(Image: Cardiff Council)
Last Updated: 19 hours ago
Cardiff is a step closer to getting its own tram system after the first phase of the Cardiff Crossrail project was confirmed to be moving into construction.
The scheme will see a new tram-train route built between Cardiff Central railway station and Cardiff Bay, running through Callaghan Square. GRAHAM has been identified as the principal contractor for the work, subject to Cabinet approval on March 19th.
What’s being built
The first phase will deliver a new twin-track tramway through Callaghan Square, new tram platforms at Cardiff Central and an additional platform at Cardiff Bay station, along with fully segregated cycle routes, improved pedestrian crossings and new public spaces with sustainable drainage.
The project is backed by £100 million in joint funding from the Welsh Government and the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund. Once complete, the tram link will help carry passengers to and from 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.
The bigger picture
The long-term vision for Cardiff Crossrail is far more ambitious than this first phase. The full route would eventually stretch from Plasdwr in the north west of the city to a proposed new Parkway railway station in the east, creating a cross-city tram network.
Cllr 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: “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. It’ll also significantly improve the railway network between the city centre and Cardiff Bay, benefiting the wider city and region.”
What happens next
If Cabinet gives the green light, final contracts are expected to be completed in the spring, with construction starting in summer 2026 and the works finished by summer 2028. Traffic management will be in place during the build, with a phased construction plan designed to keep disruption to a minimum.
