Jacobs-AECOM appointed to deliver Dublin MetroLink programme

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has appointed the Jacobs-AECOM joint venture as Programme Delivery Partner for Dublin’s €14.4bn–€17.5bn MetroLink project, supporting the scheme as it moves towards procurement of the main construction contracts.

image: Dublin MetroLink

The 12-year contract, worth up to €550m, will cover programme management, engineering, governance and risk management as TII prepares to deliver Ireland’s first metro railway.

MetroLink will run for 19km between Estuary, north of Swords, and Charlemont in south Dublin, via Dublin Airport and the city centre. The predominantly underground line will have 16 stations and provide interchange with Irish Rail, DART, Luas and bus services.

The appointment follows the Irish government’s approval for MetroLink to proceed to detailed tendering. TII expects tender documents for the main civils and tunnelling contracts to be issued from the first quarter of 2027, with tunnelling and station construction planned to begin in 2028, subject to procurement and further approvals.

Enabling works, including utility diversions, site clearance and archaeological works, are expected to begin from early 2027.

The project received its Railway Order earlier this year, clearing a key planning milestone. The estimated cost is between €14.44bn and €17.49bn, including contingency and inflation but excluding VAT, with a central estimate of €15.75bn. TII said the final cost will be determined following the main construction tender process.

MetroLink is planned to operate trains at intervals of up to three minutes, with capacity for around 20,000 passengers per direction per hour. The government expects the scheme to increase public transport capacity, improve access to Dublin Airport and reduce road congestion and transport emissions.