The oral hearing for Dublin Metro North was adjourned last month for evidence to be reviewed, and the procurement process still has bids from four shortlisted groups under consideration.
The client, the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA), commented that the decision to halt the break in the hearing was expected to last until late May. The adjournment came after the completion of RPA’s evidence to the hearing.
The 18km long project will run north-south and involve construction of twin tunnels of 6.75m excavated diameter for part of the route.
A crossover cavern in limestone, and cross passages at nominal spacing of up to 250m are also to be built.
Geology along the alignment consists mostly of limestone bedrock overlain by glacial till gravel, sands, silts and clays. However, it was identified in early studies that tunnelling challenges would include weak ground in sections and also some shallow excavation to link with stations. EPB or slurry shield bores are expected.
The project is being developed on public-private partnership (PPP) basis, Tenders were received from:
* Cathro (Fluor Ireland, BAM, Siemens, Strabag and Veolia);
* Celtic Metro Group (Barclays Private Equity, Obrascon Huarte Lain, Mitsui, Soares da Costa, Iridium Concesionesde Infraestructuras, CAF and MTR);
* Dublin Express Link (HSBC Infrastructure Fund Management, Meridiam Infrastructure Finance, Acciona, Bouygues, SIAC, Alstom and Keolis); and,
* MetroExpress (Macquarie Capital, Global Via Infrastructuras, Allied Irish Bank, Bombardier and Transdev).
The winning concessionaire will have a 30-year concession to design, finance, build and operate the link from the Lissenhall area via the airport to the city centre.
