Cardiff’s Crossrail project aims to revolutionize rail travel with a new rapid transit network, enhancing connectivity and efficiency across the city
Cardiff: The Crossrail project is a big deal for the city. It’s all about creating a 20-kilometer rapid transit network that makes getting around easier and faster. Imagine a service where you can just turn up and go!
They’ve already got £100 million for the first phase, which connects Cardiff Central Station to Cardiff Bay. The whole project could cost around £1 billion, but it’s a smart move since it uses existing rail lines, saving a ton of cash compared to building everything from scratch.
After the first phase, they’re looking at extending the service to Pierhead Street. But phase two is where the real magic happens. It’s crucial for filling in the gaps in the current South Wales Metro program, which mainly benefits areas north of Cardiff.
Now, they really need to rally support for this next phase. It’s not just about trains; it’s about unlocking bigger benefits for the whole city and region. Plus, it’s a relatively low-cost scheme, estimated at £150 million to £200 million, since it doesn’t need a lot of new tracks.
Instead, it focuses on improving what’s already there and adding a few new stations where there’s a lot of local traffic. This means more people can use the trains, which is great for the city’s economy.
With this project, Cardiff could see an extra 2,000 people an hour traveling around the city. That’s four trains an hour, each carrying 500 passengers. And all of this is at a fraction of the cost of building new lines from scratch.
Phase two is also key for the long-term vision of Crossrail, connecting to places like Rhondda Cynon Taf and Newport Road. It’ll help make Cardiff Central Station even better and balance out the demand for train services.
In the end, this could mean 25 million passengers a year using the Core Valley Line, similar to what the Newcastle Metro sees. It’s all about making the system work better and boosting the local economy.
Everyone involved, from Transport for Wales to the UK Government, needs to focus on making this happen by 2028/9. Without phase two, the Metro project will feel incomplete, and the benefits of the improvements at Cardiff Central won’t be fully realized.
Interestingly, while the UK Government is spending a fortune on HS2, Cardiff Crossrail phase two could be a much better investment for the city.
For more insights, check out Mark Barry’s online book, “How to Build a Metro,” where he dives deeper into these plans.
