The federal and state governments are seeking ‘expressions of interest’ (EOI) to complete the first package of works for the Melbourne Airport Rail link.
AN ‘EXPRESSIONS of interest’ process is underway for contractors to deliver Melbourne Airport Rail Link works around Sunshine and Albion.
Federal urban infrastructure minister Paul Fletcher MP, and Victorian transport infrastructure minister Jacinta Allan announced the first works package for the Melbourne Airport Rail Link was out to market and contractors were being invited to submit their initial proposals.
Fletcher said these works were the first of several work packages to go out to market.
“Melbourne airport is one of the key gateways to Australia and provides crucial links to interstate and regional destinations, helping to drive business and trade by connecting Victorians to the rest of Australia and the world,” he said.
“That is why the Morrison government has committed $5bn to deliver this crucial transport infrastructure project, which will better connect commuters to the airport and support Melbourne’s long-term commuter needs as its population continues to grow.
“More than 100 organisations in Australia and across the world have registered their interest to be a part of building this once-in-a-generation project.”
The first step in transforming Sunshine Station is to include a new accessible pedestrian concourse that will enable transfers at either end of the platforms and double the number of lifts available, with extra ticketing gates and weather-protected platform extensions also included.
Allan said more information on key elements of the project soon would be shared publicly.
“We want to get construction started on this much-needed project as soon as possible,” she said.
“Melbourne Airport Rail Link will play a critical role in Victoria’s plan to transform Sunshine into a transport superhub. Together with the Metro Tunnel, Geelong Fast Rail and Western Rail Plan, we will be delivering more trains more often.”
A trip to the CBD from Sunshine through the Metro Tunnel is predicted to take around 16 minutes, while a journey in the other direction to Melbourne Airport is to take about eleven minutes.
Melbourne Airport Rail Link is also expected to deliver safer connections for pedestrians and cyclists.
The Australian and Victorian governments have committed $5 billion each towards Melbourne Airport Rail Link, which will take passengers from Melbourne Airport into the heart of the city in around 30 minutes via the Metro Tunnel.
Construction is set to start in 2022 with a target opening of 2029, subject to all relevant approvals.
The Melbourne Airport Rail Link is one of Victoria’s ‘Big Build‘ projects, with a view to meeting the needs of an expanding population and driving economic recovery post-COVID.