Victorian government to build Avalon rail link.

[Nigelinoz]

The Victorian Coalition Government is delivering on its commitment to link Avalon Airport with Melbourne and Geelong by rail, with the 2011-12 Victorian Budget providing funding to begin project planning and design.

Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder said the Budget would allocate $3 million to begin planning and design of the rail link from Lara to Avalon Airport.

"This rail link will allow passengers to travel from Melbourne, Geelong or even Warrnambool by train direct to Avalon Airport," Mr Mulder said.

"The project will provide a new station at Avalon Airport and a new rail link between the airport and Lara Station.

"Access to Avalon Airport will be greatly improved, which will help to secure its future as Victoria's second international airport."

Railpage Australia™ - Coalition Government to start planning Avalon rail link

 

[sr81]

The last thing Melbourne needs is a rail link to the SECOND airport.

How about building stops in the West for those new estates that are massive, how about not building ANY new rail lines in 50+ years. Melbourne is growing at 1500 people a week. The trains are crowded and the new estates are miles from the 1930's rail network we currently have.

The state of infrastructure developement is a joke in this state if it is not black and can be tolled.

Basically no gov is willing to embark on any building that will last longer than 3-4 years.

 

[docjames]

It strikes me as odd that you'd build a rail link to the second airport before having built one to the first airport.

 

[Nigelinoz]

It's going to be years before it's built though,and $3 million won't go very far in the design phase eiither.:!:
Cheers
N'oz

 

[nickykim]

It may be getting priority over the Tulla rail link as the existing Geelong-Melbourne track is not very far away. It really is only enough to start the planning so don't hold your breath. Governments love to develop plans it is getting them to action the plans that is the sticking point!

(I work for a government agency and am the cynic. Constantly telling my staff not to tell me they need more for another plan, we have enough plans already).

NKim

 

[lovetravellingoz]

It strikes me as odd that you'd build a rail link to the second airport before having built one to the first airport.

It is odd.

But unfortunately the Government of the daydida deal with the CityLink builders that rail link would not be built...or at least nota fast one that would decrease bus, car and taxi traffic on Citylink.


However long-term it makes sensse to have rail link with the second airport.

But as others have pointed our the rail network really needs massive upgrading and expansion.

 

[openseat]

But unfortunately the Government of the daydida deal with the CityLink builders that rail link would not be built...or at least nota fast one that would decrease bus, car and taxi traffic on Citylink.

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.

 

[drewbles]

As someone who dislikes public transport, I don't see what all the fuss is about.

At the moment, SkyBus does a good job of shuttling people to/from MEL.

There is no decent service to AVV (Sunbus I believe does this at present) and the train line past AVV is not that far away. Building a link to AVV from the existing line is a great deal easier in every sense than building one to MEL.

As MEL is getting extremely congested on the roads at present during peak periods, the issue of punctuality for SkyBus will become an issue (the other night on my way out to MEL there was an accident at the set of the lights closest to the terminal and traffic was snaked back a good 5-6km prior to the exit).

Look at SYD and BNE. Their rail links have been less than stellar, albeit for differing reasons (BNE simply doesn't operate the hours and is expensive, and SYD is expensive and uses commuter trains that are not suitable for pax with luggage during peak hour).

Will a train to MEL really benefit? In the future perhaps, but my 2c are that it's not going to be viable for a while yet. AVV is a no brainer. Cheaper to run, and I bet Lindsay/David Fox are lobbying the government for it too.

 

[burrco]

I have no problem with a train link to Avalon - but perhaps the owners of the airport should chip in as they stand to gain the most.

Given this is just to start designing a plan - the current Government, and most likely the next one, will be long gone before anything really happens.

 

[sr81]

...the current Government, and most likely the next one, will be long gone before anything really happens.

And that is the crust of the issue. No Government has the courage to do anything that will outlast an election cycle.

Don't care how or where the Vic Gov spends money but rail in Vic is crying out for some capital.

 

[Maca44]

Cheaper to run, and I bet Lindsay/David Fox are lobbying the government for it too.

Lindsay Fox has a lot of clout with Government, so wonder how much pull he really had in the decision making for this one.

 

[jakeseven7]

Melbourne Airport will (are) pissed.

Will be good for competition between Avalon and Tulla.