Atkins has been appointed to the design for the advance works programme of Dublin’s £8.4bn (€9.5bn) MetroLink project.
The scheme, given the green light in July of last year, will see a high capacity, high-frequency metro railway connect the Greater Dublin Area, including Dublin Airport and city centre.
It will be a first-of-a-kind public transport infrastructure in Ireland, with much of the 18.8km route running underground. The project will link Dublin Airport, Irish Rail, DART, Dublin Bus and Luas services, linking major transport hubs and key destinations in the city centre, and is estimated to carry up to 53M passengers annually.
According to transport minister Eamon Ryan, its aim is to provide over a billion carbon-neutral, fully electrified passenger trips by 2050.
Atkins Ireland managing director Martina Finn said: “The Metrolink Project will provide Dublin with a modern, interconnected transport system that eases congestion and offers commuters faster, more convenient and cleaner transport options in and around the city.
“This appointment builds on our existing role as operations advisor for Metrolink and we’re pleased to bring our local teams of experts and global experience in transportation to support Transport Infrastructure Ireland as they progress this exciting project.”
Atkins will develop the detailed design for a programme of activity to precede the main infrastructure works. This includes utility diversions, archaeological and heritage works, facilitation of land access and environmental monitoring.
MetroLink is one of the key projects identified in Ireland’s National Development Plan but it has been hit with a swathe of delays. It was first mooted in 2000 where the line was estimated to cost just over £3bn.
About MetroLink
Transport Infrastructure Ireland plans to carry out railway works and all works necessary to enable the construction, operation, maintenance and improvement of a railway designated as a metro including inter alia the construction of a fully segregated and automated railway and metro mostly underground approximately 18.8km in length with 16 stations running from north of Swords at Estuary through Swords, Dublin Airport, Ballymun, Glasnevin and the City Centre to Charlemont in the south of Dublin City Centre.
The works will generally comprise but are not limited to the construction of a Railway approximately 18.8km in length which is mostly underground. It includes a 9.4km section of single bore tunnel running beneath Dublin City Centre running from Charlemont to Northwood Station and a 2.3km section of single bore tunnel running beneath Dublin Airport. Tunnel sections include intervention access facilities for emergency services at Dublin Airport, Albert College Park and just south of Charlemont Station, tunnel Portal structures will be provided at Northwood, Dardistown and Dublin Airport. North of Dublin Airport the railway will emerge from tunnel and will run at surface level and in cut and cover structures to Estuary Station. Surface running sections and cut and cover sections will include earthworks, the use of retained cut and cover structures, elevated sections plus miscellaneous drainage and accommodation works. A new 99m bridge will be constructed over the M50 and a 261m long multi-span Viaduct over the Broadmeadow and Ward River.
There will be a total of 16 stations, including 11 underground stations at Dublin Airport, Northwood, Ballymun, Collins Avenue, Griffith Park, Glasnevin, Mater, O’Connell Street, Tara, St. Stephen’s Green and Charlemont; 4 retained cut stations at Seatown, Swords Central, Fosterstown and Dardistown and 1 at grade station at Estuary. A multi-storey 3000 space park and ride close to the M1 Motorway will be provided at Estuary Station, a maintenance depot is located near Dardistown Station which will house all the facilities required for the maintenance and operation of the MetroLink and its rolling stock and the Operational Control Centre.
The works will also include railway signalling, command and control and communications systems; provision of electrical substations; establishment of temporary construction compounds; establishment of temporary traffic management and road diversions; new and realigned access routes and road junction improvements; diversion of existing utilities; provision of new drainage infrastructure; provision of environmental mitigation measures; and other infrastructural modifications to facilitate the overall project.
Under current timelines, construction is due to start in 2025 and services to begin in the early 2030s.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) applied for a Railway Order for the project on 30 September 2022. The planning process with An Bord Pleanála is likely to take 12-18 months to complete. Once an Enforceable Railway Order has been granted, work can commence on site. It is anticipated that the construction work will take between 6-8 years to complete.
To view the metrolink map please click here and for further information on the project click ie/16 for tunnelbuilder archive. Visit https://www.metrolink.ie, https://atkinsireland.ie/ and https://www.snclavalin.com. 08/23.
