This Autumn, preparations will begin in Cardiff on the construction of a new railway station at Butetown and the redevelopment of Cardiff Bay station on the Cardiff Bay line.
The new Butetown station is in the northern part of Butetown and will have two platforms. Construction is scheduled to start in December this year. The new station is part of the biggest upgrade to public transport in the area for a generation.
Redevelopment of Cardiff Bay station will include a second platform, new signage, customer information screens, and other enhancements.
All upgrades made to the station's signage will be bilingual using technology developed with TfW's station brand toolkit. While the redevelopment is taking place, the station will remain open for passengers.
As well as the new Butetown station, a new track is to be installed that will allow faster and more frequent services using new tram-trains, with a new timetable scheduled to come into operation in spring 2024.
Previous plans for improvements to the Cardiff Bay Line included a Metro station at Loudoun Square and a short extension to The Flourish. Those were revised at the end of 2020, then in 2021 it was agreed that a station further north of Loudoun Square would provide better access for the wider Butetown community, and would also allow for an east to west crossing at Loudoun Square. The review also found that retaining Cardiff Bay station would provide better access to local amenities.
The plans are in line with a wider vision, including a new station on Pierhead Street and the option of further line extensions. Later this year, Transport for Wales will hold public discussions on options for extending the line to Cardiff Central and east towards Newport Road.
Residents in Cardiff Bay who live close to the railway line have been contacted with details of the work. That will begin this autumn when a construction compound will be built on the trackside of Lloyd George Avenue to store materials and provide welfare facilities for workers.
James Price, Transport for Wales Chief Executive, commented:
“The Bay Line transformation project is an important part of the South Wales Metro and we're delighted to be able to start work on the brand-new station in Butetown before the end of the year.
“From 2024 we'll be providing a smoother, greener, modern public transport service which will open up a range of opportunities for people living in Butetown and the wider Cardiff Bay area.
“We're keen to work collaboratively with local residents through workshops and drop-in sessions and we're proud to sponsor this year's Butetown Carnival, where people will be able to get more information and ask questions about the Bay Line transformation.”
Not forgetting a new railway station to the east of Cardiff Central called Cardiff Parkway or Cardiff East Parkway.