MetroLink Project: €8bn Tender Launched for Dublin’s New Metro

Dublin’s long-awaited MetroLink project has entered a pivotal phase, with the first construction contracts – valued at a maximum of €7.9 billion excluding VAT – going to tender today, February 4, 2026. Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) anticipates bids will be considerably lower than this figure, initiating a process to identify the firms responsible for building Ireland’s first metro system.

The project, connecting Swords to Dublin city centre, represents a substantial investment in the Greater Dublin Area’s public transport infrastructure. The tender process is divided into two main contracts. The first, valued at almost €4.56 billion excluding VAT, covers the southern section of the line, running from Charlemont to Northwood. This segment will involve complex tunnelling work, including the construction of bored railway tunnels, tunnel portals, and associated shafts for evacuation and ventilation. Below-ground station excavations are planned at ten locations: Charlemont, St Stephen’s Green, Tara Station, O’Connell Street, Mater Hospital, Glasnevin, Griffith Park, Collins Avenue, Ballymun, and Northwood, reaching depths of up to 35 meters. These stations will be built to shell and core standard, representing a significant portion of the contract’s scope.

The second contract, with a notice value of €3.3 billion excluding VAT, focuses on the northern section of the line, extending from Northwood to Estuary. This phase will prioritize above-ground construction, encompassing viaducts, surface-level railway sections, and shallower excavations. The contract also includes the development of park-and-ride facilities and a depot at Dardistown, alongside stations at Dardistown, Fosterstown, Swords Central, Seatown, and Estuary.

TII has structured the tender process to begin with a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) stage. This initial assessment will evaluate potential bidders’ capabilities before inviting them to submit full tenders. Successful applicants from the PQQ stage will then be invited to provide detailed proposals for one or both of the contracts, although TII notes that applicants may apply for both lots but can only be awarded one contract.

Lorcan O’Connor, TII Chief Executive, described the launch of the tender process as “the beginning of a process that will ultimately identify the organisations that will deliver the main civil engineering works associated with MetroLink.” Dr. Seán Sweeney, MetroLink Programme Director, echoed this sentiment, calling it a “significant step forward” for the project. The commencement of the procurement process is being hailed as a “pivotal milestone” in delivering the rail link.

While the maximum combined contract value is set at €7.9 billion, TII anticipates that the final bids received will be lower, reflecting the competitive nature of the tender. The agency has previously considered a scheme to compensate unsuccessful bidders for their incurred costs, but a formal agreement with the Government regarding such compensation has not yet been reached.

The MetroLink project aims to create a fully integrated public transport network for the Greater Dublin Area, linking Dublin Airport, Irish Rail, DART, Dublin Bus, and Luas services. The planned metro line will comprise 16 new stations, offering a high-capacity, high-frequency service designed to alleviate congestion and improve connectivity across the region.

A consortium led by Plenary Group, including Webuild, Hitachi Rail, and Keolis, has already announced its intention to submit a bid for the design, build, finance, operation, and maintenance of the MetroLink. This indicates the level of industry interest in the project and the potential for a competitive bidding process.

Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien has secured government approval to move forward with the next stage of the MetroLink tender process, underscoring the project’s importance to the Irish government’s infrastructure plans. The scale of the project and the complexity of the engineering challenges involved will likely attract international construction firms alongside domestic players, positioning MetroLink as a landmark infrastructure undertaking for Ireland.