Melbourne Airport Rail Link

The best news in public transport this week was the Australian Government upping the ante that might finally see a new rail link to Melbourne Airport in Victoria State, Australia.

The rail link is proposed to be a completely new link from central Melbourne and serving as a commuter/local railway as well.  Therefore the Government's offer is AUD$5Bn and inviting the City or State to match fund.  There have been some feasibility studies with four possible alignments, so the expected cost is rather indicative.  As the proposals appear to be a whole new line from the city, rather than a branch from an existing line, it will take some years to deliver.

Melbourne's Tullamarine airport handles some 35 million passengers per annum, and with the exception of the USA, is probably the busiest airport in the west, if not the world, without a rail link.  To put this in perspective relative to the UK, Manchester Airport handles 27 million passengers per annum, about 8 million fewer than Melbourne, but has very frequent rail links to Manchester city centre and variety of services across the north.  In addition Manchester also has a tram link serving localities between the airport and the city centre.

I am hopeful for Melbourne, as the city and transport agency, Public Transport Victoria, are quite progressive and willing to invest in public transport.  There is currently a major project to relieve congestion on the 'Metro' loop track around the city by building a new tunnel under it.  Melbourne is also home to the world's largest tram network, and it introduced 'Night Network' a few months before me London.

I have not seen any detail behind the proposed rail link but it has a lot of potential to not only reduce journey times between city and the airport, but also to remove a lot of car trips.


Before a rail link comes to the airport, there is a non-stop bus service between the airport and city.

And it was whilst travelling on the bus I saw works in the median of the motorway. Building a rail link I hoped. No, motorway widening.  It was also whilst travelling on this bus that a child behind me was heard to observe to her father that there are a lot of taxis on this road!  A transport planner in the making, as she's observing modal preference/prejudice.

 

The bus link is primarily operated by these triaxle 'Bustech CDI' double deck buses.  They are somewhat unusual in having a double axle at the front.  I suspect these are a result of a 'buy Australian' policy else off the shelf Enviro 500s would be just fine!

Most notably drivers stand guard whilst passengers board.

However Skybus have a policy of lining a bus load up at the stop rather than trickle loading a waiting vehicle.  At AUD$19.50 one way customers may expect a waiting vehicle.

The vehicles are designed for maximum capacity, and are this equipped with a lot of conventional bus seats.  Again at a premium fare something a little better could be expected, Stagecoach Gold or Arriva Sapphire type spec maybe?

Bustech have adapted slanty bits a la ADL, but ADL sensibly did it at the top of the stair case whilst Bustech have pointlessly removed both elbow room and the view from two rows of seats.  Why oh why?

Whilst there's lots of seats upstairs, the downstairs sensibly has a substantial luggage rack.

Bustech CDIs come with a lot of rear lights! And free wifi.

The relatively expensive Skybus service does include a free connection from the central coach and rail station at Southern Cross to city centre hotels.  A collection of Optare Solo SRs provide most of these connections.  Despite requesting a connecting bus about five hour after arriving from the airport, Skybus were happy to oblige!