Dublin’s MetroLink project has been granted planning permission.
The high-capacity, high-frequency metro railway will comprise 16 new stations running from Swords to Charlemont. It will link Dublin Airport and the city centre for the first time. Interchanges with Irish Rail, DART, Dublin Bus and Luas services will create a fully integrated public transport network for the Greater Dublin Area.
Around 11.7km of the 19km route will be underground, including under the city centre area and at Dublin Airport.
The planning approval means MetroLink can proceed to procurement and construction. Last month MetroLink held market engagement events in several European cities.
Following An Coimisiún Pleanála’s planning decision and the €2bn recently allocated by the government in the National Development Plan Review for the commencement of MetroLink construction, the government now intends to establish a dedicated state delivery body for MetroLink.
Transport minister Darragh O’Brien said MetroLink was a key strategic project for the government and Ireland and it would “be transformative for the people of North Dublin and… the entire country”.
