MetroLink underground to Dublin Airport and Swords on track for the early 2030s

Map of MetroLink route

The proposed MetroLink route (Image: MetroLink)

MInister for Transport Eamon Ryan has secured agreement from the Cabinet to proceed with a planning submission for the MetroLink rail project. Plans for the project are to be submitted in September 2022.

Metrolink will consist of a fully segregated railway line running from north of Swords to Charlemont on the Grand Canal just south of Dublin city centre.

Most of the 19.4 kilometre MetroLink route will be underground with 16 stations in total. Bus and rail interchanges will be available at Dublin Airport, Glasnevin, O’Connell Street, Tara Street, and Charlemont.

The trains, which are to be fully automated, will run every 3 minutes during peak times and the system will be able to carry up to 20,000 passengers per hour in each direction. Future train frequency is anticipated to be every 90 seconds by the far off date of 2060. Journey time from Dublin city centre to Dublin Airport will be 20 minutes.

The northern MetroLink terminus, Estuary Station, will be located near the M1 motorway on the western side of the R132. This station will include a 3,000 car park and ride facility.

The Glasnevin stop will also serve as an Irish Rail station, providing connections with the Maynooth, Sligo, and Kildare mainline railways as well as BusConnects services.

The full list of MetroLink stations is:

  • Estuary (Park & Ride)

  • Seatown

  • Swords Central

  • Fosterstown

  • Dublin Airport (Bus and rail interchange)

  • Dardistown

  • Northwood

  • Ballymun

  • Collins Avenue

  • Griffith Park

  • Glasnevin (Bus and rail interchange)

  • Mater

  • O’Connell Street (Bus and rail interchange)

  • Tara (Bus and rail interchange)

  • St Stephen’s Green

  • Charlemont (Bus and rail interchange)

You can find more information on the MetroLink project on the Transport For Ireland website and on the dedicated MetroLink website.

Matt Walsh