https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/compared-with-overseas-airports-melbourne-stands-out-for-lack-of-rail-20180424-p4zbfw.html

Airport Rail is a controversial topic among many people from Victoria. For years Governments have proposed and pledged to fund the railway but no progress has been made. Countless feasibility and no action. However, three weeks ago the Turnball government pledged to fund 5 Billion alongside the Victorian government to build the Rail Link.

Four current options to the airport have been proposed. One travels in a direct tunnel, one via Flemington into a tunnel, one via Broadmeadows and the final option is via Albion.

However, airport rail has the potential to transform Melbourne’s network. Two options stand out: The Albion Route for Regional connectivity and the direct tunnel.

The Albion route has the potential to transform our regional network and segregate regional and metropolitan services. It allows Bendigo, Seymour and Shepparton services to use the Albion-Jacana line then branching into a rail tunnel to the airport and then ground level onto Clarkefield & Kalkallo. Sunshine becomes a major transport hub and Vline commuters have a quick connection to the airport. Services can then run more frequently on the Sunbury and Cragieburn lines, while it offers quicker travel times. It will cost around 5-7 Billion

The direct tunnel will also connect to growth areas in Maribyrnong and Niddrie that are not well serviced by transport. It will run from Southern Cross to the Airport stopping at Victoria University and Highpoint. Other proposed stations along the route include: The Defence Site which will be home to over 6,000 new people, Airport West, Millera Rd and Essendon West. The line may even run through from Southern Cross to Bourke St and Parliament, however the proposal to run via the City Loop will just add more congestion. It will cost around 8-15 Billion

The best option for Melbourne, both the Albion and Direct Tunnels being built. Both cater to the demands of Melburnians. This article also helps explain why both should be built.

http://theconversation.com/melbourne-airport-is-going-to-be-as-busy-as-heathrow-so-why-the-argument-about-one-train-line-95289

While the cost for both will total to around 12-16 Billion it will help untangle Melbourne’s network. It will cater the demands of both regional and metropolitan passenger, transform Sunshine into a major transport hub, separate VLine/Metro and give suburbs like Maribyrnong a transport connection. Alongside Metro2 it will transform our network into the 21st century.