16.01.18
Cardiff Capital Region agrees plans for £180m transport hub
Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) has agreed a deal in principle to develop a £180m transport hub, encompassing the city’s train and bus services.
The plan is expected to cost £180m in total, with £40m coming from CCR City Deal funding and the rest sought from the UK Government, Welsh Government, and the private sector.
Known as Metro Central, the project aims to bring together a new central bus station, and a modernised Cardiff Central station, as well as offering a new coach station, a cycle hub and general improvements in the area.
The aim of the upgrade is to promote growth in the city while increasing the capacity of the current transport hub to accommodate any new services brought about through projects like the South Wales Metro development.
Cllr Andrew Morgan, chair of the CCR Cabinet, said his organisation was “delighted” to offer support to what he called a “transformational project.”
“Anyone who travels into and through Cardiff is very aware of the desperate need for improvements to the transport infrastructure, and the anticipated rapid growth of the capital city means this project is absolutely critical,” he explained.
“I think it is important to stress that this a project which will benefit all of the region, particularly if we are to see the introduction of a new 15-minute service between the Valleys main lines and Cardiff under the South Wales Metro plans.
“85% of Cardiff’s recent job growth arises from an increase in net commuting into the city from adjacent communities, and it is critical this continued growth is supported with the appropriate infrastructure.”
Cardiff Central, one of the city’s main stations, was expanded recently, with the development of an eighth platform at the station completed towards the end of 2016.
However, the Welsh capital is expected to grow quickly in the coming years – in part due to increased transport availability – causing local leaders to look at ways to ease congestion on rail services.
This is the second major funding commitment to come from the CCR City Deal since its conception in March last year.
The other was a £38m investment towards the establishment of a major facility for the production of compound semiconductors, a plan which is hoped to create jobs and return investment for other schemes.
Top image: Benjamin Wright PA Archive
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