Airport rail link

It is a dogleg, quite a big dogleg out to the west, and there's another dogleg to go from Sunshine to the airport.

And what I want to find out today is what is the obsession with Sunshine and Sunshine Station? What are we building out there that means a free, and by free I mean paid for privately, airport rail link was refused simply because they wanted it to go via Sunshine Station? What's going on? I mean, I hear that the plan is to make Sunshine Station the sort of western version of Southern Cross Station, sort of become a hub for V-Line and for various metropolitan lines and for this airport rail link.

But I don't understand if that actually makes sense.

If we are going to have an airport rail leak, in my view, it should be an express service straight to the airport.

I just don't think they are.

Now, I'll be happy to be proved wrong, but I think the vast majority of people, if you looked at people coming here for the tennis or for the races from interstate or overseas, what they want to do is get to the airport, find plane lands, get your bags, get off, all right, straight to Melbourne CBD and find a hotel to stay in.

That is what airport rail links should do.

133693 mornings at 3aw.com.au.

It is a dogleg, quite a big dogleg out to the west, and there's another dogleg to go from Sunshine to the airport.

And what I want to find out today is what is the obsession with Sunshine and Sunshine Station? What are we building out there that means a free, and by free I mean paid for privately airport rail link, was refused simply because they wanted it to go via Sunshine Station? What's going on? I mean, I hear that the plan is to make Sunshine Station a sort of Western version of Southern Cross Station, sort of become a hub for V-Line and for various metropolitan lines and for this airport rail link.

But I don't understand if that actually makes sense.

If we are going to have an airport rail leak, in my view, it should be an express service straight to the airport.

Yes.

Financial estimates were doctored and a senior public servant threatened with the sack to ensure that the proposed Melbourne Airport rail link ran through sunshine instead of a more direct route to the city, the Big Build Royal Commission has been told.

The allegations challenge the integrity of the business case for Premier Ben Carroll's priority project, calling into question a $12 billion joint funding pledge by the state and federal governments and plunges the big build into a fresh scandal a month before.

The next election, I haven't got to the good bit yet.

Yeah.

A confidential submission to the Royal Commission by a planning expert who advised on the Airport Rail Link reveals that a secret working group was established in late 2017 or early 2018 at the direction of then Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allen to allegedly bake in the case for the Sunshine Route.

The group's brief, here's the good bit, according to the submission, was to study four shortlisted routes for the Melbourne Airport Rail Link and build evidence supporting the state government's politically favoured outcome.

Okay.

Ben wants to know, why does anyone ever fall for the airport railing discussions every election? Ben says, I don't believe it's ever going to happen thanks to the trans-urban contracts here.

A lot of people say that Skybus contract prevents any competing sort of airport rail link infrastructure being built.

I don't know if that's true or not, but Ben Carroll likes it because it'll run through his electorate.

The problem is, as I understand it, The way it's currently set up, this is the plan for Airport Rail Link, it'll stop several times, including at this rebuilt Sunshine Station.

And if...

One thing I know from people in Sydney who use the Rail Link is that you want it as fast as possible.

And of course, it'll be expensive.

But I wonder for people out there, would you prefer the money if we're looking at this situation to go towards the airport rail link? Or would you prefer that the money is invested in building a fourth airport, particularly towards the southeast, which is where we're discussing? James, appreciate you coming on.

Thank you.

My pleasure.

The Suburban Rail Loop is, uh, driverless trains.

The Airport Rail Link will be a driver trained, operated, so-

Yeah.

But, but would you have to get off the train that goes to Sunshine and then get on a different train to keep going to the airport?

My line, the Craigieburn line, sometimes it will go from, um, essentially North Melbourne Express to Essendon.

Sometimes it'll stop along the way.

So I think building Airport Rail Link and making sure it has additional market segments does give you that opportunity, whereas Liberal policy, having a, just an express line, will take out that opportunity and the opportunity for people living in the Melbourne's northwest that work at the airport to get the train line to the airport.

Now, the Premier will take calls in a few minutes.

Tom, the idea is this would be the, the Suburban Rail Loop is, uh, driverless trains.

The Airport Rail Link will be a driver trained, operated.

So-

Yeah.

Like, even on the Metro Railway Line now, you have different trains that some go, my line, the Craigieburn Line, sometimes it will go from, um, essentially North Melbourne Express to Essendon.

Sometimes it'll stop along the way.

So I think building Airport Rail Link and making sure it has additional market segments does give you that opportunity.

Whereas Liberal policy, having a just an express line, will take out that opportunity and the opportunity for people living in the Melbourne's northwest that work at the airport to get the train line to the airport.

In fact, Ben Carroll is now...

Weirdly, what we're gonna end up with, 'cause Ben Carroll really, 'cause his seat of Niddrie has a lot of the Airport Rail Link in it.

Yes.

My s- my prediction is we will end up with the Cheltenham to Box Hill leg-