As I have mentioned previously after being briefed Andrews is highly likely to announce the airport rail link prior to next years state election.  There will be circa $2b surplus at that time and more in the forward estimates.  It will happen and be built in line for the opening of the Metro Rail Tunnel.

Renewed push for Melbourne airport rail link

Moonee Valley Council wants the Municipal Association of Victoria state council to lobby the government to reconsider a link via Flemington.

Although there are some suburban bus routes that go to the airport, their bus stops have been placed as far away from the terminals as possible (it's over 1km walk if your flying Qantas Domestic) yet Skybus, Long term car park bus and even the staff buses drop people off right at the door.

I hope they don't expect Melbourne Airport to be overly co-operative on this idea. They currently make a huge profit with their overpriced car parking (go onto Google, count the cars in the long term car park and look up the rates). Skybus and Citylink also enjoy huge profits from the monopoly of the airport access. Although there are some suburban bus routes that go to the airport, their bus stops have been placed as far away from the terminals as possible (it's over 1km walk if your flying Qantas Domestic) yet Skybus, Long term car park bus and even the staff buses drop people off right at the door.

Good to know that it will be free of level crossings, how about flat junctions?

How long ago was the Airport rail link first proposed? Back when the Tullamarine jet-port was built?

But still, how about an extension of tram route 59 and maybe even 82 to Airport west?

No greenfield railway is allowed to have a LX these days unless some remote dirt road to a farmers gate.

Although there are some suburban bus routes that go to the airport, their bus stops have been placed as far away from the terminals as possible (it's over 1km walk if your flying Qantas Domestic) yet Skybus, Long term car park bus and even the staff buses drop people off right at the door.

Err...totally incorrect, not sure when you last caught the 'free' bus to the airport however...

The 901 bus stops and has done for at least two years about 50 metres from QANTAS domestic and right near the staff buses as you call them. AFAIK PTV no longer uses the previous stop near Tiger air. The current set up is well posted, has PID's and all the bells and whistles required for a good PT option. Just touch on and go.

I assume the other bus routes also stop there including Skybus whose second drop off/pick up point is nearby which most people use because they don't do enough research ahead of arriving at the airport to enable them to save big $$.

Mike.

Okay, does anyone here know how long ago the Airport rail link was first proposed? I would think that building it as early as the 1980s, or even as far back as when the Tullamarine jet-port was built would have been a better choice. As late as the 1950s, travel between major cities was most done by train, trains travelled directly between city centres in this country, thanks to all our state capitals being able to bring surface rail right into and through the central business districts. With the advent of jet planes, they became the main mode of travel between major cities, but these planes arrive at and depart from the outer suburbs, rather than the city centre. So it's puzzling that none of our state capitals had such links yet at the beginning of 1990.

That's pretty recent in comparison to when Melbourne Airport was built. Why didn't it even get proposed in the 1970s?

Although there are some suburban bus routes that go to the airport, their bus stops have been placed as far away from the terminals as possible (it's over 1km walk if your flying Qantas Domestic) yet Skybus, Long term car park bus and even the staff buses drop people off right at the door.

Err...totally incorrect, not sure when you last caught the 'free' bus to the airport however...

The 901 bus stops and has done for at least two years about 50 metres from QANTAS domestic and right near the staff buses as you call them. AFAIK PTV no longer uses the previous stop near Tiger air. The current set up is well posted, has PID's and all the bells and whistles required for a good PT option. Just touch on and go.

I assume the other bus routes also stop there including Skybus whose second drop off/pick up point is nearby which most people use because they don't do enough research ahead of arriving at the airport to enable them to save big $$.

Mike.

Although there are some suburban bus routes that go to the airport, their bus stops have been placed as far away from the terminals as possible (it's over 1km walk if your flying Qantas Domestic) yet Skybus, Long term car park bus and even the staff buses drop people off right at the door.

Err...totally incorrect, not sure when you last caught the 'free' bus to the airport however...

The 901 bus stops and has done for at least two years about 50 metres from QANTAS domestic and right near the staff buses as you call them. AFAIK PTV no longer uses the previous stop near Tiger air. The current set up is well posted, has PID's and all the bells and whistles required for a good PT option. Just touch on and go.

I assume the other bus routes also stop there including Skybus whose second drop off/pick up point is nearby which most people use because they don't do enough research ahead of arriving at the airport to enable them to save big $$.

Mike.

Incorrect. All buses now use the transport hub near Terminal 4.

Although there are some suburban bus routes that go to the airport, their bus stops have been placed as far away from the terminals as possible (it's over 1km walk if your flying Qantas Domestic) yet Skybus, Long term car park bus and even the staff buses drop people off right at the door.

Err...totally incorrect, not sure when you last caught the 'free' bus to the airport however...

The 901 bus stops and has done for at least two years about 50 metres from QANTAS domestic and right near the staff buses as you call them. AFAIK PTV no longer uses the previous stop near Tiger air. The current set up is well posted, has PID's and all the bells and whistles required for a good PT option. Just touch on and go.

I assume the other bus routes also stop there including Skybus whose second drop off/pick up point is nearby which most people use because they don't do enough research ahead of arriving at the airport to enable them to save big $$.

Mike.

Incorrect. All buses now use the transport hub near Terminal 4.

So what you are saying is QANTAS and the 901 bus stop are at terminal 4

Good to know that it will be free of level crossings, how about flat junctions?

How long ago was the Airport rail link first proposed? Back when the Tullamarine jet-port was built?

But still, how about an extension of tram route 59 and maybe even 82 to Airport west?

The tram line would probably have to go underground on approach to The Airport, which would be a first for the tram network, possibly sharing tunnel space with the proposed Airport Rail Link, but the problem is the current rolling stock used on route 59 wouldn't cope with the extra passengers not to mention baggage. I think special trams designed of that kind of thing would be needed. I would also propose a route 96 style upgrade with raised barriers, more platform stops and traffic light priority, and PID's. An upgrade of the city terminal would also be a good idea. That is what would be needed to make it a viable Airport Link, and this could be in tandem with the rail link, giving people more than one option for getting to The Airport.