Another major milestone reached on VIC Melbourne Airport Rail project

Monica Gameng   |   July 10, 2021
Artist impression of Sunshine Station Superhub (cr: Melbourne Airport Rail)

The second phase of consultation for the massive Melbourne Airport Rail project in Victoria has commenced as part of the ongoing planning and design development process. New concept designs have also been revealed to give Victorians a peak at how key areas along the route will look. 

The phase two consultation will seek feedback from the community regarding key elements of the project such as: 

  • Sunshine Station transport superhub 
  • Albion flyover and stations works 
  • Bridge over the Maribyrnong River Valley 
  • Bridge over the Western Ring Road (M80) 
  • Shares use overpass in Sunshine North 

This round of consultations highlights the development of the Sunshine Station into a transport superhub. 

The bigger Sunshine Station will be providing accessible connections at both ends of the platform, with double the number of lifts available. Other features of the transport superhub include extra ticketing gates, platform extensions and better weather protection. 

Melbourne Airport Rail said in a statement: “The pipeline of major investments for the west – including the Metro Tunnel, Melbourne Airport Rail, Suburban Rail Loop and Western Rail Plan – will all contribute to Sunshine Station’s development into a transport superhub. 

“This means better facilities, more trains and more travel options in a turn-up-and-go-style timetable, with services available to Melbourne Airport, Victoria’s western regions, Southern Cross via Footscray, and Melbourne’s CBD through the new Metro Tunnel. 

“To maximise the benefits these major projects will bring to Sunshine, the Department of Transport is developing a Sunshine Station Masterplan, which will look at requirements for future investment and opportunities around Sunshine Station. This includes considering the plans of key stakeholders such as the local council and other transport agencies.” 

If you are interested in providing feedback regarding the Sunshine Station Superhub or other Melbourne Airport Rail projects, you can do so here. 

 

The Australian and Victorian Governments are committing $5 billion each to deliver the transformational Melbourne Airport Rail Project. 

Subject to relevant Victorian and Federal approvals, construction is anticipated to commence in 2022 and the project completed and operational in 2029. 

Melbourne Airport Rail’s proposed scope of works include: 

  • Major improvements to Sunshine Station, including new, accessible second pedestrian concourse with escalators and lifts for better passenger connections between regional, metropolitan and Melbourne Airport trains 
  • New twin tracks rising over Anderson Road through to the start of the Albion-Jacana corridor, elevating the rail line over the Sunbury corridor, Ballarat Road and St Albans Road (less than 2 kilometres) 
  • A new forecourt area, extra bike cages and some minor modifications to car parking around Albion Station 
  • Twin tracks continuing at ground level along the Albion-Jacana corridor, including a new rail bridge to cross over the Maribyrnong River alongside the existing heritage bridge 
  • A new rail bridge to cross over the Western Ring Road (M80) 
  • Changes to existing road bridges, pedestrian and cycling connections and other rail infrastructure upgrades – such as new signalling and power systems – along the length of the route 

The Melbourne Airport Rail route will run from Melbourne Airport through to Sunshine Station, move towards Metro Tunnel and into the heart of the CBD before it continues to the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines. 

Expressions of Interest for the first of several work packages for Melbourne Airport Rail was released to market last month. You can read more about it here.

Source: Victoria’s Big Build (1, 2); Engage Victoria; Melbourne Airport Rail (1, 2); Roads & Infrastructure Australia 

New call-to-action

Monica Gameng
As Felix's Marketing Assistant since 2015, Monica is responsible for researching and sharing new and progressing projects within the construction and mining sectors in Australia. It's no surprise that Monica has her finger on the pulse of Australian major projects given she has produced more than 1,000 posts. She truly is an industry expert.
Follow me:

Related Articles

Projects
Construction one step closer on $95m Avon River Bridge replacement in VIC

Construction to replace the Avon River Bridge in Stratford, Victoria is one step closer to commencing, with the beginning of the Advanced Tender Notice (ATN) and pre-qualification process for the $95 million project.

Projects
Construction begins on $95m new Avon River Bridge in VIC

Construction has commenced on the $95 million Avon River Bridge replacement project at Stratford, marking a new major milestone on the Gippsland Line Upgrade in Victoria.

Projects
NRW wins new $95m contract for works at Koodaideri project WA

Rio Tinto has awarded a new $95 million contract to NRW Holdings for mine pre-strip works at the Koodaideri iron ore project in the Pilbara, Western Australia.

Get the latest project news

Formerly known as the PlantMiner blog, Felix Project News is Australia's top 10 Construction blog. Join thousands of construction and mining pros getting the best content right in their inbox.
  • updates on Australia's pipeline of state and federal projects
  • fresh contract awards from major contractors and builders

If you're looking to contact us about other matters, please contact us.