Under Budget 2009, public transportation was allocated €1.27 billion in funding while Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey stated that in excess of €200 million of that total would be put aside to progress the Luas tram system and the city’s two planned Metro projects in 2009. The projects involved represent a long-term commitment from government, which is aware of the economic potential to be gained from such initiatives. Heavy Rail: Meanwhile, two heavy rail regional projects are on road to delivery for 2009, the €350 million Kildare heavy rail project to be completed by December 2009 and the €75 million Cork to Midleton line due to be completed mid-2009. |
Metro North The €3.7 billion project was due to commence in Autumn 2009, with a completion date of 2013. A new 18 km heavy rail line to run from St Stephen's Green via Dublin Airport to Belinstown (north of Swords) using underground, surface and elevated tracks. - Cathró (Fluor Ireland Ltd, BAM PPP, Siemens Project Ventures GmbH and Strabag A.G.) - Celtic Metro Group (Barclays Private Equity Ltd, Mitsui & Co Ltd, Grupo Soares da Costa S.G.S. S.A., Obrascon Huarte Lain and Iridium Concesiones de Infraestructuras, S.A), - Dublin Express Link (HSBC Infrastructure Fund Management Ltd, Meridiam Infrastructure Finance SARL, Acciona S.A., Bouygues Travaux Publics, SIAC Construction Ltd and Alstom Transport S.A.) and - MetroExpress (Global via Infraestructuras S.A., Macquarie Capital Group Ltd, Allied Irish Banks p.l.c. and Bombardier Transportation (Holdings) UK Ltd). Contacts for the consortia listed on RPA website. In June 2009, the RPA announced details of the two tenderers selected to proceed to the final stage of the Metro North PPP procurement competition. These are the Celtic Metro Group and Metro Express consortia. The two consortia will be shortlisted for the Best and Final Offer stage by Q3 2009. Click here to see the announcement. |
The project will initially have 15 stops located at St Stephen's Green, O'Connell Bridge, Parnell Square, Mater Hospital, Drumcondra, Griffith Avenue, Dublin City University, Ballymun, Northwood, Dardistown, Dublin Airport, Fosterstown, Swords, Seatown and Belinstown. Two additional stops at Estuary and Lissenhall north of Swords will be provided at a later date. This first phase will link together all of the existing rail corridors in Dublin by interchanging with suburban rail lines, the Luas lines and bus sevices. Preliminary hearings into the project began in March 2009. A tentative completion date was set for 2013, subject to possible delays relating to the planning process. The RPA is also liaising with the Mater Hospital and Dublin Airport to ensure their construction plans are in line with the metro’s.
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