Dublin has secured funding for a new light rail system as part of €10Bn (£7.4Bn) worth of improvements planned for the Republic of Ireland’s transport network until 2022.

 

Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe revealed his department’s programme of investment for the next seven years last week. He said: “By investing in our longer-term transport needs now we can ensure that our continued recovery, and the delivery of sustainable growth and jobs, is supported into the future.”

 

The ‘Metro North’ project – a 16.5km light rail line connecting Dublin city centre to the airport and the Fingal region further north – was among the measures announced by the Minister.

 

Construction of this high capacity public transport link could now get under way in 2021 with a view to delivery by 2026/27. Almost 8.5km of the route will run in a tunnel.

 

Meanwhile €6Bn (£4.5Bn) is being made available to support the development of the country’s road network. €4.4Bn (£3.3Bn) of this has been dedicated to essential maintenance and strengthening works aimed at achieving steady state maintenance levels by 2020. The remaining roads investment will go towards tackling bottlenecks and pinch points across the network.

 

€2.6Bn (£1.9Bn) will go towards maintenance and asset renewal on the public transport network and funding will also be allocated for an expansion of the Dublin Area Rapid Transit underground system to Balbriggan.

 

Mr Donohoe said: “Our recovery is still delicate and we do not have unlimited resources to build everything we would like to in the coming years. However this plan sets out an ambitious yet deliverable roadmap for our transport and our economic future.”

 

(Photo: Giuseppe Milo and licensed for reuse under this Creative Common Licence)