Work on Dublin’s MetroLink project could begin in about two years, following the recent granting of a Railway Order approval — a major hurdle cleared for the long-awaited scheme. The decision by An Coimisiún Pleanála was welcomed by the Government, the National Transport Authority (NTA), and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), who say this clears the way for moving into procurement and preparation phases over the coming years. Planning permission has now been granted, enabling the State to go ahead with tendering, land acquisition, design finalisation and advance works.
The €10-€11 billion project, stretching about 18.8-19 km from Swords in north Dublin through the city centre to Charlemont, will include 16 stations including a stop at Dublin Airport. The MetroLink will run mostly underground, with driverless, remote-controlled trains expected at every three minutes during peak periods. The journey from Swords to the city centre is estimated at 25 minutes, while from the airport to city centre around 20 minutes.
MetroLink Railway
Official sources expect that, subject to no major legal challenges, the procurement process (selecting contractors, finalising the business case, completing enabling works) could be well underway within the next 18-24 months. In other words, physical construction works might begin around 2027-2028, with full operations anticipated by the mid-2030s.
However, there are caution flags. Cost estimates remain fluid. The “indicative capital cost” is currently around €9.5 billion, though some estimates range higher depending on inflation, technical complexities, and unforeseen challenges. There are also potential delays from judicial reviews, land acquisition hurdles, and detailed design issues that often arise in projects of this scale.
Environmental and construction impact concerns are also coming to fore. For example, the presence of “forever chemicals” (PFAS) detected near Dublin Airport has raised questions about ground conditions and environmental assessments, which may require additional remediation work. Road traffic, noise, and disruption from enabling and tunnelling works are also expected during the construction period, with local communities likely to be most affected.
Politically and administratively, the establishment of a statutory delivery body specifically for MetroLink has been proposed, to ensure a dedicated structure with the expertise, powers, and flexibility to manage such a complex project. Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien, TII, and the NTA have affirmed that this new body will help smooth procurement, oversight, staffing, and financial management.
In summary, while physical construction work may not begin until 2027-2028, many preparatory steps (tendering, land acquisition, design, environmental remediation) should be in full swing over the next two years. When MetroLink eventually opens in the mid-2030s, it promises to be a transformative project for Dublin transport — if everything proceeds without major delays or cost overruns.
