Australia's national/liberal coalition candidate for the Victoria state election has pledged to build a direct rail line linking Avalon Airport with downtown Melbourne if he wins tomorrow's closley fought contest.

Speaking from Avalon Airport on Wednesday, coalition leader Ted Bailieu said his administration would commit to a dedicated rail connection which would ensure "Avalon's future as an international airport" and which he conceded would probably get priority over plans for a Sydney Airport rail link.

Starting with a A$50 million commitment to build a single track line linking Avalon with the existing Geelong-Melbourne line, Bailieu will then ask between the state government, the Commonwealth and the airport to jointly contribute another A$200 million to build a rail station and add new lines.

The first train would begin rolling into a new railway station at Avalon from 2016 or 2017, Baillieu added as he prepares for one of the tightest elections Victoria has witnessed in decades.

By Oliver Clark