Construction on Dublin’s new MetroLink could start as early as 2027, following An Coimisiún Pleanála’s decision to grant the project planning permission. 

The 18.8km rail line has been discussed for decades and the State expects it to cost some €10 billion to build. 

Once completed, it will allow passengers to travel on driverless trains from Swords in the north of the county, all the way to Charlemont near Ranelagh on the southside. 

An artist's impression of MetroLink. Picture by: MetroLink.ie.

It will also mean a journey from the city centre will take only 20 minutes. 

On Lunchtime Live, Green Party Councillor Feljin Jose described An Coimisiún Pleanála’s decision to approve the project as “absolutely excellent news”. 

 “It means they have full permission to actually build it,” he explained. 

“To tunnel, to purchase the land that they need to do it and all of that is consented by the planning board, basically.

“You will need the contractors, so they’re doing the procurement process now. 

“Trying to get the big multinational contractors interested in this. 

“There was a big event in Dublin with the Taoiseach and the Minister trying to get a lot of those big contractors into Dublin.” 

An artist's impression of Glasnevin MetroLink station. Image: MetroLink

Cllr Jose added that the “best case scenario” would be construction to start within 18 months. 

“2027, they could actually hit the ground running with shovels in the ground,” he said. 

“It’s difficult building big infrastructure projects, especially difficult building your first big infrastructure project when it comes to railway lines. 

“Other cities have been doing this for years; building up that expertise in design and planning.

“What’s important now is that we don’t just stop now, we keep going and we build a pipeline of projects.” 
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Cllr Jose continued that if the Government does not draw up other large infrastructure projects, it risks a “brain drain” where experts move onto other projects overseas. 

“It’s very important that we move onto designing and planning the next one,” he said.

Main image: An artist's impression of the interior of Tara Street MetroLink station. Picture by: Metrolink.ie