Construction of Dublin’s long-awaited MetroLink underground rail project may not begin until 2028, according to testimony the National Transport Authority will deliver to an Oireachtas transport committee today.
The timeline represents another significant delay for the ambitious public transport project, which aims to provide underground rail connectivity across Dublin. The NTA will inform committee members that tendering for construction work may commence next year, but only if An Bord Pleanála approves the project without delays from potential judicial reviews.
Even if planning approval proceeds smoothly, the NTA expects an 18-month gap between completing the tendering process and commencing actual construction work, pushing the start date into 2028.
The government is expected to include MetroLink in the revised National Development Plan currently being updated by Minister for Public Expenditure and NDP Delivery Jack Chambers. This inclusion would provide crucial political backing for the project’s continuation despite mounting delays and cost uncertainties.
Project director Sean Sweeney has acknowledged that public opposition to the route and construction disruption is inevitable. Speaking last week, he noted that in the social media age, “two people can run a campaign” against major infrastructure projects, highlighting the challenges facing large-scale developments in the current environment.
Drawing on international experience, Sweeney referenced Amsterdam’s metro system, where initial public resistance including street riots gave way to broad acceptance within days of the system becoming operational. He emphasized his confidence in MetroLink’s eventual public acceptance once benefits become apparent.
“I have never worked on a project with such potential benefit to the public,” Sweeney said. “The benefits are off the scale in my view.”
However, the project faces significant cost pressures alongside timeline delays. The MetroLink was estimated to cost between €7 billion and €12 billion in 2021, but Sweeney confirmed that figure is being “recalibrated” following planning delays. “The number is going to change,” he stated, suggesting costs may rise substantially.
The delays to MetroLink represent a broader challenge for Ireland’s infrastructure development, where complex planning processes and potential legal challenges can significantly extend project timelines. The underground rail system has been in various stages of planning and development for over a decade, with construction starts repeatedly pushed back.
The project’s eventual completion would provide Dublin with its first underground rail system, potentially transforming public transport connectivity across the capital and reducing reliance on surface transport networks.