After years of proposals and restructuring, Dublin’s metro line project has been given full planning permission by An Coimisiún Pleanála (formerly An Bord Pleanála). This marks a significant step toward the construction of a fourth means of public transport in Dublin City, complementing Dublin Bus, Luas and DART.
If constructed, the MetroLink will be the first underground railway system in the country. It is envisaged to run from Estuary/Swords via the Airport and the city centre on to Charlemont. With public transportation in Dublin under frequent criticism, the plans represent a major commitment to large-scale investment in public transport.
While initially projected at €3 billion, costs are now calculated to exceed €9 billion. Some estimates indicate that final costs could reach up to €23 billion. This would make it one of the most expensive infrastructure projects worldwide. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said that project funding is in place, while criticisms regarding the high cost are persistent.
A key driver of the high costs of the project is its avant-garde vision. MetroLink is designed to operate with driverless carriages, taking inspiration from the subway systems in Barcelona and Copenhagen. According to the project’s website, automated train systems are “extremely safe as the capacity for human error is eliminated”.
As the project is part of the National Transport Authority’s (NTA) Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy, all 16 stations are designed to be “inclusive, accessible, and enjoyable to use by all passengers”.
The idea of an underground rail system in Dublin city was first put forward in 2001. A public transportation strategy report had included a metro for the city’s long-term vision.
The project, under its original name of Metro North, was adopted as policy in the government’s Transport 21 plan in 2005. Six years later, planning permission was granted by An Bord Pleanála. Due to the economic crisis, however, the project was effectively shelved until it was revived in 2015. Three years later, its new name, MetroLink, was announced, along with a revised route and an amended construction and operation concept.
Construction was to start in 2025, however, it quickly became clear that this target was unrealistic. The revised plans, incorporating the adjusted opening target set for the mid-2030s, were brought to An Bord Pleanála in 2022, applying for planning permission. Last month, this was finally granted, paving the way for construction to begin as early as 2027.
Various voices have criticised the project. A major point of contention is the project’s high projected cost. Ryanair-CEO Michael O’Leary and Irish businessman Dermot Desmond have recently called the project an “unjustifiable waste of scarce taxpayer funds”.
O’Leary, in an open letter to the Irish Times, asserts that it is unnecessary, given that the “narrow strip of the north Dublin population […] are well served currently by bus connections”. Desmond points to the rise of artificial intelligence, arguing that automation will soon advance enough to make the metro obsolete by the time of its completion.
Despite the criticisms, the project is now set to move to the next phase. With planning permission granted, procurement and tendering can now begin. Transport minister Darragh O’Brien optimistically said that “with the fair wind”, construction could begin in 2027.
However, the Cabinet has yet to give final approval. Moreover, while so far absent, legal challenges are still possible as O’Brien pointed out. This could further postpone the start of construction.
