Elections

[rocky]

Mate don't get me started on the train to the airport, how does it benefit us Victorians? Would you use it? I wouldnt use it in a million years to get to the airport.

Oh, really? No, I'm very much for a rail link to the airport guy. Here I am talking politics when I hate doing so. Each to his own, but for me it's embarrassing that a major city like Melbourne doesn't have that in place. Benefits lots of people, fantastic for tourism, reduces congestion etc. etc. Would definitely use it before;
1. Metro Rail tunnel
2. Suburban rail loop (I'll be dead before that's finished though)
3. Westgate Tunnel.
Anyway, as I said each to his own ..

[Macca37]

In principle I support a rail link to the airport, but from a practical point of view I would never use it if there was not an upgrade to the current network.

i live about 12ks south of the CBD.  If the proposed link is built to the airport I would need to get a taxi to my local station, then get off at Southern Cross to catch a train to the airport, lugging suitcases with me.

It's just more convenient to get a taxi direct from home to the airport, even though the cost would no doubt be higher.

[ElwoodBlues1]

In principle I support a rail link to the airport, but from a practical point of view I would never use it if there was not an upgrade to the current network.

i live about 12ks south of the CBD.  If the proposed link is built to the airport I would need to get a taxi to my local station, then get off at Southern Cross to catch a train to the airport, lugging suitcases with me.

It's just more convenient to get a taxi direct from home to the airport, even though the cost would no doubt be higher.

Mrs E and I get the Eastside airport bus, comes to your door and cheaper than cabs or we hit our kids up for a lift..
Wouldnt use the train service either but I appreciate it would provide cheaper direct transport for some and think its a good idea and for a city like Melbourne with increasing population its overdue.

[Thryleon]

In principle I support a rail link to the airport, but from a practical point of view I would never use it if there was not an upgrade to the current network.

i live about 12ks south of the CBD.  If the proposed link is built to the airport I would need to get a taxi to my local station, then get off at Southern Cross to catch a train to the airport, lugging suitcases with me.

It's just more convenient to get a taxi direct from home to the airport, even though the cost would no doubt be higher.

I've been to a few airports and whilst I've made limited use of the rail links I have used them from other cities and they do provide a lot of convenience.

Business and weekend touros are the ones most likely to make use of this infrastructure.

I imagine footy fans from interstate would be just one example of people who would consider coming from interstate to watch their team if there was a rail link.

[Gointocarlton]

I've been to a few airports and whilst I've made limited use of the rail links I have used them from other cities and they do provide a lot of convenience.

Business and weekend touros are the ones most likely to make use of this infrastructure.

I imagine footy fans from interstate would be just one example of people who would consider coming from interstate to watch their team if there was a rail link.

Have never used trains in other countries for transfers from airports to hotels, especially on first time visits to countries where you dont know the lay of the land. They are a cess pit for crooks and pick pockets. I prefer to organise pre booked cabs. Dont want to sound like a prat but if I'm affording a holiday trip (international or domestic), a cab fare here and there aint going to save the bank balance. I personally think a rail link at our airport is a total waste of taxpayer money, that's just my view, each to their own.

[kruddler]

I've been to many an overseas city, and i reckon i've used the rail from the airport in every one of them.

Not sure if i'd use the one in Melbourne now, but it definitely would've been handy in the past.

The best way for me to get to the airport previously from the northern suburbs was to catch a train/tram to the city and then the skybus to the airport.....or catch a cab (5 times the price) or an uber....but that wasn't around back in the day.

How does it help Victorians? Tourism. Interstate/overseas people spending money in our city benefits those who live in it.

[kruddler]

East West Link? $1.1B to not build it, then announced the western distributor which costs have blown out to the shizenhousen.

I've spoken about this before, but Dan cops a lot of flak for this....usually from Liberals or lib voters.

Looking at the timeline/history of it paints a very different picture.
Libs did the budget for it and said it would cost 4bn and pushed it through quickly right before Dan got in power.
Dan and co looked at it and said the whole project would actually cost 20bn. So he had a choice. Go ahead with someone pushed through from the opposition and deal with the expected 16bn cost overrun he had no control over
or
spend 1bn to void the contract and spend the rest of the money doing things deemed more important....eg rail crossing removal.
Now i hazard a guess that everyone on here has seen the benefit of that on our roads.

What would you have done in the same situation?

[madbluboy]

East West link would have been nice.

[kruddler]

East West link would have been nice.

Personally, i never would've used it.

Its a bit like TDK though. The price tag doesn't fit the benefit.

[Mantis]

I've spoken about this before, but Dan cops a lot of flak for this....usually from Liberals or lib voters.

Looking at the timeline/history of it paints a very different picture.
Libs did the budget for it and said it would cost 4bn and pushed it through quickly right before Dan got in power.
Dan and co looked at it and said the whole project would actually cost 20bn. So he had a choice. Go ahead with someone pushed through from the opposition and deal with the expected 16bn cost overrun he had no control over
or
spend 1bn to void the contract and spend the rest of the money doing things deemed more important....eg rail crossing removal.
Now i hazard a guess that everyone on here has seen the benefit of that on our roads.

What would you have done in the same situation?

Are you sure of these figures? Where did you find 20bn? Many suggested figures show 1.78bn initially and a recent calculation of 4.8bn. It didn’t blow out that bad. It couldn’t blow out by 16bn unless he planned to by another country to use as a venue to host some of the events. 20 billion dollars, or cents. Sorry for the sarcasm but I can’t see this as a possible realistic estimate. 3 to 4 times more than any Olympic event ever held in history and some countries needed major infrastructure spending in the past (Olympic event, not Commonwealth Games). Major to say the least. Considering we have many venues available as we speak. Swimming, diving, track and field, velodrome etc. All used in international competitions and credited by international standards. So where was all this money going to be spent? What needs 20 billion dollars invested into? You stated 20 billion not me. I thought it was shy of 5. Maybe you found more than I am aware of. Not having a go, but 20 billion is simply ridiculous. 20 thousand million is more money than any country could spend. I might do more internet research on this.