Alongside ongoing planning work and consultation, Melbourne Airport Rail will be procured and delivered through a number of works packages to integrate the new line into the rail network.
The procurement process will continue for several years as individual works packages progress and contracts are progressively awarded.
Works packages summary
| Works package | Procurement model | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Early Works (line-wide) Utility relocation and protection works along the Melbourne Airport Rail route. | Managing Contractor |
Laing O’Rourke appointed as Managing Contractor. Early works commenced in October 2022. |
| Sunshine Systems Alliance Works around Sunshine and Albion, including station works and a less-than-2km twin-track flyover as well as work to build and integrate high-capacity signalling, power and communications infrastructure along the route. | Alliance |
Preferred contractor identified: John Holland, CPB, KBR and AECOM. Contract negotiations ongoing, works commenced in late 2022 subject to all relevant planning and environmental approvals. |
| Maribyrnong River Bridge Work to build a new rail bridge over the Maribyrnong River. | Incentivised Target Cost (ITC) |
Preferred contractor identified: A construction consortium including FCC Construction Australia and Winslow Infrastructure.
Contract negotiations ongoing, works commenced in late 2022 subject to all relevant planning and environmental approvals. |
| ARTC Airport Reconfiguration of ARTC assets along the existing Albion-Jacana freight corridor to create space for the new Melbourne Airport Rail tracks. | Incentivised Target Cost (ITC) | Expressions of Interest (EOI) stage concluded. Shortlisted bidders notified of status and future Request for Proposal (RFP) Phase. |
| Corridor Works to build new tracks and infrastructure along the Albion-Jacana corridor (excluding Maribyrnong River Bridge) and a new station at Keilor East. | Alliance | Expressions of Interest (EOI) stage, inviting EOIs from pre-qualified contractors. |
| Viaduct Work to build a new rail bridge over the Western Ring Road (M80), continuing into an elevated viaduct along Airport Drive. | Alliance | Expressions of Interest (EOI) stage concluded. Shortlisted bidders notified of status and future Request for Proposal (RFP) Phase. |
| Airport Work to build a new station at Melbourne Airport and other rail infrastructure in the immediate surrounds. | Alliance | Expressions of Interest (EOI) stage concluded. Shortlisted bidders notified of status and future Request for Proposal (RFP) Phase. |
About each package
Early Works Package (Preparatory works)
The Early Works Package includes important utility relocation and protection works that will clear the way to build the new infrastructure needed to support airport services, making it easier to deliver the other works packages.
Sunshine Systems Alliance Package
The Sunshine Systems Alliance Package comprises works around the Sunshine and Albion area which will almost double the size of Sunshine Station, build a section of elevated rail between Sunshine and the Albion-Jacana corridor, and deliver improvements around Albion Station.
This package will also deliver several key pieces of technology along the overall Melbourne Airport Rail route. This includes substations to power the route and signalling, communications and rail control systems for high-capacity trains.
Maribyrnong River Bridge Package
The Maribyrnong River Bridge Package surrounds the construction of a new rail bridge over the Maribyrnong River, complementing the existing heritage-listed rail bridge built in the 1920s.
The modern design of the new bridge uses slender piers and wide pier spacings to minimise its visual impact, better preserving the structure, sight lines and history of the existing bridge.
ARTC Package
The ARTC Airport Package involves reconfiguring assets of the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) - managers of the freight network - along around 6km of the eastern side of the Albion to Jacana freight corridor and associated civil works, to create space for the new Melbourne Airport Rail tracks to the west.
Delivery of these complex works will be led by ARTC, with oversight from Rail Projects Victoria.
Corridor Package
The Corridor Package comprises works to build new tracks and infrastructure along the existing Albion-Jacana corridor, excluding the new Maribyrnong River Bridge (delivered under a separate package of works). It will also build a new station at Keilor East.
Viaduct Package
The Viaduct Package comprises construction of new elevated twin track and associated infrastructure between the existing Albion-Jacana corridor and just outside of Melbourne Airport, including a new rail bridge over the Western Ring Road (M80). Detailed planning and design work is ongoing to refine concept designs in this area.
Airport Package
The Airport Package comprises construction of the new Airport Station and associated infrastructure in the immediate surrounds, which is on Commonwealth-owned land. Detailed planning and design work is ongoing to refine concept designs in this area.
ICN Gateway company registration
Local suppliers and contractors that would not be part of a consortia directly tendering for Melbourne Airport Rail can continue to register their details on the ICN Gateway and these details can then be passed on to potential tendering organisations after the procurement process for Melbourne Airport Rail has commenced.