Government approves MetroLink to proceed to detailed tender stage

Government approves MetroLink to proceed to detailed tender stage

  • MetroLink to seek market tender bids for construction and operation
  • Enabling works to start on the ground from early next year
  • MetroLink to boost transport connectivity across Dublin area and beyond
  • MetroLink unlocks major new housing developments

Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien has today (16 September 2026) received approval from Cabinet to move MetroLink to the detailed tender stage, where market bids will be sought and partners selected to build and operate MetroLink. This is a major milestone for MetroLink. Significant enabling works are to start on site from early next year, followed by heavy tunnelling and station construction.

MetroLink will be the largest single project in Ireland since the construction of the Ardnacrusha hydro power plant in the 1920s, and will involve thousands of workers to deliver strategic benefits for generations to come. As an electric, driverless and mostly underground high-capacity railway, MetroLink will be the first of its kind on the island. MetroLink will not only serve hundreds of thousands of people along the route in north Dublin, it will integrate with heavy rail, DART, Luas and bus services, the M1 motorway, and Dublin Airport – thereby transforming connectivity across a wide region.

Approval welcomed by Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said:
“Today’s approval reflects the Government’s commitment to investing in new infrastructure. MetroLink will help make our capital city a better, more sustainable place in which to live, travel, socialise and work. I am delighted that the Government has moved MetroLink into the detailed procurement phase for multi-billion-euro construction and operation contracts, and we will continue to support it into construction.”

Tánaiste Simon Harris said:

“Today’s decision is an important milestone in the delivery of a major public transport project that will connect our capital city to national transport networks and strengthen our economy as well as our competitiveness as a country.

“By providing a fast, frequent, and reliable public transport service, MetroLink will improve access to education and health facilities, to jobs, and to sports clubs, parks, and playgrounds. Projects like this are central to building the country our growing population now requires by helping to connect communities and unlock new housing.”

A game-changer for Dublin – Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien

Minister O’Brien said:
“I welcome today’s important step forward for MetroLink, a vital transport project that will help reduce traffic congestion, improve access to Dublin airport and unlock much-needed new housing development at scale.

“MetroLink will support the delivery of approximately 77,000 new homes along its route and, though its integration with other public transport services, up to 200,000 new homes across the Greater Dublin Area.

“This is a game-changer for Dublin and the wider region as we work to deliver more homes for a growing population. MetroLink will not only transform connectivity and access but also strengthen our economic competitiveness, support sustainable growth and unlock the development potential of communities across the Greater Dublin Area.

“MetroLink also supports decarbonisation by providing a reliable, low-carbon alternative to private car travel, helping to reduce road traffic, transport-related emissions and overall carbon footprints across the region.”

Minister of State at the Department of Transport Seán Canney said:

“This approval is a positive decision for our whole transport portfolio. Interchanges at Glasnevin and Tara Street, along with the Park and Ride at Estuary, will make MetroLink and its range of destinations easily accessible to passengers transferring from heavy rail services or cars.  The decision is also a strong indication to the market that this Government is serious about transforming our plans into reality, which will have a positive impact on the rest of our ambitious portfolio of transport projects.” 

The key milestone today follows a joint review by the Department of Transport and National Transport Authority (NTA) of a Detailed Business Case (DBC) under Approval Gate 2 of the Infrastructure Guidelines. The estimated cost for MetroLink (including contingency and inflation, excluding VAT) outlined in the DBC ranges from €14.44 to €17.49 billion, with a central estimate of €15.75 billion. The assessed benefits from MetroLink have been shown to exceed the costs, including from faster journey times and reduced traffic congestion. Firm cost ranges for MetroLink will only be known after the market bids are received, next year.

Key features

Key features of Metrolink include:

  • 19 km of new metro railway, mostly underground, connecting Estuary/Swords to Charlemont, with stations serving key destinations including Dublin Airport, Ballymun, Glasnevin, Dublin City University, the Mater and Rotunda Hospitals, and Dublin city centre;
  • High-frequency service with 64 metre trains operating every 3 minutes at peak in each direction on opening, with 16 accessible and high-quality stations on the route;
  • Designed to move up to 20,000 passengers per direction/hour, over double the carrying capacity of the current Luas Green Line;
  • Given its high capacity and direct integration into public transport services such as DART and Luas, MetroLink delivers a magnifying effect for transport connectivity across Dublin and beyond;
  • Provides wide strategic and societal benefits such as better accessibility for citizens to jobs and services, increased environmental sustainability, and facilitation of new housing developments of significant scale across the Greater Dublin Area.

The Government will build on the momentum to date to bring MetroLink into construction, working with the transport agencies to provide a world-class piece of new infrastructure for the country. The Detailed Business Case will be published on our website in the coming days. Please be aware that certain sensitive information may be redacted due to the procurement process.

Tara Station

  

Further information

Files below include:

MetroLink Benefits Infographic

Published: 16/09/2026