Airport Link Company
Encyclopedia
The Airport Link Company Pty Ltd (ALC) operates the Green Square, Mascot, Airport Domestic and Airport International Train Stations. These stations are located in the nine kilometre Airport Line tunnel, which is 23 metres below the earth’s surface. This tunnel links Sydney Airport with Central Station, the Sydney Central Business District and the 300 train stations in Greater Sydney and beyond.
The tunnel and the Airport Line stations were constructed during 1995 – 2000. The project cost $900 million, created 3,000 jobs and was finally opened in readiness for the Olympics on the 21st May 2000. This completed project was named Airport Link and was the largest single transport infrastructure project associated with the Sydney Olympics.
The company also maintains and staffs a 24 hour, 365-days-a-year operations room, is open every day of the year and assists with the movement of more than 80,000 trains each year on the Airport Line.
Following the Olympics, Airport Link’s early years were challenging and patronage did not meet expectations. But today, Airport Link has emerged to become an important part of Sydney’s Public Transport Network. Over 40 million passengers have now passed through the Airport Line Tunnel and used its four stations. The Airport Line is being well patronised and during 2010/11 it is anticipated that nearly 7 million passengers will pass through Green Square, Mascot and the two Airport Stations.
In March 2011 it was announced that the NSW Government would cover the cost of the station access fee at Green Square and Mascot stations, meaning that passengers no longer need to pay a surcharge to access these stations. A fee remains in place for Domestic and International stations. Patronage on the link had been growing at 20% per year, but between March and June 2011 patronage increased by 70% as a result of the reduced fares.
In 2009 the business made a profit of A$5.8 million. In 2010 it increased to A$9.3 million.
The tunnel and the Airport Line stations were constructed during 1995 – 2000. The project cost $900 million, created 3,000 jobs and was finally opened in readiness for the Olympics on the 21st May 2000. This completed project was named Airport Link and was the largest single transport infrastructure project associated with the Sydney Olympics.
The company also maintains and staffs a 24 hour, 365-days-a-year operations room, is open every day of the year and assists with the movement of more than 80,000 trains each year on the Airport Line.
Following the Olympics, Airport Link’s early years were challenging and patronage did not meet expectations. But today, Airport Link has emerged to become an important part of Sydney’s Public Transport Network. Over 40 million passengers have now passed through the Airport Line Tunnel and used its four stations. The Airport Line is being well patronised and during 2010/11 it is anticipated that nearly 7 million passengers will pass through Green Square, Mascot and the two Airport Stations.
In March 2011 it was announced that the NSW Government would cover the cost of the station access fee at Green Square and Mascot stations, meaning that passengers no longer need to pay a surcharge to access these stations. A fee remains in place for Domestic and International stations. Patronage on the link had been growing at 20% per year, but between March and June 2011 patronage increased by 70% as a result of the reduced fares.
In 2009 the business made a profit of A$5.8 million. In 2010 it increased to A$9.3 million.