Project Profile: Melbourne Airport Rail (MAR)

The Melbourne Airport Rail (MAR) is a city-shaping infrastructure project establishing a 27km dedicated rail corridor connecting Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport to the Central Business District (CBD) via the Sunshine transport super-hub. Engineered to integrate with both the metropolitan and regional rail networks, the project will introduce high-capacity, turn-up-and-go services to accommodate significant passenger growth and enhance Victoria’s transport architecture.

Technical Specifications

The core of the project is the selection of the Sunshine route, a strategic alignment that leverages existing rail corridors to create a major transport hub at Sunshine Station. This design facilitates seamless interchanges between airport services, metropolitan trains on the Sunbury line, and V/Line regional services to Geelong, Ballarat, and Bendigo. The new infrastructure includes a 12km elevated viaduct along the Tullamarine Freeway and extensive track duplication and quadruplication between Sunshine and the CBD. The project will be integrated with the Metro Tunnel’s High Capacity Signalling (HCS) system, enabling a peak-hour service frequency of every ten minutes.

Rolling stock will consist of purpose-built High Capacity Metro Trains (HCMT) variants. These electric multiple units (EMUs) are designed for passenger comfort and efficiency, featuring spacious vestibules, extensive dedicated luggage racking, real-time passenger information displays, and enhanced accessibility features. The new Melbourne Airport station will be located underground at the Tullamarine terminal precinct, providing direct, weather-protected access to check-in and arrivals.

Key Takeaways

• Network Integration: By routing through Sunshine, the project transforms a suburban station into a transport super-hub, creating unprecedented connectivity between the airport, the CBD, and Victoria’s major regional centres.
• Economic Catalyst: The MAR is projected to generate over 13,000 jobs during construction and stimulate significant economic activity and residential development in Melbourne’s western suburbs.
• Decongestion and Sustainability: The project is engineered to remove an estimated 15,000 vehicles from key arterial roads daily, significantly reducing traffic congestion and lowering annual carbon emissions by approximately 100,000 tonnes.

FAQ

When will the Melbourne Airport Rail be finished?

The Melbourne Airport Rail project is targeted for completion by 2029, with services commencing following a period of rigorous testing and commissioning.

Who is building the Melbourne Airport Rail link?

The project is being delivered by Rail Projects Victoria (RPV) on behalf of the Victorian and Australian Governments. Major works are being undertaken by a delivery consortium featuring leading engineering firms Laing O’Rourke, KBR, and WSP.