The Melbourne Airport Rail Link (MARL) project has taken a big step forward today with the agreement of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reached between the Albanese Government, Allan Government and Australia Pacific Airports (Melbourne) Pty Ltd.
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 Albanese Government brought in an independent mediator last year to ensure continued progress.
With an agreement to proceed with an above ground station, we have since been acting on the mediator's recommendations including the work at Sunshine Station.
Rebuilding Sunshine Station is essential to enable services to the airport and Keilor East, with the project set to untangle six kilometres 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.
Today's announcement is another signal of our joint commitment to progress this project following the Albanese Government's recent $2 billion additional investment and the Allan Government bringing forward funding to enable works at Sunshine Station.
Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:
"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.
"MARL will enhance the resilience and reliability of the transport network, better connecting Melbourne's growing population to where they live, work and play."
Quotes attributable to Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams:
"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."
"After a decade of neglect from the Federal Coalition Government, it's great to have a partner in Canberra that can find Victoria on a map and invests in important projects that will keep people moving."
Quotes attributable to Melbourne Airport CEO Lorie Argus:
"Airport rail will increase the transport options for our passengers and staff, and we are pleased to work with the Australian and Victorian governments to progress this project for Melbourne.
"This Memorandum of Understanding formalises the compromise we made in July last year to help airport rail become a reality."
