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Design and development works are underway for Melbourne’s Sunshine Station, which will link the city’s airport rail to the suburban network.
An investment of $63.5 million will be made in the detailed design work, which will include additional platforms, track and bridge works, and signalling improvements. Six trains per hour are expected at Melbourne Airport once the rail link is complete.
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Speaking at a press conference, Federal Transport Minister Catherine King said Sunshine will be critical for making the airport rail link a success, with the station to become the “Southern Cross of the west”.
“This $63 million announcement to do the detailed design work … is really the next milestone of making Melbourne Airport Rail a reality,” she said.
“We had the Neil Scales report that I commissioned earlier this year saying the Sunshine Precinct was really important, that we commenced that work on a no regrets basis to make sure we actually deliver the Sunshine Precinct as part of the Melbourne Airport Rail.
“I know what an important project this is for the state of Victoria.”
The progress comes after Melbourne Airport in July capitulated to the state government’s preferred model for the rail link, abandoning its demand for an underground station and acquiescing to an above-ground solution, following the federal government’s mediator, Neil Scales, also siding with the state government.
Victorian Transport Minister Danny Pearson admitted he had been “frustrated” with Melbourne Airport over the rail link and the work to date, but said Sunshine Station’s expansion would be a boon to suburban and regional travel.
In May, the state government confirmed that the rail link would be delayed by at least four years due to the long-running spat over the station model.
“I’m pleased that when I recently met with them, they have dropped their unreasonable demands for an underground rail solution. We will continue to work with them,” Pearson said.
“Obviously, we’ve still got the delays that have been embedded in the program because of that, but we recognise that this investment is going to make a profound difference to the western suburbs.”
The airport rail link will have three stations – the interchange at Sunshine, a new station serving Keilor East and the Airport West precinct, and the airport itself. Passengers will be able to travel straight through from the airport to the city.
