Four companies are in the running to build and operate the €5 billion Metro North Dublin rail line.

According to the Irish Times each company have submitted a bid to the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA).

The paper has mentioned a group called Dublin Express Link which comprises of tram operator Keolis, Irish construction group SIAC, HSBC, one of the world's biggest banks, rolling stock provider Alstom, private equity fund Meridiam, rail service provider Spie Rail and French industrial group Buoygues.

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Also in the running is the Cathró consortium which includes Siemens, Luas operator Veolia, Vienna-based construction company Strabag, communications group Ascom, asset manager BAM and Fluor, a Texas-based engineering company.

The third bidder is Celtic Metro Group which is headed by Tokyo-based investment group Mitsui. It is also thought to include Barclays Private Equity, rail operator MTR, rolling stock provider Caf and Portuguese civil engineering group Soares da Costa.

The final bid comes from MetroExpress which includes AIB, Irish construction contractors Sisk, Australian investment group Macquarie, signalling and communications provider Bombardier, construction group FCC and Portuguese engineering group Global Vía.

Metro North is expected to cost €2.4 billion to build, and a 2012 opening date has been set.

(GK/JM)