MetroLink moves a step closer as State acquires major O’Connell Street site

MetroLink has moved a step closer after the State acquired one of the largest redevelopment sites on O’Connell Street, paving the way for construction of the long-awaited rail project and the transformation of the capital’s main street.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) confirmed it has purchased the site, which stretches for approximately 200 metres. The land has now been brought into public ownership to support construction of MetroLink while also forming part of wider plans to regenerate the area.

TII said the acquisition will allow the site to be managed in a coordinated way as preparations continue for the project.

Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien welcomed the move and said MetroLink would help tackle congestion while also supporting housing and public realm improvements along the route.

“We know that MetroLink will encourage housing along the route, as well as helping to address the congestion that so many people experience every day in and around Dublin,” he said.

“But this will be the first chance for many to understand how MetroLink will allow us to improve the public realm and really re-imagine what our city looks like.”

TII chief executive Lorcan O’Connor said the acquisition showed MetroLink was “much more than a transport project”.

“The acquisition of this important site will allow us to redevelop this important area for the benefit of the Irish people, while also bringing benefits that will make the construction of MetroLink easier,” he said.

“With the area now in state ownership, we can work closely with the Dublin Task Force and other government agencies to enable the development and implementation of a master plan so that our main street can be something that we can all be proud of.”

National Transport Authority chief executive Anne Shaw described the acquisition as an “important turning point” for the city.

“This demonstrates how transport infrastructure can act as a vital catalyst for wider urban renewal,” she said.

MetroLink Interim Programme Director Michael Flynn said securing the site would help improve connectivity and create a more accessible and sustainable city centre.

“Securing the site is about much more than delivering MetroLink,” he said.

“It is an opportunity to reshape the heart of Dublin and ensure the city centre thrives for generations to come.”

MetroLink will include a station at O’Connell Street designed to link with Luas and bus services and accommodate significant passenger demand. In its opening year, the service is projected to carry approximately 53 million passenger journeys across the network.

During construction, up to 1,000 workers are expected to be involved in the delivery of the O’Connell Street location alone, including between 100 and 200 during advance works, 250 to 450 during main construction and a further 250 to 350 as part of the project’s long-term delivery contract.

Across the wider programme, MetroLink is expected to support approximately 8,000 direct construction jobs annually, with a further 2,750 indirect jobs generated each year through the wider supply chain.