£100M Cardiff Crossrail set to move into construction phase under Graham
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Cardiff Council is preparing to appoint contractor Graham to deliver the first phase of the long planned Cardiff Crossrail tram train network, a project designed to strengthen connections between the city centre and Cardiff Bay.
Council cabinet members are expected to approve the contractor appointment on 19 March, clearing the way for the construction contract to be finalised and work to begin later this summer.
The opening phase of the project has secured £100m in funding through a combination of Welsh Government support and the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund.
Once completed, the first section of the network will create a tram link between Cardiff Central station and Cardiff Bay, running via Callaghan Square. The scheme is intended to improve transport connectivity within the city while supporting several major regeneration projects currently underway in the surrounding area.
The Crossrail concept has been under discussion for several years as part of Cardiff’s wider ambition to develop a modern tram system that improves access across the city.
New tram link to support regeneration and city centre growth
The first phase of Cardiff Crossrail will focus on improving access between the main railway station and the waterfront district.
The new tram route will run through Callaghan Square, an area currently undergoing significant redevelopment and seen as a key gateway between the city centre and Cardiff Bay.
Transport planners believe the improved connection will strengthen links between employment centres, entertainment venues and residential districts.
One of the major developments expected to benefit from the project is the new 16,500 seat indoor arena being built at Atlantic Wharf. The venue is planned as a major entertainment and events destination and will rely on improved public transport links to manage visitor demand.
Cardiff Council says the Crossrail project will also support the wider regeneration of Callaghan Square and help unlock further investment across the city centre.
As the tram line will run through busy urban streets, construction works are expected to involve significant traffic management measures while the route is installed.
Despite the disruption likely during construction, the council argues that the long term transport benefits will outweigh the short term impact.
A long term vision for a city wide tram network
The first phase represents only the initial stage of Cardiff’s broader Crossrail ambitions.
City leaders have outlined plans for a larger tram system that could eventually extend from the north west of Cardiff to the east of the city. The longer term proposal includes a potential connection with the planned Cardiff Parkway station.
The goal is to create a cross city tram network that integrates with existing rail services and improves access to areas that currently lack strong public transport links.
Councillor Dan De’Ath, Cardiff Council’s cabinet member for Strategic Planning, Transport and Climate Change, described the project as a transformative step for the city’s transport system.
He said the Crossrail plan aims to deliver a reliable and affordable tram service that will help connect underserved communities to the wider rail network for the first time.
Improved transport infrastructure is also seen as essential to supporting Cardiff’s economic growth, particularly as large scale developments reshape areas around the city centre and waterfront.
Construction expected to begin this summer
If cabinet approval is secured, the council will finalise the construction contract with Graham, allowing preparatory work to begin in the coming months.
Construction is expected to start this summer, marking the first visible stage of a project that has been discussed in Cardiff’s transport planning for many years.
Graham has previously delivered a range of infrastructure and rail projects across the UK and Ireland, making it a familiar contractor in the transport sector.
The company’s appointment signals that the Crossrail scheme is moving from planning into delivery.
For Cardiff, the new tram connection is intended to provide a modern transport link that supports regeneration, improves accessibility and strengthens connections between key parts of the city.
With funding secured and contractor selection close to completion, the project now moves into the delivery phase that could reshape how people travel between Cardiff’s city centre and waterfront.
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