Melbourne Airport Rail workers redeployed as project officially paused.
A really disappointing, backwards step here from the Victorian government.
And yes, stopping and then restarting a major infrastructure project (if that’s what ends up happening) is almost certain to lead to delays and cost blowouts, when compared to just completing construction.
From The Age:
"Hundreds of tradespeople will be seconded to other projects after the Andrews government confirmed Melbourne Airport Rail Link construction would be paused, awaiting the results of a major Commonwealth review of the country’s infrastructure pipeline.
“Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan on Wednesday ended weeks of speculation about the future of the long-awaited rail line, saying works would be temporarily halted on the $13 billion Airport Rail Link, as well as upgrades of Clyde, McGregor and Racecourse roads.”
#trains #cities #Melbourne #Victoria #VicPol #Auspol @fuck_cars @australia #news #politics #train #urbanism #UrbanPlanning
@ajsadauskas @fuck_cars @australia Jeez they should just halt all the level crossing upgrades for the time being. We’ve been waiting for this airport rail link for 60 years.
@ajsadauskas @fuck_cars @australia I suppose the possible silver lining here is that Melbourne’s Suburban Rail Loop is so huge and decades-long that (if done far enough ahead) you could shuffle one of those other sections into the time slot and not lose much momentum?
@ajsadauskas @fuck_cars @australia I agree. It’s really disappointing. About a month or so ago, the reason it wasn’t going ahead was due to a break down in negatiations with the airport, over whether or not the airport station would be above ground. Reading between the lines it would seem the airport has got it’s way and the state government has had to go back to the federal government for more money to build the rail line underground.
@spmatich @ajsadauskas @fuck_cars @australia thanks for letting me know this!
