Melbourne Airport Rail Link begins with $4.1 billion Sunshine works

Melbourne Airport Rail Link construction is now underway. It starts with a $4.1 billion transformation of Sunshine Station that sets up the corridor for the airport rail project and future services, according to the Victorian Government.

Melbourne Airport Rail Link works focus on Sunshine Station

The first phase is designed to turn Sunshine into a “transport superhub”. It includes six kilometres of raised track between West Footscray and Albion, along with the realignment of existing passenger and freight lines to support the new layout. In addition, two new regional platforms will be added at Sunshine, alongside an extended concourse to help passengers transfer between regional Victoria and the airport, as reported by Railway Supply.

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Raised track, new platforms and rail bridges

Meanwhile, at Sunshine Station, two rail bridges will separate the six regional and metro lines. The work is intended to eliminate bottlenecks and support more than 1000 train services per day through Sunshine Station in the future.

At the same time, the program to “untangle” the complex junction at Sunshine is intended to create space for the Melbourne Airport Rail Link (MARL) and future electrified services to Melton, with both routes running through the Metro Tunnel. The project also includes new “modern and accessible” stations at Tottenham and Albion, with work at Tottenham commencing in 2027.

Designs released, enabling works contract and consultation

Separately, early designs for the new Sunshine interchange have been released, and crews have started to relocate underground utilities and prepare underground service lines along the rail corridor, as Victoria’s Big Build notes. The enabling works package has been awarded to McConnell Dowell, ARUP, Metro Trains Melbourne, V/Line and VIDA Rail.

Stage one of the Sunshine Station Masterplan will be delivered alongside the project and includes a pedestrian and cycling path over the rail line, an upgraded bus interchange, and a new station forecourt with open spaces at each entrance.

Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said a rail link to Melbourne Airport has been talked about for as long as she can remember, but it has taken two Labor Governments working together to get this started for the people of Victoria.

For people in Bendigo, Warrnambool, Geelong and my hometown of Ballarat these upgrades to Sunshine will change the way we move around the state.”

Victorian Minister for Transport Infrastructure Gabrielle Williams said: “Rebuilding Sunshine Station is the first stage of delivering Melbourne Airport Rail and it will help pave the way for more services across Melbourne’s west.”

Members of the public can provide feedback on the designs and new open spaces around Sunshine Station at engage.vic.gov.au/airportrail-stage1.

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