As many as 7,000 jobs are expected to follow news that four major international consortia have entered the pre-qualification phase in the Public Private Partnership (PPP) procurement process for Irish Rail's DART Underground.

The consortia are: BBI Consortium (Balfour Beatty Capital Ltd, BAM PPP Investments Ireland bv, Iridium Concesiones de Infraestructuras, S.A.); City Connect Consortium (Macquarie Capital Group Ltd, Cintra Infraestructuras, S.A., Global Via Infraestructuras, S.A.); NascRail Consortium (OHL Concesiones S.L., Soares da Costa Concessoes SGPS, SA, Allied Irish Banks, p.l.c., Bombardier Transportation (Holdings) UK Ltd, Pierse Contracting); Toto Consortium (Toto Costruzioni Generali S.p.A., Societa Italiana per Condotte d'Acqua S.p.A, Ansaldo STS S.p.A., Condotte Immobiliare S.p.A., Torrena Scavi S.p.A., Rocksoil S.p.A.).

It is the latest boost for commuters who will benefit from DART Underground, with the project having been confirmed in the Government's Capital Investment Programme last week. DART Underground will also provide an important stimulus for the economy, on the employment side alone creating up to 7,000 jobs during each year of construction and thousands more indirectly as a result of the significantly improved access that the project will deliver to retail, commercial, leisure and tourist destinations in Dublin.

DART Underground will run underground through the heart of Dublin City Centre. The tunnel will be approximately 7.6 Km in length and will connect the Northern and Kildare rail lines, with underground stations at Spencer Dock, Pearse, St. Stephen's Green, Christchurch and Heuston as well as a new surface station at Inchicore.

The twin tunnels will be constructed using two Tunnel Boring Machines, launching from the Docklands, at an average depth of 24 metres, or some 80 feet, below ground level.

The underground stations will be constructed using techniques that will minimize the effect for the local residents, communities and environment.

There is potential for more than 75% of the spoil from the construction of the project to be removed by rail. This in turn has the potential to reduce the traffic impacts during the construction phase.

The new line will dramatically increase frequency and capacity for commuters on DART Northern, Maynooth and Kildare lines - the three fastest growing population corridors in the country - and relieve the current congestion at Connolly Station.

Under the PPP contract the successful private partner will be responsible for the design, construction, financing, commissioning and maintenance of the tunnel, stations and associated facilities over the period of the PPP contract.

(CD/GK)