Wales to pay millions for non-devolved train station scheme

THE Welsh Government said that a £140m revamp of Cardiff Central railway station would not be possible without it making a major financial contribution, despite it being a non-devolved rail asset.

- SION BARRY

How Cardiff Central could look after an investment programme of up to £140m to enhance the station

Earlier this month, the business case for upgrading the biggest station in Wales was signed off by the UK Government's Department for Transport (DfT).

The breakdown of the funding is around £22m from the Welsh Government, £77.8m from the DfT and £40m from the Cardiff Capital Region via its £1.2bn now nearly fully invested City Deal, jointly funded by the UK and Welsh governments.

The station, while leased and operated by the Welsh Government's transport body, Transport for Wales, is owned by Network Rail and ultimately the UK Government.

The station currently handles around 13 million passengers a year, but with the £1bn electrification of the Core Valley Lines which will see its first turn-up-and-go tram-trains being pressed into service next year this could rise to more than 20 million over the next decade.

The upgrade of the station will not add any new platform or track capacity, apart from platform zero being extended, but will provide a larger concourse to increase capacity and improve passenger access through additional gate lines.

There will also be a new entrance, with a brick arch, on its south side.

The majority of work is scheduled to be completed in time for the hosting of the opening game of the Euro 2028 men's football tournament at the Principality Stadium.

The DfT was asked why the project, at a non-devolved station, is being nearly half funded by the Welsh Government and the Cardiff Capital Region.