Metro Dublin Project 2032: Transforming the City's Rail Network into an International-Style Metro System

Mon 21 Oct 2024 - Nathan Broderick - CMO - Metro Dublin

Metro Dublin Project 2032 aims to transform Dublin's rail network into an international-style metro system with six strategically designed lines and innovative construction methods, enhancing connectivity, reducing travel times, and supporting the city's growth and prosperity.

Greater Dublin Integrated Railway Network 2032 - Metro Dublin, NTA and CIE

Metro Dublin Project 2032 represents a transformative initiative poised to reshape the transportation landscape of Ireland's capital city. Devised to maintain and enhance Dublin's livability and prosperity, this once-in-a-generation development aims to facilitate the transformation of Dublin's rail network into an international-style metro system. As Dublin continues to grow both in population and economic activity, the need for efficient and sustainable modes of travel becomes increasingly critical. The Metro Dublin project seeks to address this need by modernising the existing rail infrastructure, offering residents and visitors improved connectivity, reduced travel times, and greater convenience in navigating the city and its surrounding areas.

At the heart of the project lies the ambition to enhance transportation accessibility across the Greater Dublin Area. The Metro Dublin network encompasses six key lines, each strategically designed to serve various regions and meet specific transit demands. The City Center Loop creates a circuit around the city centre, focusing on providing efficient transportation within Dublin's central business district and connecting key commercial, residential, and cultural hubs. The Spine serves as the backbone of Ireland's rail network, linking all lines to Dublin Airport and branching from Donabate through Swords and the Airport, down through Glasnevin and Heuston Station. This line boasts the capacity to carry Metro, DART+, and Intercity services, significantly enhancing the network's versatility.

Adding a pioneering element to the project, The Core introduces Europe's first commercial Maglev line. This line runs from the North Dublin suburbs to the city centre, connecting to a major station on O'Connell Street before extending out to Templeogue and Rathfarnham. The Blanchardstown Line connects Blanchardstown to the city centre with a direct route branching off from the Western Line, designed to meet the ever-growing demand in a rapidly densifying part of the city. The Adamstown Line focuses on expanding and enhancing services through some of the quickest-growing areas in Ireland, while the Ashbourne Line addresses the commuting needs of approximately 70% of Ashbourne's population, who travel to Dublin daily, making it a vital gateway to County Meath.

For development purposes, Metro Dublin is divided into six contract sections, with the existing DART line marked as section seven.

Each section is engineered to operate independently from the Irish Rail network, with select segments capable of accommodating national rail services, such as the route from Donabate/Malahide to Dublin Airport and Heuston West. This integration enhances connectivity for both commuter and intercity travel, creating a more cohesive and versatile transportation system.

Metro Dublin Line Section Map

These sections include:

1. Glasnevin / Heuston / Docklands (7.2 km)
2. Malahide & Donabate / Swords / Glasnevin (21.2 km)
3. Adamstown / Heuston / Phibsborough (15.8 km)
4. Blanchardstown / Glasnevin / Docklands (13.5 km)
5. Ashbourne / Finglas / Glasnevin (19.2 km)
6. Howth Junction / O'Connell Street / Rathfarnham & Templeogue (18.1 km).

The Metro Dublin network spans across 95 km of rail infrastructure, consisting of 30 km of track upgrades, 20 km of new surface tracks, and 45 km of tunnel construction. The 30 km of upgraded tracks primarily focus on enhancing and expanding the Western and South Western Lines. These upgrades are essential to generate high usage of public transport by providing a critical mass of infrastructure. All upgrades will be grade-separated to avoid interference with DART+ and Intercity services, creating a high-frequency, multimodal service. The addition of new intermediate stations is also a key component, aiming to improve access to the rail network for residents between existing stations. By strategically placing these stations, the project facilitates the implementation of high-frequency service patterns, enabling faster and more convenient travel options akin to successful systems observed worldwide.

Malahide Station pre-upgrade

Innovation is a cornerstone of the Metro Dublin project, particularly in its approach to reducing construction and operational costs. Through innovative designs utilising a single tunnel with trains in each direction and a novel station layout, the project aims to deliver higher levels of safety and quality of service. Research and simulations have demonstrated that a larger single tunnel, as opposed to smaller twin tunnels, can achieve these improvements. 

Tunnel Design

A patent application has been made for the innovative station layout, which incorporates upper and lower platforms of seven and six meters in width within the bore of a tunnel with an internal diameter of 11.9 meters. This design greatly reduces costs and facilitates a smaller surface construction site footprint for the stations. Consequently, stations can be placed closer to key locations—where they need to be rather than where they can be accommodated—enhancing accessibility and convenience for users.

Metro Dublin Project 2032 is set to significantly enhance the transportation infrastructure of Dublin, supporting the city's growth and prosperity. By modernising the rail network into an international-style metro system, it promises to provide efficient, sustainable, and high-frequency transit options. The strategic design of its six key lines and innovative construction methods reflect a forward-thinking approach to urban transportation, positioning Dublin to meet the challenges of the future while improving the quality of life for its residents and visitors alike.