The federal and Victorian governments and Australia Pacific Airports (Melbourne) have reached a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the Melbourne Airport Rail Link (MARL), marking a major step for the project.
The MoU means all three parties have committed to work together to commence delivery of MARL and will establish a Steering Committee led by senior officials from each organisation to progress this project.
With this understanding, all parties will work collectively, in good faith, to finalise the path to construction and deliver this important project for all Victorians.
The MoU is the next step in delivering MARL and builds on the recent decision to kick start works on rebuilding Sunshine Station.
MARL remains an important project for Victoria, which is why the federal government brought in an independent mediator in 2024 to ensure continued progress.
Rebuilding Sunshine Station is essential to enable services to the airport and Keilor East, with the project set to untangle 6km of track between West Footscray and Albion to cater for freight, metro trains and 70 per cent of the V/Line network – while also paving the way for future upgrades in the west.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King, said, “Many Victorians have spent a lifetime hearing of a rail link to the airport, and today we are telling them that we will work together in good faith to get it done.
“We want to keep this project moving, which is why we brought in an independent mediator, why we’ve been acting on his recommendations and why we’re investing to make it happen,” Ms King said.
“MARL will enhance the resilience and reliability of the transport network, better connecting Melbourne’s growing population to where they live, work and play.”
Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Gabrielle Williams, said that Melbourne Airport Rail Link is an important rail project, which will pave the way for faster and safer journeys for passengers across the state for decades to come.
“We are getting on with delivering the first stage of Melbourne Airport Rail, reconfiguring freight, regional and Surburban tracks between West Footscray and Albion to make space for this important new rail link,” Ms Williams said.
Melbourne Airport CEO, Lorie Argus, said that airport rail will increase the transport options for airline passengers and staff, and Melbourne Airport is pleased to work with the federal and Victorian governments to progress this project for the city.
“This Memorandum of Understanding formalises the compromise we made in July last year to help airport rail become a reality.”
