Cardiff Central station £140m revamp gets go-ahead

Plans for a major revamp of Wales’ busiest railway station have received final approval.

The £140m upgrades to Cardiff Central – including a new brick arch rear entrance, larger concourse and improved waiting areas – aim to support future passenger growth and reduce overcrowding.

Better accessibility for people with reduced mobility and additional retail and cycle facilities are also among the changes.

Work is due to start in the middle of next year with the aim of completing most of it within three years.

The station will remain open during the works.

Around 35,000 passengers a day use the station, which increases during concerts and rugby internationals, the Department for Transport said.

The scheme is being led by Transport for Wales, with the funding made up of £78m from the UK Department for Transport (DfT), £40m from the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal and £21m from the Welsh government.

The DfT money is part of £445m for rail improvements across Wales announced in Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ spending review in June.

UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the changes would “transform the experience of the millions of passengers who use the station every year”, while also improving connectivity with “the rest of Wales and beyond”.

Welsh government Transport Secretary Ken Skates welcomed a “major milestone” to upgrade the station, which he said was a “key hub” on the South Wales Metro, which includes a promise to provide twice the number of services, as well as new stations.

He said the investment would “modernise and enhance the station, benefitting passengers and accommodating our ambitions for long term growth”.

Skates added that the newly revamped Wales Rail Board would also meet for the first time on Thursday to “discuss future projects such as this and relevant funding”.

Cardiff Central station opened in 1850 as Cardiff station, was renamed Cardiff General in 1924 and was given its current name in 1973.