MetroLink boss commits to 'hit the ground running' on rail project in 2026
Sarah Slater
The chief of MetroLink has assured that work on the multi-million euro rail project will “hit the ground running" this year.
In a letter to public representatives, the programme director Seán Sweeney on Friday said that he is “committed" to delivering lasting benefits for “communities, passengers, and the wider economy” with the project.
MetroLink is a 19km mostly underground rail line for Dublin, stretching from Swords to Ranelagh. Stops include Swords, Dublin Airport, Ballymun, Glasnevin, O’Connell Street, St Stephen’s Green and ending at the Charlemont Luas stop.
The project was first proposed over a quarter of a century ago and is expected to cost north of €10 billion.
A trip from the city centre to the airport will take 20 minutes, and the service is expected to be operational by the mid-2030s.
Dartmouth Square residents who took judicial review proceedings against the transport project are to accept an offer from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to buy their homes.
The project, set to be the largest infrastructure project in the State, was facing years of delay if the court action went ahead.
An Coimisiún Pleanála last October had approved TII’s application to build the line from Swords, in north Dublin, to Charlemont, close to Ranelagh in south Dublin.
The houses at Dartmouth Square West back onto the Charlemont terminus of the line.
Some of the residents in up to 10 houses had sought an order quashing the planning permission, but the proposal to purchase the homes arose during mediation talks late last month.
Mr Sweeney explained that with the legal issues now “resolved”, focus turns to progressing “enabling works and advancing procurement, with contract notices for the main civil works packages to be issued” in the first quarter of this year.
He continued: “I can assure you that we will hit the ground running. As you know, just before Christmas, we received the very welcome news that the residents of Dartmouth Square West had decided to withdraw their judicial review following a period of constructive mediation.
“As MetroLink programme director, I greatly welcome this withdrawal of legal proceedings, which now provides greater clarity for us and for the market at a crucial juncture in the development of this critical piece of infrastructure.”
Mr Sweeney outlined that the rail project now has a “clean planning decision” which will give them the certainty they need to go forward and take the next steps.
The Government has committed dedicated funding toward the project and is committed to establishing a dedicated delivery body to oversee the project’s construction, while next year (2027) will see the first steps taken in relation to procurement.
The National Transport Authority has welcomed the withdrawal of the legal proceedings, saying it provides the certainty needed to keep MetroLink moving forward, noted Mr Sweeney.
The news was also welcomed by Lorcan O’Connor, CEO of Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), who said he had met with the residents and greatly appreciated their constructive approach, which ultimately led to agreements that work for all sides.
“MetroLink is a once-in-a-generation investment in Ireland’s public transport network,” noted Mr Sweeney, saying that he will continue to keep public representatives in the” loop throughout this important year that sees the work on MetroLink progress at pace”.
