Airport Metro to get go-ahead

DUBLIN’S billion-plus euro Metro North linking the city and airport is set to get the green light within two weeks.

The Rail Procurement Agency (RPA) — the State agency responsible for the Metro — will meet on September 15 to sign-off plans for the project.

It will then go to the Cabinet for approval. The RPA hopes construction will start in early 2009.

The new Metro service will run from St Stephen’s Green to Dublin Airport and on to Swords. The line will be underground for more than the 6km distance from the city to Dublin City University, Glasnevin.

Under revised plans, a rail station will be built under the Liffey at O’Connell Bridge, with access for passengers coming north and south of the Liffey.

An underground station will also be built at the airport, replacing earlier proposals for an overground station 700 metres from the airport terminal.

RPA chairman Padraic White said at the weekend a pre-qualification process for companies bidding to build the Metro was scheduled to be completed by the end of 2006.

An underground station at Dublin Airport will add to the project’s cost — officially estimated at €1.2bn.

Mr White said he expected the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) to make a financial contribution to the Metro. But the amount expected from the DAA “would be a matter between the Department of Transport and the DAA.”

He said the RPA had been working closely with the DAA so that plans for the Metro would dovetail with those of the new terminal announced by the airport authority last week.