Green light for MetroLink, Dublin's high-speed metro rail service

The MetroLink Railway Order has been granted planning permission by An Coimisiún Pleanála, Ireland's national planning body.

The Railway Order, lodged with An Coimisiún Pleanála three years ago, authorizes all necessary works for the construction of MetroLink, a fully automated and mostly underground metro route, approximately 19km in length, from Swords to Dublin City Centre.

MetroLink will provide a high-speed, modern, efficient metro rail service, with a peak capacity for 20,000 passengers per direction per hour. The journey time from Swords to the City Centre will be approximately 25 minutes.

By linking Dublin Airport, Irish Rail, DART, bus, and Luas Services, MetroLink will form part of a fully integrated public transport system in the Greater Dublin Area and beyond.

The MetroLink project involves 15 stations upon opening, running from north of Swords at Estuary through Swords, Dublin Airport, Ballymun, Glasnevin, and the City Centre, to Charlemont in the south of Dublin City Centre. A large portion of the route (circa 11.7km) will be underground, including under the City Centre area and at Dublin Airport.

In light of this planning decision and the €2 billion recently allocated by the Government in the National Development Plan Review for the commencement of MetroLink construction, the Government now intends to bring forward legislation to establish a dedicated State delivery body for MetroLink. With the project moving from the planning to construction stage, this new body will help ensure a singular focus on delivering MetroLink in the public interest.

An Coimisiún Pleanála's approval of the MetroLink Railway Order has been warmly welcomed by Ireland's Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien, National Transport Authority (NTA) Interim CEO Hugh Creegan, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) CEO Lorcan O’Connor, and MetroLink Programme Director Seán Sweeney.

Officials said the planning permission marks a major milestone towards delivering MetroLink, a critical nation-building project for Ireland’s future. The decision facilitates MetroLink proceeding to procurement and construction in the coming years.

Darragh O'Brien, Ireland's Minister for Transport, said in a statement on Thursday: “Today’s planning news is a hugely positive step for MetroLink, which is a key strategic project for the Government and Ireland.

"I’d like to thank TII and the NTA for developing the project to this stage.

"MetroLink will be transformative for the people of North Dublin and - by linking directly with Dublin airport, DART, heavy rail, Luas and bus services - the entire country.

"MetroLink will provide a fast, high-capacity, high-frequency public transport route, and it will enable the construction of tens of thousands of new homes."

Hugh Creegan, Interim Chief Executive and Director of Transport Planning and Investment at the NTA, said he was "delighted to welcome" the decision, adding: "It marks a significant step in progressing a project that will dramatically improve connectivity, reduce congestion, and offer a real transport alternative to tens of thousands of people daily.”

Lorcan O'Connor, Chief Executive Officer, TII, said the TII "very much welcomes the decision," describing it as "a significant step forward for Metrolink, a project that will transform the public transportation network of greater Dublin for generations to come."

Sean Sweeney, MetroLink Project Director, TII, added: "MetroLink will shape the future of Dublin, provide a sustainable transport solution to growing demand, and unlock much-needed land development opportunities across the city and beyond.”