Scott Morrison (federal) government is considering ditching a dedicated rail tunnel plan to Sunshine as part of Melbourne's new airport rail link, in favour of a Victoria state government plan for an above-ground track.

Federal government was for an all-the-way underground rail link while the Andrews (state) government preferred the cheaper option of airport trains would running along a new surface-level branch line between Tullamarine Airport and Sunshine, before moving onto existing tracks into the city, via the new Metro Tunnel.

Meanwhile, The Rail Futures Institute warns that without a new 6km tunnel, airport trains would be jammed in with metro and regional trains on congested tracks.

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/signs-scott-morrison-is-considering-ditching-tunnel-for-airport-rail-20191213-p53juv.html

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Daniel Andrews' (state) government plan for a cheap airport rail is popular across the state. People who support Andrews' plan fail to see the total cost of running a congested rail system.

Here is a rare common sense voice supporting federal government's tunnel rail:

"Daniel Andrews appears determined to squander both State and Commonwealth taxpayers' money on a slow, second-rate airport rail link that condemns regional rail commuters to decades of poor and deteriorating services. This is in the face of the ongoing population surge in #Melbourne, more than 120,000 per year, and the consequent negative impacts on city-wide congestion, over-crowded public transport and diminished liveability."

https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/6550832/the-case-for-a-tunnel-is-too-strong-for-the-government-to-turn-its-back-on/

Opposition grows to non-tunnel option for the #Melbourne airport link. as the Victoria government aims for the above ground fast rail.

Melbourne Airport is the latest organisation to join the protest against the state government choosing a cheaper compromise option that would slow trains on congested existing tracks.

the consortium backing the tunnel option (a.o. the Melbourne Airport and Metro Trains) has put an extra $2 billion on the table to persuade the government to make the best long-term decision.

https://www.thecourier.com.au/story/6620937/government-claims-fast-rail-still-the-aim-but-opposition-grows-to-non-tunnel-option/?cs=62

#Australia

Melbourne Airport rejects Victoria Government's 'in-between' solution of a rail plan that uses existing tracks and argues that a dedicated tunnel from the city to Sunshine would be the correct solution.

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/victoria/melbourne-airport-urges-dedicated-rail-line-tunnel-to-cut-congestion-20200209-p53z60.html

As the Victorian and federal governments are expected to reject the multibillion-dollar tunnel link proposal between the Sunshine and the city, in favour of a cheaper option using existing rail lines, Federal Nationals MP Damian Drum speaks up

Rejecting tunnel for Melbourne airport rail link would be 'short-sighted'

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/rejecting-tunnel-for-melbourne-airport-rail-link-would-be-short-sighted-nationals-mp-20200615-p552lt.html

Premier Daniel Andrews defends the decision to ditch the dedicated Melbourne Airport rail tunnel proposal...

https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/andrews-defends-decision-to-ditch-airport-rail-tunnel-proposal-20201121-p56gnu.html