Contractors sought for early works on Melbourne Airport Rail Link

Concept image – elevated rail over Albion (subject to planning approvals and stakeholder engagement, courtesy of Rail Project Victoria

Expressions of interest are now open to contractors for the Melbourne Airport Rail Link early works around Sunshine and Albion stations.

Contractors are being encouraged to submit their initial proposals for the works, with a shared workload approach being chosen for the project.

As per the concept design released by Rail Projects Victoria in March, the elevated rail solution will run from Melbourne Airport through to Sunshine Station, into the Metro Tunnel in the CBD and then out onto the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines in Melbourne’s south east.

The first step in transforming Sunshine Station will 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.

Federal Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, Paul Fletcher said these works are the first of several work packages to go out to market through a multi-staged procurement process.

“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.

“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, which will support up to 8,000 jobs during its delivery.”

Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Jacinta Allan said more information on key elements of the project will soon be shared publicly, with feedback to be sought as part of the next phase of engagement.

“We want to get construction started on this much-needed project as soon as possible and connect Melbourne Airport to Victoria’s regional and metropolitan rail network,” Ms Allan 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 and providing connections to jobs, health and education services.”

The Federal and the Victorian State Governments have c ontributed $5 billion each towards the project, with construction set to start in 2022 with a target opening of 2029.