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the northsideNewsfree ‘Luas to airport’ call as Metro costs soar

An extension of the Luas line to Dublin Airport could be done quicker and cheaper than the MetroLink.

That’s according to Policy Consultant David Geary, who was speaking as an estimated €300 million has been spent on the MetroLink system, despite no construction having begun. MetroLink is to run between the swords and Charlemont areas of the capital, while also serving Dublin Airport.

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Construction work is due to begin in 2025, with a view to it beginning operations in the early 2030s.

Mr Geary, who first floated the Luas idea on twitter, told newstalk he has got a big reaction.

“The proposal basically is to extend the Luas line from the Broadstone/Dit stop out to the airport along the Ballymun Road,” he said.

“That would extend the Luas service to Drumcondra, Glasnevin, DCU, santry, Ballymun and ultimately the airport.

“it makes sense, the Ballymun Road is a big wide road... so it’s a fairly simple route.

“it’s about 8kms long and it would take 30 minutes to get from the airport into town”.

Mr Geary said while MetroLink is important, it is too far away.

“This is most likely going to be built a lot quicker than the Metro, probably delivered within the next seven or eight years,” he said. “That’s going to be five or 10 years at least before the Metro shows up”.

Mr Geary said the Luas plan would be a lot cheaper than MetroLink.

“The Metro is an important project long-term for the city, we’re going to have it for centuries,” he said. “But it does look like the cost of the Metro is significantly higher now than what was originally proposed”.

Mr Geary said the cost to extend the Luas would be similar to what the Luas interconnector cost a number of years ago - between €400 million to €500 million.

“it’s 5% to 10% of the cost of what the Metro might cost, and small change in terms of what the cost overruns to the Metro are likely to be,” he said.

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