Albanese and Carroll Commit $12 Billion to Melbourne Airport Rail

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Victorian Premier Ben Carroll announced the commencement of stage two of the Melbourne Airport Rail project on Wednesday. The $12 billion joint commitment between the federal and state Labor governments involves constructing a 7.4-kilometer rail line from Albion to the airport precinct, featuring a new Keilor East station and a 500-meter bridge over the Maribyrnong River. Major construction is scheduled to begin in 2028 with completion expected by 2031.

This phase complements the $4.1 billion first stage, which is transforming Sunshine Station into a six-platform superhub by 2030 to increase capacity for the Geelong, Ballarat, and Bendigo lines. While the government previously suggested a 2033 completion for the entire project, it has since declined to provide a specific final timeline. The Melbourne Airport Rail Steering Committee is currently evaluating options for stage three, which will include an above-ground station at the airport precinct.

The project follows over 60 years of delays and disputes, including a recent conflict over whether the Tullamarine station should be underground or elevated, which was resolved by mediator Neil Scales. Opposition Leader Jess Wilson backed the project, pledging it would remain a priority with no further delays if the state coalition is elected in November. However, some critics, including transport expert Graham Currie, argue the route's design may make it less competitive than existing SkyBus services.