LAST UPDATE | 55 mins ago

METROLINK IS TO become operational between 2036 and 2038 and will cost the state up to €17.75 billion.

Government ministers this morning signed off on the next stage of the MetroLink project, paving the way for private companies to bid for the construction and operation contracts of the 19km Dublin railway.

During a Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) technical briefing today, TII chief executive Lorcan O’Connor said the final price is not known until the tender is granted.

“It’s important to state the tenderers will establish the true market price,” O’Connor said.

MetroLink interim director Michael Flynn said heavy construction on the project will begin in 2028, while MetroLink is expected to carry passengers between 2036 and 2038. 

The project will cost between €14.4 billion and €17.5 billion in total, with the current midpoint cost estimate of the project standing at €15.75 billion – significantly more than the initial estimate of €9.5 billion.

If the project meets the midpoint estimate of €15.75 billion, the largest expense will be direct costs which amount to €7.92 billion. Land and property is to cost €760 million, indirect costs €1.46 billion, risk allowance €3.49 billion, and €2.16 billion has been estimated for inflation.

Flynn said the primary drivers causing costs to increase from the initial estimate are increased costs, design development, the impact of the planning process, inflation and a “further evolution of the risk approach”.

The second-largest increase in cost estimate is for risk allowance, which Flynn said is due to “uncertain times” we are in with conflict in the Middle East.

For every €1 spent, MetroLink is estimated to return between €1.13 and €1.95 to the economy.

Flynn said the project is to operate on 100% renewable energy, carry 20,000 passengers per hour per direction and enable the delivery of 77,000 homes.

Impression of Tara Metrolink station. MetroLink MetroLink

Last week, it was announced that a contract worth up to €550 million to oversee the construction of MetroLink had been awarded to the engineering and consultancy consortium Jacobs and Aecom.

MetroLink, previously called Metro North, is a proposed, partly underground rail line that will link Dublin Airport with the city centre, as well as other rail and Luas lines.

The completed line will travel from Swords to Dublin city centre in approximately 25 minutes and will be capable of carrying up to 20,000 passengers per hour in each direction.

With additional reporting from Sophie Finn.