The Government has secured funding from the European Investment Bank for luas link up project in Dublin.
The plan will see the meeting of the Red and Green lines as well as carrying the line further north to link with the Connolly/Maynooth rail line.
The estimated loan of 163 million euro from the EIB - which is just under half of the cost of the development - will be repaid at a lower rate of interest saving the country and taxpayer more than 30 million euro.
800 jobs will be created in the construction phase of the project while 60 permenent positions will be created on completion.
Transport Minister Leo Varadkar says the project will provide a more efficient rail network:
