Melbourne Airport Rail Link is expected to create up to 8,000 jobs during the construction period. Credit: Thomas B. from Pixabay.

The Australian and Victorian Governments have unveiled the route for the Melbourne Airport Rail Link.

As planned, the trains will run through the Metro Tunnel and enable passengers to reach the CBD from the airport in 30 minutes.

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Residents living in the south-eastern suburbs will be specially benefitted as they will be able to travel to the airport without changing trains while most of the people in the state can reach Melbourne Airport with one interchange.

Construction works are slated to begin in 2022 and complete in 2029, subject to planning, environmental and other government approvals.

Detailed planning and development work for the project is currently underway.

Both the governments have also each committed A$5bn ($3.66bn) in funding for the project.

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Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said: “The airport link is a nationally significant project and Victorians have been waiting a long time for it to become a reality.

“With construction to start in 2022, the agreement will support up to 8,000 jobs during construction.

“When complete, the link will slash travel times, bust congestion and be a major boost to the economy.”

Once complete, the route will provide direct connections to key sites such as Melbourne University, the Parkville medical precinct, Melbourne Central and Flinders Street stations and the St Kilda Road business precinct.

Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said: “This project has been talked about for a long time, its key to our recovery and this design means it will benefit all Victorians.”

Separately, the federal and state governments have each allocated A$2bn ($1.46bn) for another project that will facilitate rail connectivity between Melbourne and Geelong.

Earlier this month, the Victorian government committed A$2.2bn ($1.61bn) for early works on Stage One of the Suburban Rail Loop project.

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