South Wales 'Metro' updates

[tigermonstera]

Cardiff Council are planning to approve the construction contract for Crossrail 1A next month:

Cardiff CrossRail Phase 1A - Construction Contract Award
CrossRail Phase 1A will be ready to start construction in 2026. The ECI Stage 1 ‘Detailed Design Phase’ is nearing completion. To move to ECI Stage 2 ‘Construction Phase’, a cabinet approval is needed due to the value of the construction contract.

Decision due: 19 Mar 2026 by Cabinet

 

[Envoy]

Callaghan Square - work has already started with the vegetation now being removed in preparation to rip everything up.

 

[Smwrff]

Just a thought .... should Crossrail discussion be in Light Rail, Metro & Trams section??

 

[athro]

Just a thought .... should Crossrail discussion be in Light Rail, Metro & Trams section??

No.

 

[Envoy]

Just a thought .... should Crossrail discussion be in Light Rail, Metro & Trams section??

No because we would end up in a hell of a mess. Best to keep everything in one place on this thread.

 

[Woolos 22]

No because we would end up in a hell of a mess. Best to keep everything in one place on this thread.

I agree that it should go in light railway as most of the line will not be network rail track

 

[Smwrff]

I suggest this because this is a street running tram not conventional rail and because Crossrail is not strictly part of Metro as it is a Cardiff Council project (although with strong TfW backing).

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Mar 2026 ==

I agree that it should go in light railway as most of the line will not be network rail track

Strictly speaking the Core Valley Lines are not Network Rail track either...they have been transferred to TfW.

 

[WelshBluebird]

Strictly speaking the Core Valley Lines are not Network Rail track either...they have been transferred to TfW.

The services still travel over network rail track in and around Cardiff Central though. It isn't a totally isolated network.

 

[edwin_m]

Most of it is heavy rail, a small bit will be line of sight operation and part of that will be in a street environment. Some of the units can operate over the line of sight part but others can't. Most of it is TfW infrastructure but part is still Network Rail. So trying to split it up would just be a mess.

 

[VR494]

The image internal is that once commissioned, Cardiff Bay will have it's own depot, and tram driver's recruited to operate the cross rail elements.

There has to be a line drawn at some point, and even though they are tram-trains, the heavy rail needs to be kept seperate. Otherwise there's going to be issues around competency and the risks of procedures being applied in the wrong areas of the business.

The valleys could do with a lot more investment in terms of the infrastructure, some of the stations are in a state of neglect already.

 

[SWML9102]

I see TfW will be trialling a new post event queueing arrangement in Cardiff, which involves Valleys passengers using Queen Street instead of Central. This is to cater for Metro works taking over large parts of the area South of Central station - the area previously used for the queue for Valleys trains.

 

[MikePJ]

A quick update on the Cardiff Bay branch:

At Butetown, construction on the Bute Street side has resumed, with brickwork being laid that looks like it will form the support for the staircase up to the platform. Nothing much seems to have changed on the Lloyd George Avenue side.

At Cardiff Bay, the paving on the pedestrian plaza at the end of the platforms is gradually being laid, but it seems to be taking forever. There's no sign of any construction work on the platform building.

Also, the works on the corner Callaghan Square nearest Bute St, which I think were ground investigations or possibly confirming the position of utilities, have all finished and the site's been reopened to pedestrians.

 

[tigermonstera]

New Crossrail timeline released today:

• March 2026: Proposed Cabinet Approval for NEC4 Option C ECC Stage2 Construction Contract.
• March-April 2026: Statutory TRO Consultation.
• May 2026: Finalisation of Detailed Design and Target Cost.
• June 2026: Issue Notice to Proceed.
• June 2026: Works start on site.
• Summer 2028: Construction completion.

Upon completion of the project, all public realm and highway assets will be operated and maintained by Cardiff Council. Rail and tram-based assets, including the operation of CrossRail as a tram service, will fall under Transport for Wales (TfW).

The CrossRail project will facilitate the installation of a section of heat network pipework within the public realm. This element will be funded separately but delivered in coordination with the main works.

 

[AdamWW]

I see TfW will be trialling a new post event queueing arrangement in Cardiff, which involves Valleys passengers using Queen Street instead of Central. This is to cater for Metro works taking over large parts of the area South of Central station - the area previously used for the queue for Valleys trains.

Yes interesting that.

If I recall correctly, it was suggested that after the latest rebuild of Queen Street they would start doing this, but it didn't happen because there wasn't anywhere for people to queue outside.
Maybe the road outside is available - is that one of the roads that closes on match days?

 

[Tomos y Tanc]

I see TfW will be trialling a new post event queueing arrangement in Cardiff, which involves Valleys passengers using Queen Street instead of Central. This is to cater for Metro works taking over large parts of the area South of Central station - the area previously used for the queue for Valleys trains.

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tfw.wales

This makes sense, particularly as more and more CVL services terminate at Cardiff Bay.

 

[SWML9102]

Yes interesting that.

If I recall correctly, it was suggested that after the latest rebuild of Queen Street they would start doing this, but it didn't happen because there wasn't anywhere for people to queue outside.
Maybe the road outside is available - is that one of the roads that closes on match days?

A lot more challenging to design a queuing system for Queen Street. The station subways and platforms are a lot more contained than at Central. I believe Guildford St and Station Terrace are normally closed with access for buses only but I can't see that would be enough if there are large crowds. I wonder if Churchill Way could also be closed - there is more circulating space there, although it is 200 m or so from the station entrance.

 

[positron]

Really queen Street should get a minimal back entrance, that would make it far more useful on event days. But I guess with the motor point moving the area might get quieter in the long run.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Mar 2026 ==

Given how slow progress has been in Cardiff Bay I've got to wonder can they feasibly relay out an entire major road system, remove and remodel a car park, lay the necessary tram lines across this, build the ramp up onto the existing bay lines, and then also build the extra spur and third platform in *2 years*.

 

[CapitalStar378]

Really queen Street should get a minimal back entrance, that would make it far more useful on event days. But I guess with the motor point moving the area might get quieter in the long run.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 6 Mar 2026 ==

Given how slow progress has been in Cardiff Bay I've got to wonder can they feasibly relay out an entire major road system, remove and remodel a car park, lay the necessary tram lines across this, build the ramp up onto the existing bay lines, and then also build the extra spur and third platform in *2 years*.

Seems very doable, it's a very short section of track. The Bay works line works have been ridiculously slow, 3 years to half build a new station and 3/4 rebuild another one, plus a short section of OLE, is pretty astounding. I heard on a Rail Focus video on YouTube that there had been ground issues discovered during the works, but it's also obviously not been a priority for TfW due to the 398 situation.

Hopefully with the Euros in 2028 there will be an actual goal to work towards with this project.

 

[56xx]

I see TfW will be trialling a new post event queueing arrangement in Cardiff, which involves Valleys passengers using Queen Street instead of Central. This is to cater for Metro works taking over large parts of the area South of Central station - the area previously used for the queue for Valleys trains.

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tfw.wales

It's 1.5 km from the Taff side exits of the Principality Stadium to Queen Street Station entrance. That's a challenging walk for many.

 

[D6130]

It's 1.5 km from the Taff side exits of the Principality Stadium to Queen Street Station entrance. That's a challenging walk for many.

There are several pubs en route to break up the journey!

 

[Kite159]

There are several pubs en route to break up the journey!

Which might be needed after another classic welsh whitewash in the Rugby

 

[Tomos y Tanc]

It's 1.5 km from the Taff side exits of the Principality Stadium to Queen Street Station entrance. That's a challenging walk for many.

Easy enough to provide a disabled persons shuttle, I'd have thought. They come as standard at music festivals, airports etc.

 

[AdamWW]

Easy enough to provide a disabled persons shuttle, I'd have thought. They come as standard at music festivals, airports etc.

Even easier to just let people with limited mobility board at Central. I presume the trains will still be making a call there for people who are changing, just as they call at Queen Street when it's "closed".

 

[VR494]

The wires for the Cardiff Bay branch are still on schedule for the 22nd, and the pilot course for the 398 training is nearly complete, which will allow tier 2 instructors to be trained in April.

Tfw has missed a massive opportunity with the metro, and could have delivered aspects of it, with enhancements earlier. The wires on the TAM were live for months, while 756's stood ready to be used in Barry sidings.

Also, if they had not gone for the timetable change when they did in May 2024, the Coryton line would not have suffered, and you could have possibly seen 756's already running to Bridgend and Barry Island from the heads of the valleys.

Crew's would now already have been trained, and the switch to the Rhymney line would not have been such an issue, as it stands.

The trial for the 14th, using Queen Street as a hub for Valley services, is something that needs to happen for the new Tram-Train timetable that is to follow. Not to mention the fact the WA wants to focus custom from the valleys towards the new development of bars and food outlets etc.

The station will not being seeing any changes to the dispatch arrangements (self dispatch), and there is also the issue of traffic management, Churchill Way is used for major bus services to the east of the city during event days.

 

[LlanishenBull]

Even easier to just let people with limited mobility board at Central. I presume the trains will still be making a call there for people who are changing, just as they call at Queen Street when it's "closed".

I hope so.

I'll be travelling from Heath to Hereford and back next Saturday. Rugby days are awkward enough already for non rugby travellers when changing at Central.

 

[MikePJ]

The wires for the Cardiff Bay branch are still on schedule for the 22nd

Here’s a notice at Cardiff Bay station, saying wires are to be considered live from 0900 on 23rd March.

 

[tigermonstera]

Cardiff Council have released a presentation for their next Environmental Scrutiny Committee meeting which shows the current phasing for the full Crossrail project:

• Phase 1a - Central to Bay (Stage 3)
• Phase 1b - Bay to Pierhead Street (Stage 2)
• Phase 2 - Central Ramp / Junction Works (Stage 1)
• Phase 3 - Pierhead Street to Newport Road (Stage 2)
• Phase 4 - Fairwater to Creigiau (Stage 0)

(Source)

 

[positron]

Phase 2 - Central Ramp / Junction Works, hmm I wonder what junction works this is? Presumably something beyond the extra track at Cardiff West that's already funded and planned?

 

[GilfachFargoed]

Here’s a notice at Cardiff Bay station, saying wires are to be considered live from 0900 on 23rd March.

Thus informing any potential cable thieves that they have only 11 days left to help themselves? I recall NR publicly stating similar on a scheme near Wigan, only for the overhead cables to be stolen as a result...

 

[sefyllian]

Phase 2 - Central Ramp / Junction Works, hmm I wonder what junction works this is? Presumably something beyond the extra track at Cardiff West that's already funded and planned?

Presumably the new junction just to the west of Cardiff Central platforms 7/8 that will result from building the ramp up from the tram platforms to join the mainline there.