Cardiff Central’s £140M redevelopment has cleared a key hurdle after ministers approved the final business case and confirmed the funding package. The Transport for Wales (TfW)-led scheme is designed to increase capacity and improve accessibility at the city’s main rail hub, which handles more than 35,000 passengers a day and significantly higher volumes during major events.
The upgrade will deliver a new southern entrance, a larger main concourse and reconfigured circulation to improve passenger flow. Platform 0 will be extended to accommodate longer trains and reduce overcrowding, while the plans also provide enlarged waiting areas, enhanced retail provision and expanded cycle parking. TfW has committed to maintaining station operations throughout the construction phase.
Funding is being assembled from UK and Welsh sources, with the Department for Transport contributing £77.8M, the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal £40M and the Welsh Government £21M. The scheme forms part of a wider £445M DfT allocation for rail infrastructure improvements across Wales, a level of investment that has previously drawn criticism from Welsh ministers when compared with spend on schemes in England.
TfW has indicated that main works could start in spring 2026, with the bulk of construction activity scheduled to complete by 2029. Bam is expected to take the project into delivery, having secured a £10.4M contract for the initial design phase earlier this year, positioning it to lead the design-and-build phase subject to final contractual arrangements.
The announcement aligns with the first meeting of the reconstituted Wales Rail Board, which is convening in Cardiff under the chairmanship of TfW chair Vernon Everitt. The board’s remit includes prioritising the rail funding settlement, tracking progress on live schemes such as Cardiff Central and identifying future investment priorities, supported by TfW’s forthcoming strategic vision document, Today, Tomorrow, Together.
If delivered to programme and budget, the Cardiff Central Enhancements Project will represent one of the largest recent rail infrastructure upgrades in Wales. It is intended as a core element of the South Wales Metro and a key gateway scheme to support long-term passenger growth, event capacity and wider economic development in the Cardiff Capital Region.
