Public Transport to our airports - what's cheapest?

[SYD]

Decade or two after I was travelling to DC every other year, they’ve finally opened a metro rail link to IAD (Washington Dulles)! I had no idea until a friend who lives there went for a joyride out and back.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2022/11/08/metro-silver-line-dulles-opening/

At US$2 all day on weekends, it’ll also be one of the cheaper one. Although $6 during weekday peak times.

 

[boomy]

Reminder: Brisbane AirTrain ‘return for free’ promo running from 20 June 22 till 30 Sep 23.

Return For FREE | Brisbane Airtrain

Brisbane’s Airtrain 500+ reviews Customers are saying that “Airtrain is the only way to go!” Available between Brisbane Airport & any SEQ rail station FREE* return journey offer ending April 30, 2024. Last chance to get on board with our best deal ever! Get a return journey for FREE* to every...

www.airtrain.com.au

 

[Port Power]

From SYD International (T1) often better to take the 420 to Banksia or Rockdale (more frequent trains at times), then the T4 Eastern Suburbs line to the city.

It's also possible, though by no means easy, to walk to Wolli Creek.

--

Has anyone done the train + 292 to Perth T3/T4 yet?

Yes, last month. Dead easy! And from right outside arrivals. Very quick into the city and no difficulty with even two suitcases.

Edit: The 2 minute bus ride to the train station isn’t charged. You pay at the station for your ongoing journey.

That line continues to Fremantle (if joining a cruise, perhaps), otherwise change platform in the city if going elsewhere.

 

[pn1]

The Perth Airport service continues to Claremont on the Fremantle line - not to Fremantle itself. But, with a 15-minute service on both lines (High Wycombe-Perth-Claremont and Midland-Perth-Fremantle, the maximum waiting time is seven and a half minutes. The Perth trains are spotless and normal fares apply.

 

[jrfsp]

Big-ticket transport projects face delays as budget pressures build

The Geelong Fast Rail is “no longer a priority”, which will in turn hold up the Western Rail Plan, while speculation mounts that the big-ticket Melbourne Airport Rail project will also be delayed.

www.theage.com.au

Not good news for those waiting for the MEL rail link

 

[lovestotravel]

Big-ticket transport projects face delays as budget pressures build

The Geelong Fast Rail is “no longer a priority”, which will in turn hold up the Western Rail Plan, while speculation mounts that the big-ticket Melbourne Airport Rail project will also be delayed.

www.theage.com.au

Not good news for those waiting for the MEL rail link

It's a very bad idea anyway as they have designed it wrong.

Bad route choice and will take longer than a car from the CBD

Should be a direct tunnel from the CBD to the airport and take about 15 minutes

Instead will take 30 minutes and you can drive it in 20 minutes in most cases or 35 minutes from the top end of the CBD

 

[aspro2]

Should be a direct tunnel from the CBD to the airport and take about 15 minutes

Once you take into account the cost of each kilometre of tunnel (ballpark $100m/km), completely new infrastructure for its entirety, the immense delays associated with planning, geological testing, site acquisition, community objection, etc, it is immediately clear why a tunnel is pie-in-the-sky for an airport and city like Melbourne.

There are very few major cities in the world with faster-than-road rail connections to a major airport. (Obvious exceptions being places with severely gridlocked traffic.) And when you consider that even the far-from-speedy options in many cities are far from cheap, it's hard to imagine Australians stomaching more than what Skybus already charges for its sometimes-fast-sometimes-stuck-on-the-freeway service in Melbourne.

 

[dajop]

You know what’s a classic Melbourne transport? The tram. For those wanting to appropriate a nice slow trip in town (or connecting to inner north east) they could have extended the #59 tram to the 6-7km to the airport .

A slow route but with a change to train at Essendon could be in the city loop within about 40-45 mins.

 

[aspro2]

You know what’s a classic Melbourne transport? The tram. For those wanting to appropriate a nice slow trip in town (or connecting to inner north east) they could have extended the #59 tram to the 6-7km to the airport .

A slow route but with a change to train at Essendon could be in the city loop within about 40-45 mins.

And imagine if there were some modifications of tram priority along the way!!

 

[lovestotravel]

Once you take into account the cost of each kilometre of tunnel (ballpark $100m/km), completely new infrastructure for its entirety, the immense delays associated with planning, geological testing, site acquisition, community objection, etc, it is immediately clear why a tunnel is pie-in-the-sky for an airport and city like Melbourne.

There are very few major cities in the world with faster-than-road rail connections to a major airport. (Obvious exceptions being places with severely gridlocked traffic.) And when you consider that even the far-from-speedy options in many cities are far from cheap, it's hard to imagine Australians stomaching more than what Skybus already charges for its sometimes-fast-sometimes-stuck-on-the-freeway service in Melbourne.

Not pie in the sky at all - A better solution that people will use, the current "solution" is pathetic at best

Given the current rail link is going to cost $8-13bn to be above ground....

Sydney and London are much faster solutions than driving

Either way I would never ever use it, nor would anyone I know

 

[Jacques Vert]

And imagine if there were some modifications of tram priority along the way!!

Lyon is connected to its airport by an express tram; takes about 15mins. Just the standard track to a nearby suburb with a couple of passing loops and a short link to the terminal.

Seems like an efficient and cost effective solution.

 

[Flashback]

Lyon is connected to its airport by an express tram; takes about 15mins. Just the standard track to a nearby suburb with a couple of passing loops and a short link to the terminal.

Seems like an efficient and cost effective solution.

Except the tram to the airport is rather expensive. If there's 3 people we always just get a taxi.

 

[lovestotravel]

The route 59 tram from Melbourne CBD to Essendon takes 45-50 minutes... and the route would be ideal for the airport route! Not a circular route via Sunshine. Sadly shared tram tracks with the road for 90%+ of the trip, little/no chance to speed it up with lights and cars, bikes, pedestrians etc. No way to add another track as the route goes through/around a freeway, houses, shops and existing roads.

For the route to the airport - add another 7-10 minutes for the final part of the trip but there is space out here for a dedicated express track away from cars, bikes etc. Would still be a 50-55 min trip at best

OR

You can drive from the city in about 25 minutes

The airport doesn't want a train link and placing the possible train station above ground is a joke! Even the airport suggested it should be underground

Sadly this "pause" in the construction won't change the route of this white elephant

 

[lovestotravel]

Lyon is connected to its airport by an express tram; takes about 15mins. Just the standard track to a nearby suburb with a couple of passing loops and a short link to the terminal.

Seems like an efficient and cost effective solution.

Edinburgh also has a "express" tram to the airport, with about 13 stops, but once around a few sharp bends near the airport, the tram is fast!

Easier than driving and parking in Edinburgh - We get the tram from the airport to the "city" and then pick up a hire car a few days later from Edinburgh city centre.

Tram costs £7.00

 

[Jacques Vert]

ZRH also has a tram and I'm sure there are plenty of other examples.

 

[openseat]

Melbourne is starting a redux of 1990. The world's most liveable city without a train link to the airport - what a joke.

 

[SYD]

ZRH also has a tram and I'm sure there are plenty of other examples.

DFW - cheap but 50+ minutes into Downtown.

SEA - US$2.25 for 30-45 mins depending on where you’re going to/coming from. Thinking of trying it this week v US$45-$65 Uber / Lyft ride

 

[boomy]

Melbourne is starting a redux of 1990. The world's most liveable city without a train link to the airport - what a joke.

I use the SkyBus on regular basis almost weekly and it’s 25 min to city with easy change to the train/tram service. Not sure how much time an airport train would have saved to justify the cost.

Regarding ticket price, normal fare is high particularly for one way but repeated promos from 3rd party like Klook and Placie means I can stock up tickets for $10-15 (they have 3 months expiry).

Overall time and cost from airport to city in MEL via SkyBus is similar to BNE and SYD via train so no complaints.

 

[Quickstatus]

What city with at least 5million has a train line to airport

Sydney
Tokyo
London
Frankfurt
Singapore
Fill in the blank

 

[serfty]

You know what’s a classic Melbourne transport? The tram. For those wanting to appropriate a nice slow trip in town (or connecting to inner north east) they could have extended the #59 tram to the 6-7km to the airport .

A slow route but with a change to train at Essendon could be in the city loop within about 40-45 mins.

A few years ago there was the infrequent 478 Bus (and another IIRC) that went from Essendon to MEL. It no longer passes Essendon station but still goes hourly during the day from near the Airport west #59 tram terminus to MEL taking 15 minutes from the shopping centre.

You could conceivably take a train from Flinders St to Essendon (17 minutes), 2 minute walk to stop #41 then No. 59 tram to Airport West (25 minutes), 1 minute walk to bus stop and 478 to MEL (15 minutes). (Plus wait time) (Or No.59 From Flinder's St. to Airport West. (46 minutes)

That is just as inefficient when compared to Broadmeadows Train (32 Minutes) and 901 Bus (20 minutes) with the 901 option being more frequent.