Hundreds of steel pipes have arrived in Albion as crews begin relocating Melbourne’s largest jet fuel pipeline, clearing the way for major rail upgrades at one of the state’s busiest junctions.
Melbourne Airport Rail Stage 1 includes building two rail flyovers and a rail underpass, upgrading track between West Footscray and Albion, constructing new platforms and extending the concourse at Sunshine Station to create a superhub, and delivering new stations at Albion and Tottenham.
The pipeline, currently between one and five metres underground, is the main jet fuel line to Melbourne Airport. Crews will spend the next eight months realigning it, boring a two-kilometre tunnel 30 metres below ground between Albion Station car park and a small reserve near Sunshine Road.
Albion Station car park will remain closed until later this year as more pipes are delivered and welded in 250-metre sections. Once boring is complete, the new pipeline will be pulled through the tunnel, commissioned, and the old line disconnected.
Victorian Minister for Transport and Planning, Melissa Horne, said the $4.1 billion upgrade would transform the Sunshine rail corridor.
“This project will create capacity for more than 1000 trains a day through Sunshine Station, linking regional passengers with Metro Tunnel and future Melbourne Airport services,” Horne said.
Early designs, released last month, integrate the Sunshine Station Masterplan with new pedestrian and cycling paths, an upgraded bus interchange, and open space at each station entrance. Community members can provide feedback via Engage Victoria until Sunday 29 March.
The project is scheduled for completion in 2030.
