Plans for Cardiff Crossrail project advance as construction contractor is selected
Plans for a tram-train network in the capital have taken the most significant step forward yet, with the first phase of the Cardiff Crossrail project set to move into construction after a principal contractor was identified.
GRAHAM has been named as the contractor for Phase 1a of the scheme, which will deliver a new link between Cardiff Central railway station and Cardiff Bay via Callaghan Square.
The appointment is subject to approval by senior councillors at a meeting on March 19, with final contracts expected to be completed in spring 2026 and construction due to start in summer 2026. The works are scheduled for completion in summer 2028.
The first phase is backed by £100 million in joint funding from the Welsh Government and the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund.
It forms the opening phase of a wider vision to eventually connect Plasdwr in the north west of the city with a proposed new Parkway railway station in the east.
Phase 1a will deliver new tram platforms at Cardiff Central and an additional platform at Cardiff Bay station, a new twin-track tramway through Callaghan Square, fully segregated cycle routes, improved pedestrian crossings, new landscaping and sustainable drainage, and a simplified road layout designed to make the area safer and easier to navigate.
The new tram link will serve the 16,500-seat indoor arena currently under construction in Cardiff Bay, as well as connecting workers, residents and visitors between the Bay and the city centre.
‘Ambitious’
Councillor Dan De’Ath, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Transport and Climate Change, said: “Cardiff Crossrail is a bold and ambitious plan to deliver a new tram system for the city – one that will eventually stretch from the north west to the east, connecting with the proposed Parkway Station. With further investment, we aim to create a reliable, affordable cross-city tram service that links some of Cardiff’s most underserved communities to the rail network for the first time.
“This is a long-term investment in Cardiff’s public transport infrastructure and will play a key role in supporting major developments across the city, including the redevelopment of Cardiff Central Railway Station, the regeneration of Callaghan Square, and the new Arena and Atlantic Wharf development in Cardiff Bay.”
Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, said: “This ambitious project will improve travel around the city making life easier for residents and visitors and we’re pleased to see Cardiff Council moving one step closer to the finished Crossrail.”
Dan Tipper, Transport for Wales’ Chief Infrastructure Officer, said the scheme would deliver a direct rail connection between Cardiff Central and Cardiff Bay for the first time.
“Our ambition is that the delivery of the scheme will contribute towards a more sustainable transport network for Cardiff, which will encourage more people to leave their cars at home and instead choose more sustainable ways to travel.”
Traffic management
Construction through Callaghan Square will require traffic management, and the council, Transport for Wales and GRAHAM have developed a phased plan to minimise disruption and coordinate work with other major projects under way across the city.
Before Cabinet considers the recommendations, the report will be scrutinised by the Environmental Committee when it meets on March 12. Both meetings will be available to watch via webcast at cardiff.public-i.tv.
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I remember the trolley busses in Cardiff and a fleet of battery powered delivery lorries outside Cardiff station with the BR logo on the side. That was only part of the 50’s they also had glass bottle re cycling something the WG would love. Today we can be grateful for modern progress.
Cardiff needs to be bold and halve / eliminate all the parking spaces in that region – so people have to travel by tram / cycle / walk.
The best way is to find an excuse to triple the land rent on car parks right in the center of Cardiff and rezone the area to state can only be used for offices; then the car park owner will sell the land at a distressed rate; then the council can remove all land rent charges for five years to encourage a developer to build – good old ‘scorched earth’ economics.
There’s huge potential for the south of the city centre, considering current developments and the light industrial land being vacated and now available between the city and the bay.
Callaghan Square currently being cleared but the soon to open Lloyds building has been surrounded by large steel shutters and an airport style temporary entrance. I asked the security guard about the severity of the security and he simply replied ‘druggies’! This element of the area needs to be shifted out to reduce the street crime and make sure the increased footfall feels safe in the area.
Shame we do not get any interest in developing the areas around Newport and Port Talbots train stations. Those areas are being left to decline and vote Reform. In 1990s HTV called Pembrokeshire ‘Little England beyond Wales’ and lots of people wanted the Senedd in Machynlleth. Businesses in Pembrokeshire like its’ lobster fishery export only; Cardiffs restaurants could support- but they do not. Scotland supports its’ fishing industry. Now Cardiff has polarised the Welsh economy and everybody has had enough of the lack of focus on growing Wales economy. A vote for Plaid Cymru will make no difference, a change… Read more »
Correct Andy. Nice to see money from the levelling up fund go to the one place in Wales that doesn’t need levelling up. What about the Rest Of Wales anybody ? Also nice to see £100 million going into just Phase 1. I wonder how much all the phases will total to add to the £2.5 billion already spent/committed on rail infra development in the area. And please don’t anyone say the metro is not just for Cardiff, it’s the valleys as well. It’s designed to feed into Cardiff. I’d be interested to know how many people who live in… Read more »
John – Cardiff applied so got funding.
I live near Crewe. Derby has Rolls-Royce plc. New GB Rail HQ will be in Derby as did a better presentation to secure HQ. Crewe’s network provided poor presentation.
Derby’s airport Is East Midlands – part owned by Labour controlled councils.
Labours Westminster council lent Cardiffs Labour council £8m. So Cardiff will get developed and nobody else now is voting Labour.
Shame a map was not incorporated in the article.
There’s a video of the route here: https://tfw.wales/projects/metro/south-wales-metro/cardiff-crossrail
If the tramway reaches Alexandra Head as proposed for a later phase then a future extension across the barrage and around the new Penarth Headland Link to Penarth Pier is the next logical step, assuming the £30m link is built with this in mind. Eventually the route could continue up Cliff Hill and loop via Lower Penarth or Comeston back to Penarth station via the old railway line.