesting. It appears I was duped by common opinion. I was under the impression that any state project that reduced Citylinks revenue would trigger compensation from the State Government. Obviously there were exceptions to this with the airport link being one of them. I stand corrected.

That aside, I really like the look of the Bombardier monorail and think it could be successful if it provided a quick and convenient (ie. high frequency) service to the CBD. With the expected growth of Melbourne and of MEL, a proper service to the airport is long past due.

 

[Cool Cat Phil]

With the expected growth of Melbourne and of MEL, a proper service to the airport is long past due.

Absolutely Agree with you!

Let's not forget the billions that is about to spent at MEL on new terminals, yet no plans for Rail.... honestly..... We must be better than our Counterpart's in NSW, with their poor planning record surely?

 

[whatmeworry]

Absolutely Agree with you!

Let's not forget the billions that is about to spent at MEL on new terminals, yet no plans for Rail.... honestly..... We must be better than our Counterpart's in NSW, with their poor planning record surely?

Planning across most of Australia is in tatters and most governments bowing down to the interests of developers.
BTW the guys in Perth seem to be able to do some good infrastructure projects.

 

[Dalescott]

The Labor opposition, canned it with out evn thinking about. Which is a pity, because it is the missing link for Tullamarine. But I would imagine Skybus (Driver Buslines) would move heaven and earth to stop it.

 

[Hvr]

And virtually all of the rail is there already! Just need the last little bit to the airport and electrification from Albion station.

Way too simple and therefore wont be considered. Probably no way to pay millions to developers for no return.

 

[TomVexille]

Way too simple and therefore wont be considered. Probably no way to pay millions to developers for no return.

At least you can still pay for a feasibility study :shock:

 

[cmon0005]

Also it must have bag/luggage space to be successful.

 

[DalyWaters]

The Labor opposition, canned it with out evn thinking about. Which is a pity, because it is the missing link for Tullamarine. But I would imagine Skybus (Driver Buslines) would move heaven and earth to stop it.

Skybus are an independent bus company based at Tullamarine. Driver Buslines is in Glen Iris area. I have never heard of any link before. Where did you get the info from?

 

[DalyWaters]

I tend to look at Singapore as a great example of how public transport can work.
Yet Singapore, with it's wonderful airport, does not have a direct train to the CBD.
After catching a train from the CBD to Tanah Merah, you need to change to a smaller shuttle train to the Airport.

In a similar vein, I think Melbourne could demonstrate it's love of trams by having a high priority articulated tram service run down Melrose Drive, Keilor Road and Mt Alexander Road to Essendon Station.

It would be straightforward with reasonably level ground. There would need to be a flyover into Essendon, arriving into a dock platform for seamless interchange but it would put people on to the rail network in a simple manner.

Serious priority would need to be given for the tram, self activating the traffic lights unlike the token priority than is given to trams currently in Melbourne.

 

[cove]

No need for a speedy resolution here so let's try to get it done by 2050 seeing it can open for the half century celebration.
By then we can switch some of the NBN workforce onto it.