Premier Denis Napthine has committed to building a new airport rail link if the Coalition Government is re-elected in November.

In a big win for the construction industry, the project is expected to appear in the May State Budget. Once built, services would depart from Southern Cross Station every 10 minutes during peak hours with the total journey to the airport expected to take approximately 25 minutes.

Speaking at the Liberal Party State Council, Dr Napthine said the landmark project was part of the Coalition Government’s record-breaking infrastructure agenda and commitment to building a better Victoria.

“The Coalition Government is undertaking the detailed design, planning and consultation work on this important project,” Dr Napthine said.

“The Melbourne Airport Rail Link is a critical component of the Coalition Government’s broader transport plan that will deliver more services to carry more people, more often across metropolitan and regional networks.

“The new service would run along dedicated tracks from Melbourne Airport to Albion where it would join the existing rail network and run through to Southern Cross Station.”

Minister for Roads and Public Transport Terry Mulder said Melbourne Airport catered for 30 million passengers every year with this number expected to double by the mid 2030s.

The new link will consist of a combination of at-grade and viaduct rail lines that will run from Albion, through the Jacana freight corridor and airport land terminating at a new elevated station at Melbourne Airport. A new rail flyover will be constructed at Albion to ensure smooth access to the existing rail network.

“The Melbourne Airport Rail Link is an historic project made possible thanks to our Government’s outstanding economic credentials and good project management,” Dr Napthine said.

Metropolitan and regional commuters will also be able to access the Melbourne Airport at key interchanges at Footscray and Sunshine.

Master Builders CEO Radley de Silva welcomed the commitment.

“This rail project will help not only create jobs during the construction phase but will boost the economy in the long term with productivity gains,” Mr de Silva said.

“This infrastructure will help make Victoria the world class state that it deserves to be.”