THE TIMETABLE for Metro North has been thrown into further doubt by An Bord Pleanála’s decision to request detailed additional information from the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) on key aspects of the project.

An RPA spokesman conceded yesterday that the board’s request “will result in a delay” in determining its railway order application, but he said the agency would be “working flat out” to meet the October 1st deadline for submitting the new information.

“RPA is examining the implications of this delay and will be meeting the shortlisted bidders in the near future to discuss the programme for the final tender stage”, he added.

The application for a railway order was submitted to An Bord Pleanála last September. An oral hearing opened on April 1st but was adjourned on April 29th to give the planning inspector time to digest new information submitted by the RPA.

Following this examination, the board has now sought more information on the project. The RPA had expected a decision from An Bord Pleanála on its railway order application by September 4th.

If approved, the two shortlisted consortiums would then make their final offers, one of which would be chosen for submission to the Government before Christmas.

Now it seems improbable that the appeals board will make a decision before the end of this year, even if the RPA meets the October 1st deadline.

The board’s further information request seeks more details about the environmental impact on “sensitive” properties such as the Rotunda and Mater hospitals, the Fitzwilliam Hotel on St Stephen’s Green and Corpus Christi national school in Drumcondra.