In the autumn, the Cabinet will consider putting to tender the long-awaited Dublin metro system. If approved, a final Government decision would be taken when tenders are received and considered, likely before next summer.
Enabling works to move, for example, water and gas mains out of the way of the alignment for the 19km rail link from Swords in north county Dublin to Charlemont on the southside could get under way in 2027, with construction on the main project commencing the year after. This would see Ireland’s first underground train service operational in the mid to late 2030s, more than 60 years after it was first proposed.
1975
State transport company CIÉ publishes the Dublin Rail Rapid Transport Study proposing an extensive electrified commuter rail network with an underground line from Heuston to Connolly stations with a new hub at Temple Bar. First phase became the Dart line, but other elements are abandoned.
August 2000
Minister for Public Enterprise Mary O’Rourke announces the development of a £4.3 billion metro system for Dublin, one-fifth of which will be underground. She suggests the proposed circular metro system around Dublin, which would also serve the airport, would take between seven and 15 years to plan and build.
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2002
Minister for Transport Seamus Brennan says a metro link between Dublin Airport and the city centre would be in place by 2007.
November 2005
Minister for Transport Martin Cullen announces two Metro lines for Dublin. Metro North would run from Swords to St Stephen’s Green via the airport. The cost is estimated at €2.5 billion. Metro West would be an orbital service linking Tallaght, Blanchardstown and Clondalkin with Metro North.
September 2011
In the wake of the financial crisis, Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar suspends the planning process for Metro West due to a lack of funds.
October 2011
Planning permission is granted for Metro North, but the following month the Government suspends the project. About €200 million had already been spent on preparatory work.
September 2015
Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe announces the revival of the Metro plan from the city centre to the airport and Swords, with construction scheduled to begin in 2021 with a view to delivery in 2026 or 2027.
March 2018
Metro project, renamed MetroLink, is now scheduled to run from Sandyford to the airport and on to Swords along part of the existing Luas Green Line. The cost is estimated at €3 billion.
February 2019
Minister for Transport Shane Ross rules out MetroLink route to Sandyford due to the disruption it would cause to the existing Luas line. MetroLink is now scheduled to terminate at Charlemont near Ranelagh.
Mid 2019
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar suggests Metro project could cost €5 billion.
July 2022
Government approves preliminary business case for MetroLink. Cost estimates range from €7.16 billion to €12.25 billion with a best estimate midpoint of €9.5 billion. Varadkar says the extreme scenario could see the project cost €23 billion.
October 2025
An Coimisiún Pleanála approves railway order – effectively planning permission – for MetroLink.
March 2026
New cost estimates drawn up by Transport Infrastructure Ireland, which are believed to range between €15 billion and over €18 billion.
Official estimates not published but advertisements for expressions of interest indicate the sums that could be involved. Contract notices for tunnelling and excavation contracts have a combined value of up to €7.9 billion, while a contract to supply, operate and maintain the metro system has a value of up to €7.3 billion.
July 2026
Senior figures close to Government believe the Metro bill could reach €19 billion.
