Will Melbourne get Rail link to Tullamarine

[Dalescott]

I thought it might be interresting to get some opinions on whether Melbourne will get a Rail link to Tulla. This is an issue that has been in and out of the media, and political area for over 40 years. Last year we went on the Maglev in Shanghia, and the first thought was that we have to have one going to Tulla airport. For those of you who have not been on it, you are really missing something, 480KPH of wow this is good.
How do others feel about this, and what are there thoughts.
Please try to keep Politics out of it.

 

[NM]

Please try to keep Politics out of it.

Well its all about politics. The reason there is no rail link, and probably won't be for a long time, is politics.

 

[markis10]

The Shanghai one is a bad example, given it is useless for trips to the city!

 

[Dalescott]

Well its all about politics. The reason there is no rail link, and probably won't be for a long time, is politics.

Yes true, but that is not what I meant. I want people to discuss types of train, route, underground or overhead on rail (eg Maglev). Is it worth it, or not, will it add to the Airport.
By the By, will the Fed's put in any money ??????????????

 

[oz_mark]

If it happens, I would have thought it would just match the current heavy rail system that Melbourne has got (i.e. it will be an extension of it). Can't see any fancy maglev stuff happening.

 

[samh004]

It wont happen, the contract for the road excluded any other connection for a set amount of time I’m pretty sure (or so I heard). As far as if another link would be useful, what’s wrong with the SkyBus? Works to a pretty good schedule and isn’t prohibitive… and if you think a rail link would be cheaper, have you visited Brisbane and tried our AirTrain?

As far as the Maglev goes, as mentioned it doesn’t get to the city, it also cost a lot of money…

 

[oz_mark]

It wont happen, the contract for the road excluded any other connection for a set amount of time I’m pretty sure.

It's a myth.

 

[tuapekastar]

I'm not really sure it's necessary.

Whilst I usually drive or am driven to/from the airport, on the few occasions I've used the existing Skybus service it has been fine - operates frequently enough, maybe 20-25 minutes to/from Southern Cross Station, it was able to use the emergency lane on the Tulla freeway during heavy traffic, ~AUD16 one-way (maybe it's more now).

I guess the cost of delivering a new rail service to the airport is heavily dependent on the approach taken, but I cannot see a trip on it costing any less than the on the Skybus.

Would hate to see an overpriced white elephant! Perhaps someone who is a frequent Skybus user could comment.

 

[justin23]

I think the best bet for high speed rail is if the airports do the unthinkable and pay for it. However from what I can tell there has been discussion of a high speed rail link from Sydney via SYD, CBR and onto MEL and then the city. But it may be pie in the sky...

If the there is so much negativity against NBN based on spending money, imagine if the government tried to spend money on a rail link somewhere, regardless of how much we need it.

 

[nlagalle]

There are many issues why Melbourne doesn't have a rail link. one of the biggest problems is that it wouldn't be fast if it ran on the metro rail due to it being congested already. And honestly i doubt there would be the patronage to make it worthwhile.

I've used the skybus before from Southern Cross (Spencer st) and it runs every 10 minutes during the day and it never gets held up. in fact taking PT then the skytrain is only about 20 minutes longer than driving in some cases from my house.

 

[samh004]

It's a myth.

Ahh. Good to know.

Personally I don’t think it’s necessary unless the airport was significantly expanded from what it is now. I just don’t think the current capacity requires another link, despite buses occasionally being chockers.

Dedicated high speed rail links make sense for very big airports, but MEL isn’t there yet.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

… and if you think a rail link would be cheaper, have you visited Brisbane and tried our AirTrain?

Last time l visited BNE, 2 or more people, it was same price (or cheaper) to get a taxi into the city than train it. Goes to show.


Air train was $15 per person, one way

Taxi was $~30 to city (and to your door).

 

[samh004]

Air train was $15 per person, one way

Double that, one way, to get to the Gold Coast, despite my 'student fare' from Brisbane city to the Gold Coast being ~$3.50.

I can’t imagine operators of a similar service in MEL would be kinder.

 

[TanyaGordon]

I would have thought the VTD (Victorian Taxi Directorate) would stop any proposed rail link to MEL.

SEA-TAC light rail link is great, and only $2.50

 

[markis10]

Double that, one way, to get to the Gold Coast, despite my 'student fare' from Brisbane city to the Gold Coast being ~$3.50.

I can’t imagine operators of a similar service in MEL would be kinder.

Its 25.20 to the gold coast full fare, and kids travel free.

 

[samh004]

Its 25.20 to the gold coast full fare, and kids travel free.

That’s if you book online and get a discount, and only from the airport to the Gold Coast, not the other direction. However if you pay at the booth, it’s $28. Almost double.

 

[SFSC]

On our next trip to MEL we are going to experiment by either using the 478 bus to Essendon railway or, more likely (by frequency) the 901 to Broadmeadows railway and thence to town by train rather than Skybus to see if it's a viable option for older folks with a bit of luggage.

 

[markis10]

That’s if you book online and get a discount, and only from the airport to the Gold Coast, not the other direction. However if you pay at the booth, it’s $28. Almost double.

But still not double, biggest issue is not the fare (it costs me $15 to go three stations from SYD), it's the stupid operating times, 8PM Friday night, no trains scheduled!

 

[sadlier]

Gotta say that the Shanghai train is a novelty that does not really take you anywhere. But the airport trains in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur are great. So also are the trains at Zurich and Frankfurt. But plenty of others are pretty useless such as Singapore, Heathrow. Even the Sydney deal is pretty coughbersome and the Brisbane one is a ripoff compared to other fares on that network.

The Melbourne Sky bus is pretty good if you are travelling light and only $12 a ride if you buy a 10 tripper. But getting to Southern Cross can be a drag.

I would not not want to see a train unless it was seriously fast and did a circuit of the loop.

Now just a little bit off topic. Why are the pedestrian bridges from the car park at Tulla not a level higher so that the pedestrians and vehicles doe not clash at the departures level?

 

[samh004]

But still not double, biggest issue is not the fare (it costs me $15 to go three stations from SYD), it's the stupid operating times, 8PM Friday night, no trains scheduled!

I’m employing the same creative license that nonews use, so it’s as good as double. That being said, the extra $13 for the trip to the Gold Coast over the $3.74 I would pay is nearly 3.5x more. So in a way it is more than double

I note they have a ride guarantee that is, if you take an early enough train to give you a valid connection time for the scheduled arrival time at the airport, and they’re late, they’ll look after you, but that only works in peak services, so effectively never works from the Gold Coast, and is limited to a maximum of $500.

They don’t deserve to be making money, and lately I’ve bought tickets to the city and used my Go card onwards (or vice versa), just because they’re not worth it.

Back on topic, I’d love an airport train that as above, did a looped circuit, but more importantly, rain on it’s own track and was automated, so it could run 24/7 with little issues. There’s no need for a driver.