Construction Consortium Eyes Up Dublin Metrolink Contracts 

Progress on establishing Dublin’s first underground metro line has been accelerating, with a consortium of some of the leading construction and engineering firms in the world reportedly being formed to bid for contracts.

The Irish Independent has stated that Plenary, an Australian firm specialising in public-private partnerships, has joined forces with Hitachi from Japan, French transport firm Keolis and Italian civil engineering firm Webuild as it prepares to pitch for construction contracts. The paper added that several other consortiums are also interested in the €9.5bn project.

Whichever consortiums win bids, there will likely be a huge demand for specialised plant machinery, as the scheme will involve extensive work on tunnels and surface trackbeds, as well as the construction of 16 stations, of which 11 will be underground.

A public consultation was recently launched for the scheme, which will transport passengers over an 18.8 km route on a north-south axis from Swords to Charlemont, near St Stephen’s Green on the south side of the city centre. Along the route, it will serve the airport and stations in north and central Dublin.

The public hearings are into their second round after numerous objections were received to the initial proposals over the length of time construction would take and the impact on residents living near the line. Revisions to the plan have included some route changes. Provided the scheme now proceeds, it will give Dublin its first underground line.

London established the world’s first underground metro system in 1863, with two more cities following in the 19th century; Budapest and Glasgow in 1896. Despite being the third oldest underground system in the world, Glasgow’s Subway has never been extended.

While many major cities have long had underground systems in place, Dublin will not be the only one starting late; Sydney’s Metro only began operating in 2019 and is now being rapidly expanded.