Train passengers at Footscray are set to be big winners in Victoria’s Big Build as the station will become a key gateway between Melbourne’s west and the CBD with projects like the Metro Tunnel and Melbourne Airport Rail. Acting Victorian Premier and Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan visited Footscray Station, which will give Victorians easy travel to the growing western suburbs and regional Victoria from the CBD and the new station at the airport.
“Footscray is already a major gateway from the city to our growing western suburbs – and with direct access to the airport and through the Metro Tunnel, the community will be better connected than ever before.” Minister Allan commented.
“Footscray is a stone’s throw from the CBD with great links to regional Victoria – and direct access to the Metro Tunnel and Airport Rail will make our vibrant and diverse suburb a better place to live, work and visit.” Member for Footscray Katie Hall commented.
Minister Allan explained that Footscray passengers will enjoy a turn-up-and-go service to the airport with a direct 18-minute trip every 10 minutes, while also delivering easy connections to Melbourne’s west and regional Victoria including Ballarat, Bendigo and Geelong. Citybound trains will run every two minutes from Footscray in the peak, providing direct access to the Metro Tunnel’s five new underground stations at Arden, Parkville, State Library, Town Hall and Anzac. The Miniser added that this new infrastructure is giving Victorians more choice on their journeys – and passengers will still be able to catch a direct train from Footscray to key destinations like Southern Cross, Flinders Street or Melbourne Central.
The Minister said that planning for Melbourne Airport Rail is progressing well, with the next phase of community and industry engagement now underway to gain valuable feedback that will help deliver this once-in-a-generation project. The confirmed Melbourne Airport Rail route will see trains travel from a new station at the airport to the CBD through the new Metro Tunnel, before continuing on the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines. The Metro Tunnel will free up space to run more trains, more often across Melbourne, providing travel time savings for Sunbury, Werribee and Williamstown line passengers who travel via Footscray.
“Construction on the Metro Tunnel is well underway – once it connects with Melbourne Airport Rail, passengers from right around Victoria will experience seamless journeys from the terminal to the city, suburbs and regions.” Minister Allan commented.
The Minister explained that more than 60 per cent of tunnelling is complete on the Metro Tunnel, with the project a year ahead of schedule – and the first tunnel boring machine, Joan, breaking through at the first CBD station. The Tunnel is on track to get hundreds of thousands of Victorians where they need to go faster by 2025, while work on Melbourne Airport Rail is expected to start in 2022 and the railway will open in 2029 – subject to relevant Victorian and Federal approvals. Together, these projects will support up to 15,000 local jobs, while also prioritising local suppliers and providing real life experience for apprentices, trainees and cadets. Minister Allan said that the Andrews Labor Government is also delivering improvements to Footscray Station as part of the Sunbury Line Upgrade – with platform extensions and new wheelchair boarding pads to allow for bigger trains and ensure all Victorians have access to a world-class train service.
