Melbourne Airport Rail Stage 2 Set For Take-Off

The Albanese and Carroll Labor Governments are getting on with building Melbourne Airport Rail Stage 2, with work set to begin in the coming weeks. It will include a new 7.4-kilometre rail line from Albion toward the Airport precinct via a brand-new Keilor East station, as part of the $12 billion joint commitment from the Albanese and Carroll Labor Governments. The line will connect directly to the Metro Tunnel and feature the same high-capacity signalling to enable frequent services. Built alongside the Jacana freight corridor, the new line will feature a 500 metre rail bridge to carry trains over the Maribyrnong River. Site investigations, procurement and development works will begin in the coming weeks with community engagement and early designs to follow next year. Major construction on Stage 2 will start in 2028 and finish in 2031, when trains will take passengers to Keilor East for the first time. The Melbourne Airport Rail Steering Committee is continuing to work through options for the final stage of Airport Rail, Stage 3 which will include an above ground station at the Airport precinct. Once complete, Keilor East station will connect an estimated 5,200 passengers a day to the city. Another 6,600 passengers and airport workers are expected to use the new line every hour. The project will be delivered alongside the $4.1 billion Sunshine Superhub project – the first stage of Melbourne Airport Rail. The project will transform Sunshine Station into a six-platform superhub and untangle six kilometres of track between West Footscray and Albion, creating capacity for 1,000 trains a day. Due for completion in 2030, Stage 1 will enable more trains, more often on the Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo lines, and pave the way for the electrification of the Melton Line. Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese: "We're building Victoria's future, unlocking capacity to run more trains, more often, and ensuring we have a train line to Melbourne Airport." Quotes attributable to Victorian Premier and State Member for Niddrie Ben Carroll: “Melbourne needs a direct rail link to the airport, that’s why we’re getting on and delivering it. “A new Keilor East Station will give locals direct access to the city via the Metro Tunnel.