Ryanair’s Chief Executive has criticized the proposed MetroLink rail line in Dublin – which would include a stop at Dublin Airport – calling it a misuse of public funds, reports RTE.
Michael O’Leary compared the estimated €20 billion cost of the project to the price of “ten children’s hospitals” and described it as “completely uncosted.”
He pointed out that the Government had set aside €2 billion in the National Development Plan just “for the tendering process, reports RTE.
According to Mr O’Leary, the cost of the 18-kilometre route equates to roughly €1 billion per kilometre.
“Dublin Airport doesn’t need it, Dublin Airport passengers won’t use it, they’re already well served by buses,” he said on RTÉ’s Drivetime, reports RTE.
He argued that the perception that most airport users are headed for the city centre is incorrect.
“90% per cent of the traffic is going to suburban Dublin and down the country.
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“They’re very well served by the existing bus capacity, which counts for about 30% of Dublin’s traffic,” reports RTE.
Mr O’Leary noted that even at Heathrow, Europe’s busiest airport, the London Underground only handles 16% of passenger traffic, despite its citywide coverage.
The Metro, he said, is “massively expensive” and would only benefit “a narrow corridor from Swords in through the airport in through Glasnevin, serving a couple of hundred thousand people”, reports RTE.
“We are wasting billions of taxpayers money on a airport train that nobody is going to use and that we don’t need,” he said.
He also claimed the Government “cannot be trusted,” accusing it of already reneging on a pledge to lift the passenger cap at Dublin Airport, reports RTE.
He added that no official is willing to disclose the true final cost of MetroLink, which he believes will “easily exceed €20bn.”
Mr O’Leary also criticized Sean Sweeney, the New Zealander appointed as MetroLink Project Director last year, saying he “not knowing what he is talking about”.
He argued that just €100 million – one-twentieth of the budget – could purchase 400 buses that would “do the same job” as MetroLink, which he believes Ireland simply “cannot afford,” reports RTE.
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