Auckland’s City Rail Link’s former boss has stepped down from the helm of Dublin’s long-overdue MetroLink project for personal reasons, less than two years after departing New Zealand for the role.

Dr Sean Sweeney left his job as the CRL’s chief executive, which he’d held for over six years, in September 2024 after being appointed programme director for the MetroLink, Ireland’s largest standalone infrastructure project, two months before.

In a statement, the industry expert said he would leave the €550,000-a-year ($1.1 million) role with “deep regret”.

However, his decision was “the right thing to do for everyone” involved.

“After several years away from home, the sacrifice of being separated from my partner, children, and grandchildren, who are over 10,000 miles away, has become unsustainable,” he said.

Sweeney described leading the Metrolink project as “one of the greatest professional privileges of my career”.

“I am proud to leave the programme with a highly committed and experienced executive team, full Government support as well an operational Railway Order and MetroLink fully funded into construction,” he said.

Dr Sean Sweeney said he was leaving the Dublin metro project to return to New Zealand. Photo / Jed Bradley

“MetroLink is no longer a ‘proposed’ plan; it is a live delivery project.”

Sweeney’s resignation follows the recent clearing of major planning and legal hurdles for the €9.5 billion ($19.18bn) project, allowing construction prep and procurement to finally begin.

Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien told Irish media that Sweeney had informed him of his resignation in a meeting earlier this week.

O’Brien was “sorry to see him go”, while reassuring Dubliners that there was “no fear of any delay” to the project.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) head Lorcan O’Connor said Sweeney had recently secured the MetroLink’s “most significant milestone to date” – the Operational Railway Order – authorising TII to construct and operate the new metro line over the coming years.

He confirmed Sweeney’s departure “with a mix of gratitude and regret”, and wished him well.

A successor would be sought “immediately” with open competition for the role.

Sweeney led Auckland's $5.5 billion City Rail Link project for six years through the height of its construction. Photo / Jason Oxenham

Projected to open in the mid-2030s, the planned MetroLink will traverse Dublin from north to south on an 18.8km route, with 16 stations – including one at Dublin Airport – connecting to the city centre.

The project was first conceptualised in the early 2000s.

However, it has faced numerous roadblocks to its realisation, including financial difficulties and objections from residents affected by the planned works.

In an editorial, The Irish Times – Ireland’s largest newspaper – called Sweeney’s departure a “significant blow” to the Metrolink.

It called on the Irish government to push ahead with the project as updated costings soon head to Cabinet for approval.

Sweeney departed Auckland’s $5.5bn CRL project in 2024 at a pivotal point in its development, handing over the reins as it began transitioning from a construction site to the critical systems-testing phase.

He was replaced by Patrick Brockie, a chartered accountant who previously served as the CRL’s chief financial officer.

Final touches and tests on the CRL’s 3.45km twin tunnels, new stations and the wider network’s refreshed timetable are nearing completion without an official opening date.

Officials have maintained it will open in the second half of this year, with sources telling the Herald it is slated for a September opening.