Work on Melbourne Airport Rail Stage 2, a 7.4-kilometre line from Albion toward the airport, begins within weeks, with trains due to reach a new Keilor East station in 2031.

Official rendering of Keilor East station with a train, platforms and a pedestrian overpass
Official project rendering of the proposed Keilor East station. Image: Victoria’s Big Build / State of Victoria

These dates apply to Stage 2 only. The governments have not given construction or completion dates for Stage 3, the final section with an above-ground station in the airport precinct. The Melbourne Airport Rail Steering Committee is still assessing options for that stage.

Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said:

“This is important progress that is getting us a step closer to a long-awaited rail connection to Melbourne’s airport.”

Route and Keilor East station

Stage 2 follows the Jacana freight corridor, includes 1.1 kilometres of elevated track and crosses the Maribyrnong River. It will run straight into the Metro Tunnel and use the same high-capacity signalling as the tunnel, which the governments say will allow frequent services. The stage is part of the Albanese and Carroll governments’ joint $12 billion commitment.

Keilor East will get its first rail connection through the new station. When it opens, trains are planned to run every 20 minutes, with trips to the CBD via the Metro Tunnel taking about 27 minutes, and services are due to become more frequent once the line to the airport is finished. The governments estimate that the station will link around 5,200 passengers a day with the city, and they forecast hourly use of the line at 6,600 passengers and airport workers.

Site investigations, procurement and development work are due to start in the coming weeks, followed next year by community engagement and early designs. Major construction will run from 2028 to 2031, when passenger services to Keilor East are due to begin.

Stage 1 at Sunshine

Stage 2 will be built alongside Stage 1, the $4.1 billion Sunshine Superhub. That project turns Sunshine Station into a six-platform hub and separates tracks along a six-kilometre section from West Footscray to Albion, which the governments say will make room for 1,000 trains a day. Due in 2030, it is planned to bring more frequent trains on the Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo lines and prepare for electrification of the Melton Line.

Melbourne Airport Rail stages, scope, funding and timing as of 30 September 2026
Stage Scope Funding Timing
Stage 1: Sunshine Superhub Six-platform Sunshine Station and separated tracks over about six kilometres from West Footscray to Albion $4.1 billion Due in 2030
Stage 2: Albion toward the airport 7.4-kilometre line with 1.1 kilometres of elevated track, a Maribyrnong River crossing, a new Keilor East station and a direct Metro Tunnel link Within the joint $12 billion commitment; no separate figure published Early works start within weeks of 30 September 2026; major construction 2028–2031
Stage 3: airport section Above-ground station in the airport precinct Not published No dates published; the Melbourne Airport Rail Steering Committee is still assessing options

Only the first two stages have completion dates, so the airport station depends on Stage 3, which has no published timetable. Only Stage 1 has its own published cost; separate figures for Stages 2 and 3 have not been given. Source: Prime Minister of Australia, 30 September 2026.

Airport rail plans since the 2022 business case

When the Victorian government released the Melbourne Airport Rail business case in September 2022, the line with a new Keilor East station was due to open in 2029, and the business case favoured an elevated station at the airport. At that point the federal and state governments had each committed $5 billion. In February 2025, the federal government added $2 billion for Sunshine Station, raising its commitment to $7 billion. A month later, the two governments and airport operator Australia Pacific Airports (Melbourne) signed a memorandum of understanding and agreed to set up a steering committee to progress the link.