International Consortium Forms Bid for Dublin Metrolink Project

A consortium of five international companies—Spanish contractor FCC, French asset manager Meridiam, British investor John Laing, French transport operator RATP Dev, and French rail company Alstom—has formally established a bid for Dublin's MetroLink project, aiming to design, construct, finance, operate, and maintain the automated metro system. The 18.8 km mostly underground driverless MetroLink will connect Swords, Dublin Airport, Dublin city centre, and Charlemont, serving 16 stations and providing a direct rail link between the city and the airport for the first time. Construction is expected to begin between 2028 and 2031, with services opening around 2035, and the project is projected to carry up to 53 million passengers annually, with trains running every three minutes at peak times. The consortium brings together extensive expertise in metro systems, civil engineering, operations, and financing, with FCC leading civil works, Alstom providing metro technology, RATP Dev handling operations and maintenance, and Meridiam and John Laing supplying financial and investment capabilities. The project is regarded as a transformative infrastructure initiative intended to reduce congestion and enhance sustainability in Greater Dublin, although it has faced criticism from figures like Michael O’Leary over its high cost, which has been estimated up to €12 billion. Officials plan to provide more detailed updates on procurement and costs at a forthcoming market briefing attended by Irish government leaders.