The Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, yesterday announced the beginning of the tendering process for the first line of the planned new metro for Dublin. She said she hopes the initial route will be built by 2007.
The Dublin Chamber of Commerce last night welcomed the decision, made by the Cabinet yesterday. However, the Labour Party public enterprise spokesman, Mr Emmet Stagg, said the announcement was simply a repeat of a Government announcement 18 months ago.
Although the Government decided then to go ahead with the project, yesterday's decision moves the planning to the next stage. The new Rail Procurement Agency will now seek expressions of interest from companies and consortiums interested in tendering to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the metro's first line.
Some of those expressing interest will then be invited to submit detailed tenders.
Phase One comprises a line from Dublin Airport to the city centre and Shanganagh near Bray (to link with the DART), with a spur to Blanchardstown.
The LUAS line to Sandyford will be upgraded to metro status. It is hoped to complete this phase by 2007. Ms O'Rourke said yesterday the project would be funded by a combination of State and private sector finance.
The 70-kilometre metro is to be built in phases with 12 to 14 kilometres of the system running underground. When completed the system is expected to carry over 200 million passengers annually.
With Dublin one of the few European capitals not to have a rail link to its airport, the line from Shanganagh to the airport will take priority.
Phase Two will involve the extension of the Blanchardstown "spur" line southwards through Clondalkin and Tallaght to the city centre, a spur from Citywest to Tallaght and the extension of the airport line to Swords.
While the Dublin Transportation Office has estimated the construction cost of the entire metro system at €7.2 billion, Ms O'Rourke said yesterday more precise costing would depend on the Public Private Partnership process. They will be determined "by issues such as route alignment, commercial development potential and station location".
Ms O'Rourke said: "The PPP approach allows us combine the traditional strengths of the public sector with the efficiencies of the private sector. I believe it will result in the speedy delivery of the metro and will achieve greater value for money.
The metro represents the biggest infrastructure project ever undertaken by the State.
"Today marks the start of a process that will result in the construction of a public transport system which will last for a hundred years or more. Many cities around the world have rapid transit, underground rail systems and now Dublin can be no exception.
"We have given priority to the airport route. Despite the terrible events of September 11th, passenger numbers at Dublin Airport are set to rise significantly over the next few years. Dublin is one of the few capital cities in Europe without a rail link to its airport. It is vital that a fast efficient transport system is in place to meet these demands."
It is thought that 30 consortiums have expressed tentative interest in tendering for the construction contract, likely to be one of the largest ever offered by the State.
Given that significant and disruptive underground work is required, it is thought the first phase of the project could take two years or more to clear the planning process.