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Ireland’s First Underground MetroLink

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Providing Environmental Support for Ireland’s First Underground Metro

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Environmental ConsultingEnvironmental Consulting

Industry

Railroads & Rail Yards

Location

Ireland

Transportation is the nervous system of any modern society, but advancements often impact the environment in unexpected ways. MetroLink is a proposed high-capacity, high-frequency rail line running from Charlemont to Swords via Dublin Airport, with 16 stops. It will integrate with other public transportation services, such as Irish Rail, DART, Luas, and bus services, to provide a fully integrated public transport system in the Greater Dublin Area.

 

Challenge

MetroLink will be a mainly underground rail system (a first for Ireland), with the 18.8km rail line connecting north and south Dublin. The operation of the MetroLink will offer reliable transport to estimated 53 million passengers every year by 2060 while helping to decarbonize the transportation sector and improve the quality of the urban environment in Dublin. The construction of the project will encroach close to very sensitive communities and across sensitive underground features and once operational, will require strict environmental controls to ensure no significant impacts occur.

Solutions

The MetroLink team turned to AWN Consulting Ltd., a Trinity Consultants team, to undertake a range of environmental assessments to identify, mitigate and manage potential key impacts and to support the planning process for the grant of a Railway Order. AWN Consulting started on the project in 2018 and undertook a range of detailed baseline investigations and monitoring programmes, detailed 2D and 3D modelling, environmental impact assessment reporting and offering expert witness services at the oral hearing. AWN provided expert assessment on the following areas.

  • Air Quality
  • Climate
  • Airborne Noise
  • Hydrology
  • Hydrogeology

AWN Consulting worked as a sub-consultant to Jacobs Ireland on the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR), which was crucial for
understanding and mitigating potential impacts on the environment and surrounding communities.

Services Performed

The team conducted baseline environmental investigations and monitoring, developed 2D and 3D environmental models, and prepared Environmental Impact Assessment Reports. Their work included studies on air quality, climate, noise, hydrology, and hydrogeology, along with expert witness services at oral hearings.

Results

The EIAR was submitted in September 2022 to An Bord Pleanála and a 6 week oral hearing was held in early 2024. A decision is yet to be made on the granting of a Railway Order for the project, however the client is confident that, with the expert help of AWN Consulting, a positive result will be forthcoming for this exciting project.

18.8 KM

Underground metro line connecting north and south Dublin

53 million

Passengers projected annually by 2060

6 weeks

Of expert witness testimony delivered at the oral hearing