MetroLink Project: €12B-€20B Phased Opening Possible, Excavation Starts 2027
Minister Darragh O’Brien announced the €12B-€20B MetroLink project is proceeding, with excavation starting in 2027. He suggested a phased opening, beginning from Swords to the city centre, with the southern leg completed later. Transparency is demanded for this major project, addressing cost, timeline, and accountability concerns.
Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien stated the €12 billion-€20 billion MetroLink project is on track, with excavation beginning in 2027. He indicated the underground railway might open on a phased basis, with the initial operational section running from Swords to an unspecified point in the city centre. The southern leg, extending to Charlemont in Ranelagh, would be completed later.
Unanswered questions include the total cost of phase one, additional costs for phase two, the timeline for phase two construction, and whether the full opening would be in 2035. O’Brien was vague on these details, raising concerns about the economic implications of a two-phase approach versus the single-phase construction approved by the Rail Order. The public deserves transparency regarding these issues, especially given the project's status as one of the most expensive infrastructural projects in the State's history.
Concerns also exist about whether this two-phased construction idea has been discussed or decided at Cabinet, and the potential for vague, open-ended contracts, reminiscent of the children’s hospital project. The Accelerating Infrastructure Report emphasizes personal accountability at ministerial and departmental levels for effective and economic infrastructure delivery. If MetroLink proceeds in two phases, the implications must be clearly outlined and politically understood.