**Major Update Announced for Cardiff’s £100 Million Tram Network**
Cardiff’s ambitious plans to launch a £100 million tram system have moved a significant step forward, according to the latest update from Cardiff Council following an extensive public consultation. The eagerly anticipated Cardiff Crossrail project, designed to link Cardiff Central Station with Cardiff Bay via a dedicated new tram line, is now scheduled to become operational by the summer of 2028, with enabling works due to begin imminently.
The first phase of the scheme will see the construction of a dedicated Crossrail platform on the south side of Cardiff Central Station. From there, the new route will pass through Callaghan Square, eventually merging with existing rail infrastructure that connects Queen Street Station to Bute Street down to Cardiff Bay. The ambitious vision has been underpinned by a mixture of funding from both the UK and Welsh governments, with £50 million in levelling up investment from Westminster matched by the Welsh Government.
Responding to feedback from the public, the council has unveiled several modifications to the original plans. These include retaining open road access on the north section of Bute Street, facilitating smoother traffic movement between Butetown and Cardiff Bay, and making a promise to maintain ongoing engagement with access and inclusion groups throughout the design process. Additionally, the reworked scheme will deliver more green spaces and planting at Callaghan Square as well as improved bus infrastructure along Custom House Street and a relocated bus layover on Park Street.
Collaboration is at the heart of the project, with Cardiff Council working closely alongside Transport for Wales. Ian Tipper, Chief Infrastructure Officer at Transport for Wales, highlighted that the tram-train services were timed to be operational ahead of the UEFA 2028 European Championships, when Cardiff is due to host several high-profile football matches at the Principality Stadium. Tipper also underlined the tramway’s potential to foster a greener, more sustainable city transport network, aiming to encourage more residents to opt for public transit rather than using private vehicles.
The broader Cardiff Crossrail vision is subject to further financial backing, but the council remains optimistic. Longer-term proposals set out routes extending east towards Pierhead Street to support redevelopment at Atlantic Wharf and a future indoor arena, as well as linking up with proposed stations on the South Wales Mainline at Newport Road and St Mellons—site of the planned Cardiff Parkway station in a burgeoning new business district. Ambitions also stretch to the north-west, with eventual plans to extend tram services as far as Plasdwr.
Dan De’Ath, Cardiff Council’s Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Transport and Climate Change, described the project as a “bold and ambitious plan” that aims to reshape the city’s approach to public transport. “With further investment, we aim to create a reliable and affordable tram service that brings connectivity to some of Cardiff’s most underserved communities for the first time,” De’Ath commented. He added, “This is about building a greener, more sustainable transport system—taking inspiration from successful tram networks in cities like Manchester, Nottingham and Edinburgh.”
The delivery phase for the Crossrail requires legal permissions, and Cardiff Council is now moving to secure an order under the Transport and Works Act 1992. The council anticipates making its formal application by July, but this procedure—handled by Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW)—is expected to take up to twelve months. Should the application be approved, all infrastructure works are forecast to be completed in time for summer 2028, with major construction of track and stations beginning in 2026 following detailed design work.
The updated timeline set out by Cardiff Council includes ground investigations and enabling works this summer, completion of detailed designs by year’s end, and commencement of highway and public realm works in spring 2026. By late 2026, construction of the tramway and platforms at Cardiff Central should be underway, setting the city on course to complete the project two years later.
The scheme has garnered endorsement from both UK and Welsh government ministers. UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander referred to the development as “real progress in delivering better, greener transport for Cardiff,” hailing the project’s role in opening up new opportunities for employment, business, and city-wide growth. Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, echoed those sentiments, praising the council’s persistence in driving the scheme towards reality.
As Cardiff embraces the next stage in its modern transport journey, the Crossrail project stands as a testament to both public influence on urban planning, and the commitment of local authorities to deliver a city infrastructure that is fit for the future.