Dublin is getting a new Metro system – and here’s what it’s going to look like

The MetroLink project is a North-South transport system, with passenger services set to open some time in 2027.

With the new Cross City Luas system experiencing some teething problems, Dublin's commuters will be glad to hear that a new transport system covering a huge amount of the county is officially in the works. The MetroLink project is the development of a north-south urban railway service that will connect key destinations including Dublin Airport and the City Centre along the planned 26km route. The new Dublin Metro, upon completion in 2027, is set to run from Swords to Sandyford, stopping at a large number of stations including St Stephen's Green, O'Connell Street, and the Mater Hospital on its way. The Metro will travel underground for the majority of the route, with elevated tracks for DCU, Ballymun, Dardistown and Northwood. The underground section of the MetroLink will terminate at a station close to Charlemont Stop on the Luas Green Line, where the metro will connect to, and run southwards on, the existing Luas Green Line. The Luas Green Line will also be upgraded to metro standard as part of the project. There will be a total of 25 stations (including 15 new stations), 3,000 additional Park and Ride spaces, and a journey time of approximately 50 minutes from Swords to Sandyford. The train will take 25 minutes from the city centre to Swords and 20 minutes from Dublin Airport to the city centre. This is not the first time a transport service connecting the airport to the city centre has been proposed for Dublin. A metro project was suggested for this service back in 2010, which went on to receive planning approval from An Bord Pleanála, but it was reassessed and subsequently dropped following Ireland’s significant economic downturn at the time. According to MetroLink's Public Consultation Document, over the next two decades, passenger demand levels on the Green Line will reach approximately 11,000 passengers in the northbound direction. This, they claim, is beyond the carrying capacity of a standard Luas system, deeming the building of a metro system a social requirement. National Transport Authority CEO Anne Graham spoke about the new development, stating the greater capacity available for commuters living in the Greater Dublin Area. “There are very significant benefits associated with MetroLink, particularly in terms of the integrated transport system that it will bring about for Dublin," she said. “For example, thanks to MetroLink, there will finally be a rail link to Dublin Airport, and with easy interchange with other modes including bus, Dart and commuter rail, MetroLink will make it easier than ever to move into and around the capital. “We have modelled future passenger numbers and we predict that capacity for 15,000 passengers per direction per hour during the busiest peak times will be required along this corridor. “MetroLink will have the capacity for 30 trains per hour in each direction, so there is no doubt that it will greatly enhance the public transport offering in Dublin. “In addition, we envisage the creation of about 4,000 jobs during construction, which is very significant for the economy in the region.”