Metrolink: Dublin airport rail link cost more than doubles

The minimum estimated cost of building a transport project which will link Dublin city centre to its airport has more than doubled in four years.

The Metrolink plan is expected to come into operation by the early 2030s and could cost between €14.4bn (£12.3bn) and €17.5bn (£15bn).

The estimated price tag in 2022 was between €7.16bn (£6.14bn) and €12.25bn (£10.50bn).

The project aims to connect the north and south sides of the city and will be 19.4km in length with 16 stations mostly underground.

The CEO of Transport Infrastructure Ireland Lorcan O'Connor said that the actual cost will not be known until the bids are received and the government approves that figure late in 2027.

"Nobody is denying that that's a lot of money, but I think the important thing to note is the benefits that this project will generate," O'Connor said.

"What the business case is showing is a very compelling investment case with a significant return on that money, and the kind of benefits we're talking about there aren't just faster journey times, reduced congestion, or reduced CO2 emissions, but far wider benefits as well."

Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien said be believes the MetroLink would be a gamechanger for Dublin.

"MetroLink will not only transform connectivity and access but also strengthen our economic competitiveness, support sustainable growth," O'Brien said.

The Irish Department of Transport previously said there would be trains running every three minutes at peak times, capable of carrying up to 20,000 passengers per hour in each direction.

The Metrolink will run from north of Swords to Charlemont Street in the south of Dublin city centre.

It will interchange with the DART (Dublin's train service) and Luas (tram service) transport systems.

Speaking last year, a spokesperson for the Irish Department of Transport said the MetroLink will be fully integrated with the public transport system in the Greater Dublin Area and beyond.

"Both Tara and Glasnevin Stations will be accessible to rail passengers travelling to and from Belfast via transfer at Connolly station," they previously said.

They had added that "improvements" to rail lines from Connolly Station to Drogheda will "benefit passengers" travelling from Belfast to Dublin.