Work will begin imminently on the construction of a new Butetown railway station and the redevelopment of Cardiff Bay station. Plans to build a new two-platform station in the north of Butetown were unveiled last summer.
It will be built opposite Maria Street, just north of the Letton Road underpass. The Bay Line Transformation project also includes enhancing Cardiff Bay station, with improvements such as a second platform, new signage and customer information screens.
TfW said the scheme was part of "the biggest upgrade to public transport in the area for a generation". A new track will be installed and new electrically powered tram-trains - run using overhead line equipment - will be introduced for the two stations. These will allow for faster and more frequent services, the company said.
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It will begin building a construction compound on Lloyd George Avenue this month, in order to manage its work and provide welfare facilities for workers. Vegetation management work will also be carried out to safely provide the electrical clearances for the public, staff and the infrastructure for the overhead line equipment, TfW added.
Work on the track itself will start early this year and a new timetable will be implemented from 2024. Butetown and Cardiff Bay residents living close to the railway line have been contacted with details of the construction and engineering work taking place in the area. Cardiff Bay station will remain open for passengers while the work is taking place, TfW has confirmed.
It said these plans are to fit with with a wider collaborative vision it is working on alongside Cardiff Council and the Welsh Government. The work will explore potential options for future transport routes between Cardiff Central and Newport Road, via the Cardiff Bay line and Porth Teigr subject to funding being secured.
A seven-week consultation on the future routes between Cardiff Central and Newport Road was launched on December 12 (ending on January 30) to collect feedback from the public, the findings of which will inform the project’s outline business case.
There will also be several in-person consultation events on the Bay Line Transformation and planned routes between Cardiff Central and Newport Road, including one at the Citizens Wales office in Butetown on February 3. People can find out more and take part in the consultations by visiting the Community and Stakeholder Engagement page on the TfW website.
The works will deliver the Core Valleys Lines (CVL) Transformation programme, which is an integral part of the development of South Wales Metro. The programme has been part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund.
Electrified lines will be installed on the Core Valley Lines in South Wales in the coming weeks, including on the Bay line. James Price, Transport for Wales Chief Executive Officer, said: “The Bay Line transformation project is an important part of the South Wales Metro and we’re delighted to be able to begin construction work on the brand-new station in Butetown, as well as important upgrades to Cardiff Bay station.
“From 2024 we’ll be providing a smoother, greener, modern public transport service which will open up a range of opportunities for people living in Butetown and the wider Cardiff Bay area.
“We’re keen to continue working collaboratively with local residents through workshops and drop-in sessions, where people will be able to get more information and ask questions about the Bay Line transformation.”
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