For a city that regularly ranks among the most liveable in the world, Melbourne has a surprisingly glaring omission: a direct airport rail link. Melbourne Airport (Tullamarine) opened in 1970, and almost from the moment it did, planners talked about connecting it to the city by train. More than half a century later, passengers are still boarding buses, taxis, rideshares, and cars instead.
So why has it taken so long, and when will Melbourne finally get its airport rail link?
A rail link promised almost from day one 🚆
When Melbourne Airport was planned in the 1960s, rail access was already part of the conversation. The airport was built relatively close to existing rail corridors, and unlike many newer airports, it was not placed deep in the countryside. On paper, the conditions for a rail link looked favourable.
However, priorities shifted. Melbourne grew rapidly as a car-oriented city, with investment flowing into roads and freeways instead of rail extensions. The airport itself expanded around road access, reinforcing the idea that passengers would arrive by car, taxi, or later, bus.
By the 1980s and 1990s, the airport rail link had become a recurring political promise rather than a funded project. Each new government revisited the idea, commissioned studies, and then quietly shelved it again.
Buses, freeways, and missed opportunities 🚌
Instead of rail, Melbourne doubled down on road-based solutions. The Tullamarine Freeway became the primary artery between the city and the airport, while dedicated bus services such as SkyBus filled the public transport gap. SkyBus, to its credit, is frequent, reliable, and fast outside peak hours, but it still leaves Melbourne lagging behind global peers.
Cities such as London, Paris, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, and even Brisbane all developed airport rail links while Melbourne debated alignments and funding models. By the early 2000s, the absence of rail access had become increasingly conspicuous, especially as passenger numbers surged.
The problem: politics, funding, and alignment ⚖️
One reason the project stalled repeatedly was disagreement over how the line should be built. Proposals included:
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A spur from existing suburban rail lines
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A dedicated express line
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A shared corridor with freight
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Private-sector funding models
Each option came with trade-offs. Some favoured speed, others cost control, others integration with the suburban network. No single proposal managed to satisfy state governments, federal governments, airport operators, and freight interests at the same time.
Funding was another major obstacle. Airport rail links are expensive, and for years there was no clear agreement on who should pay. The airport operator argued it should not shoulder the full cost. Governments hesitated to fund infrastructure seen as benefiting private aviation businesses.
A breakthrough at last ✨
After decades of delay, momentum finally shifted in the late 2010s and early 2020s. The Melbourne Airport Rail Link (MARL) was formally committed, with joint funding from the Victorian and Australian federal governments.
The current plan involves:
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A new rail line running via Sunshine
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Integration with the existing suburban rail network
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Trains serving both the airport and western suburbs
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A journey time of around 30 minutes from the city
Importantly, this is not planned as a premium express only for air passengers. Instead, it is designed as a multi-purpose public transport corridor, improving access for airport workers and residents as well as travellers.
So when will it actually open? 📅
This is where expectations need to be managed.
As of now, construction timelines have shifted, and while early announcements talked about completion by the mid-2020s, more recent updates suggest the latter part of the decade is more realistic. Large infrastructure projects in Australia have a habit of slipping, and MARL has already experienced pauses related to cost reviews and broader rail priorities.
That said, the key difference from the past is that this project is now locked into the transport programme. The debate is no longer whether Melbourne will get an airport rail link, but when.
Why it matters so much 🌍
The absence of an airport rail link affects more than just convenience. It:
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Increases congestion on already busy freeways
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Pushes visitors towards cars and taxis
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Undermines Melbourne’s sustainability goals
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Feels increasingly out of step with the city’s global reputation
Once it opens, the rail link will transform how visitors experience Melbourne. Combined with the city’s world-class tram network, it will finally allow many travellers to enjoy a completely car-free stay, from touchdown to departure.
A long wait, but the end is in sight
Melbourne’s airport rail link has become almost legendary for the wrong reasons — a project discussed for over 50 years without delivery. Yet after decades of false starts, the pieces are finally in place.
When it does open, it won’t just be another transport line. It will mark the end of one of the longest-running infrastructure sagas in Australian urban history — and bring Melbourne into line with the world cities it so often rivals.