A group of private companies, Citywest Luas, have signed an agreement with the Rail Procurement Agency (RPA) to extend the Luas to Saggart via Citywest, under Public Private Partnership (PPP).
RPA, subject to planning approval, expects construction of the 4.2 km line to begin in Spring 2008, and to launch passenger services in 2010.
The new line is expected to carry 5 million passengers a year.
Citywest Luas, which is made up of Davy Hickey Properties, Harcourt Developments and HSS, will provide €39m for the development of the line, land and certain infrastructure.
The RPA will provide the remainder of the infrastructure and trams.
There will be stops at Fettercairn, Cheeverstown, Citywest Campus, Fortunestown and Saggart, and the line will connect to the existing Luas Red Line between Cookstown and Belgard stops.
A park-and-ride facility will be provided at the Cheeverstown stop at the new outer ring road.
Funding for the Citywest extension was included in Transport 21, subject to the contributions from developers.
Davy Hickey Properties is the developer of the Citywest business park, Harcourt Developments is owned by Pat Doherty and broadcaster Mike Murphy and has substantial residential development in the area, and Jim Mansfield's HSS - is the developer of the Citywest hotel.
