Work has finally begun to build the long-awaited railway line to Melbourne Airport.
The Melbourne Airport Rail Link project is a joint $4.1 billion initiative of the state and Commonwealth governments, who have today released early designs for the new Sunshine interchange and announced that construction has now begun.
This is a major first step to deliver the rail link to the airport and to create a new major transport “superhub” at Sunshine.
The project will “untangle the complex rail junction at Sunshine” and create space for both the airport link and future electrified Melton services which will both run through the Metro Tunnel.
Six kilometres of new tracks, two new rail bridges and realigned passenger and freight lines will remove bottlenecks and allow for more trains to run, more often
Sunshine Station will undergo a major expansion, featuring a longer concourse as well as two new regional platforms.
The station will also have lighting upgrades and CCTV to make journeys faster and safer, with upgrades to the precinct around the station to include better walking and cycling tracks, a modern bus interchange and new community open spaces.
A new station is also going to be built at Tottenham on the realigned Sunbury Line to improve local connections. Early designs will be released in coming months, and construction will begin next year.
