Go-ahead for Melbourne Airport rail link

A long-awaited rail link for Melbourne Airport has finally been given an official sign off by local and federal government officials in Australia. The project is expected to cost Aus$10bn (about £5.4bn).

The decision to go ahead with the project, known as the MARL for Melbourne Airport Rail Link, was announced jointly by Australia’s prime minister, Scott Morrison, and the premier of Victoria, Daniel Andrews.

A project team will now be established to drive the development of a full business case for the project, which will connect the airport to the Victoria rail network for the first time.

The airport is a key part of Victoria and Australia’s economic growth. In 2016-17, it handled more than 35m million passenger movements, a figure expected to reach 67m by 2038, as Victoria’s population continues to grow and demand increases.

Officials say MARL will alleviate congestion on the main road connection to the airport and the Tullamarine Freeway as well as unlocking capacity for the growing population in Melbourne’s north-west.

Morrison acknowledged the people of Melbourne and Victoria had been waiting "far too long" for the rail link to become a reality but it was now being delivered, with the federal government making a $5bn investment in its latest budget.

www.melbourneairport.com.au

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