Six million people a year would use train to Melbourne Airport

So the MEL Airport train could be delayed ........ Whilst Sydney is still on track to finish their train line to WSI by 2026:

www.theage.com.au

Big-ticket transport projects face delays as budget pressures build

The Geelong Fast Rail is “no longer a priority”, which will in turn hold up the Western Rail Plan, while speculation mounts that the big-ticket Melbourne Airport Rail project will also be delayed.
www.theage.com.au www.theage.com.au
 
Hvr said:
As will MEL AP, the rivers of gold from car park revenue will continue for another 30+ years.
Click to expand...

I've told this story before, sorry, but maybe worth again.

When Brisbane Airport was being privatised, at the time the AirTrain was under construction, I was involved in a team advising a potential (foreign) buyer. They, quite seriously, asked if they were the successful purchaser, could they prevent the AirTrain stopping at their airport.

Puzzled silence. Then ...why would they want to do that? Answer - protect the taxi concession and parking revenue. They eventually conceded that they probably couldn't stop the AirTrain from stopping at BNE.
 
pauly7 said:
Good news for MEL airport users with MEL airport backing down on the type of train station, wants it now open when the new third runway opens.



www.abc.net.au

'Victorians have waited long enough': Melbourne Airport backs down in rail link standoff

A major obstacle facing Victoria's long-awaited rail link to Melbourne Airport has been cleared, after a stand-off between the state government and airport operator was resolved.
www.abc.net.au www.abc.net.au
Click to expand...
About time Melb Airport accepted that if someone else is paying, smile, be graceful and accept.
 
Melbourne airport media report

Green light for above ground airport station to ensure airport rail supports third runway passenger growth

www.melbourneairport.com.au www.melbourneairport.com.au

Melburnians could be able to catch a train to the airport within six years, after a major obstacle to the construction of a rail line to the airport has been cleared.
Click to expand...
2024 + 6 = 2030. Lets say 2033 at best. The construction unions will determine when it is complete.
The ticket cost (=airport surcharge) will be important for some.
Around the world airport trains are either part of the regular public (slow) transit, with a nil or modest airport surcharge. Or a high speed and expenisve non stop service. [SYD has neither but still a high $]
For me in the Melbourne suburbs a high train cost would mean will stay with 40 minutes in a uber-taxi vs 75-90? minutes by train plus 8 minutes walk from my local station.
 
Actually the 6 million number is interesting. It's only a fifth of the airport's numbers from 2023. I'd have thought they'd want a higher percentage to make the development cost worthwhile.
 
cove said:
If the one way train ticket to the Melbourne Airport was set at around $100 the deal might not lose too much for the Victorian State Government.
Click to expand...
Although i know this post is in a bet of jest, I do think we all think too much in terms of will this public project turn a profit, yet don't really care when 10 new mega road projects get put on.

Ultimately, its a service that would have rippling economic and social benefits that are significantly harder to measure.

And as with most low hanging public transit infrastructure, once you build it, everyone wonders why it wasn't built deacdes earlier because of how beneficial it is.

If i were to cherry pick an example globally, Japanese people thought the government was nuts to build the original Shinkansen and it doubled it costs budget. Today no one even questions how vital its been for the economy. Similarly for the TGV i believe as well.
 
jb747 said:
Actually the 6 million number is interesting. It's only a fifth of the airport's numbers from 2023. I'd have thought they'd want a higher percentage to make the development cost worthwhile.
Click to expand...

Not sure of the accuracy of the numbers reported in Wikipedia for Sydney, but the Domestic and International stations there have an annual ridership of 4.9m + 2.8m respectively = 7.7m (traffic of 42.3m). With MEL traffic of 33.2m, the same proportion is 6 million.

en.wikipedia.org

Domestic Airport railway station, Sydney - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
en.wikipedia.org

International Airport railway station, Sydney - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
 
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dajop said:
Not sure of the accuracy of the numbers reported in Wikipedia for Sydney, but the Domestic and International stations there have an annual ridership of 4.9m + 2.8m respectively = 7.7m (traffic of 42.3m). With MEL traffic of 33.2m, the same proportion is 6 million.
Click to expand...
The numbers for SYD would be significantly higher if the ticket price was more reasonable.
 
Today the Victorian Government delayed the start of this airport rail line by 4 years so it is now likely to move into the 2030s for it to be operating.
 

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