Premier Jacinta Allan has shot down any hope that Victorians could be boarding a train to Melbourne Airport by 2030 despite an apparent compromise by the airport boss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ms Allan on Monday failed to guarantee the long-awaited train line will built in the next decade, claiming the airport\u2019s \u201cunreasonable demands\u201d about its terminal station over four years had caused immeasurable delays. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It comes after Melbourne Airport chief executive, Lorie Argus, confirmed it would back down from its preference to build the station underground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is a project that has been delayed by four years because of those frustrating negotiations that pretty much stalled last year,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe construction timeline we outlined back in 2019 was a very aggressive one \u2026 (and) the completion date there was 2029.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHere we are in 2024 with years of delay caused by the airport\u2019s ongoing insistence for a more costly \u2026 underground station solution.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ms Allan also flagged that it was unlikely the original $10 billion budget for the project would be enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith delay does come cost and so this will be something the Commonwealth government will need to work through,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are hopes the rail link will get back on track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Premier said Ms Argus sent her a message late last night to let her know about the change in position before sending her a formal email this morning. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ms Allan said further negotiations were needed between the state and federal government and Melbourne Airport to kickstart the project. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/cc2106675dd2bf3a93dfc9e629f144de.jpeg\")
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