Some plans, however, have utilised alternative forms of mass transit or suggested a segregated and dedicated public transport link to the airport.

[7] In May 2024, Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas confirmed in the state budget that the project would be delayed by at least four years, with completion not expected until 2033 at the earliest.

SmartBus route 901 connects to Broadmeadows railway station with a one-hour journey time to the CBD at regular public transport fares.

Reg Ansett, however, another direct beneficiary of the new airport, envisioned helicopters and freeways becoming the primary modes of transport for passengers and staff.

[13] The bill was focused on acquiring land and protecting the reservation for a future railway line in the interests of cost savings, and Meagher acknowledged that construction could not be justified at least until the airport had opened.

However, opposing parties voted against the bill on the basis that such a railway would never be economically viable, instead suggesting a branch from the Albion–Jacana freight line in order to extend public transport option to the growing north-western suburbs.

Nevertheless, the plan did reach the Upper House, where it was referred to a committee for further evaluation, but the parliamentary session lapsed before any further action was taken, and subsequent rounds of railway funding did not include any related works.

One such proposal, Aerotrain, was presented by a consortium which had received the backing of the French government in the early 1970s to construct a monorail from Paris to Pontoise.

The company proposed a similar system for Melbourne, and a feasibility study was conducted, which found the technology had a significant cost advantage over traditional heavy rail.

[15] The Liberal state government led by Jeff Kennett reserved land for an extension of what was then the Broadmeadows line to the airport via Westmeadows.

[17] Market research concluded most passengers preferred travelling to the airport by taxi or car, and poor patronage of similar links in Sydney and Brisbane cast doubt on the viability of the project.

[20][21] In 2010, Martin Pakula of the Labor Party, newly appointed Minister for Public Transport, announced that the rail link had been taken off the agenda with new freeway options being explored instead,[22][23] however a change of government at the 2010 Victorian state election to Liberals, saw policy for the introduction of the rail link return to the agenda, with a promise by the incoming Coalition government to undertake planning for its construction.

[24] Proposals in January 2013 to improve the bus service to the airport involving turning emergency lanes into bus lanes on the freeway and the Bolte Bridge and allowing Myki to be used on SkyBus services were challenged by CityLink operator Transurban, because it would limit its toll revenue, and by Melbourne Airport, because it would reduce its car parking profits.

On 13 March 2013, the Victorian Liberal government under then Premier, Denis Napthine, announced that the Melbourne Airport Rail Link would be constructed around 2015/16 running from the CBD via Sunshine station and the Albion–Jacana freight line.

[29] On 12 April 2018, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced that the Federal Government would pledge $5 billion for a rail link between the airport and Melbourne's CBD.

[32] Then, in early September, the airport link featured in the state government's Suburban Rail Loop proposal, as part of an orbital line extending from Cheltenham in the city's east to Werribee in the west.

[33] Later in September, a private consortium including the operators of Melbourne Airport and Southern Cross station, as well as Metro Trains Melbourne, the incumbent metropolitan rail franchisee, and IFM Investors, presented an unsolicited proposal to the government, offering to contribute $5 billion in private equity alongside the existing government contributions.

The consortium, AirRail Melbourne, proposed using the funds to substantially rebuild Southern Cross, and provide dedicated tracks along the entire route via Sunshine.

[36] At a joint media conference in March 2019 Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Premier Andrews announced that an agreement had been reached between the state and federal government to provide $5 billion in funding each towards the airport link.

The agreement provided for a total cost of up to $13 billion, with the remaining funds to be sought from private sector investors, and committed the state government to completing a business case within 12 months.

[37] The 2013 study conducted by PTV assessed over 80 options in addition to the Albion East "base case" developed by previous planning work.

[42] In 2019, under the new Prime Minister Scott Morrison, both the federal and state governments backed the Sunshine route as part of their funding commitments to the project.

[44] This would be delivered alongside new, electrified Metro lines to Melton and Wyndham Vale as part of the Government's Western Rail Plan.

The government also rejected a private-sector offer to build a 7 km (4.3 mi) express tunnel from Southern Cross to West Footscray.

[72] The news of a potential four-year delay prompted renewed calls in the press for dedicated lanes on the Tullamarine Freeway for the current SkyBus service to Melbourne Airport.

[6] Following the announcement, local media reported that as part of negotiations the airport was seeking up to $1 billion in compensation for issues like land devaluation from the rail link.

[78] In May 2024, Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas confirmed in the state budget that the project would be delayed by at least four years, with completion not expected until 2033 at the earliest.

[80] In July 2024, Melbourne Airport decided to back down from its initial demands and has agreed to a compromise, ending almost 8 months of stalled negotiations.