The Victorian Government Has Finally Committed to Building a Melbourne Airport Rail Link

It's been a long (long) time coming, but a rail line from Melbourne's CBD to Tullamarine Airport is finally in the works, with the Victorian government confirming construction on the link will start within the next ten years.

As reported by The Age, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews will today announce that building of the airport line will kick off before the opening of the $11.3 billion Metro rail tunnel in 2026.

And it's set to improve more than just the airport run, with plans for the connection also designed to help speed things up on the overcrowded Geelong and Ballarat train lines. The Federal and State governments have committed $30 million to conducting a planning study for the infrastructure, which is likely to include extra train lines between Southern Cross Station and Melbourne's western suburbs.

Rather than just being a funnel for tourists and business travellers, the connection could see travel times between the CBD and Geelong slashed to just 40 minutes too, which Mr Andrews says is as important as improving airport accessibility. According to Andrews, it could "transform the way people live, work and travel across Victoria" and "unlock western and northern Victoria".

Well, about time. Sydney and Brisbane already have airport rail links, and Perth is currently in the process of building its own. Maybe this will finally kill or clarify that myth around the airport's secret underground 'station' as well.

Via The Age. Image: Image: Global Panorama via Flickr.