Details of the much-needed, 25-minute train service will be revealed in the state budget, 40 years after it was first proposed.

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

A rail link to Melbourne airport will become a reality under a Victorian coalition government.



During his address to the Victorian Liberal party's council meeting on Sunday, premier Denis Napthine said it was time the rail link was built.

Napthine said the link would deliver efficient, high-capacity, regular services to the airport.

The project would be outlined in next month’s state budget, he said.

"I'm pleased to announce that my government will build the much-needed Melbourne airport rail link," he told the conference.

"This project has been on the books for over 40 years.

"It is time this rail link was built."

Melbourne airport attracted 30 million passengers a year and this number was expected to double in 20 years, he said.

The affordable, 25-minute train ride would go from Southern Cross station direct to the airport every 10 minutes during peak times, the government said.

The electric service would use the existing Albion and Jacana rail corridor.

"This is an enormous step forward for Melbourne airport, for Melbourne and Victoria," Napthine said.

"Victorians and Melburnians have been waiting 40 years for this significant announcement.

"It's absolutely essential that Melbourne and Victoria has a rail link to the airport."

The budget would reveal further details about the project, including costings and a timeline, he said.

It was expected the project would be publicly run but private involvement would be sought, he said.