A £100m contract for the detailed design and construction of the first phase of the Cardiff Crossrail tram-train project has been awarded to Graham, Britain.
The contract award follows confirmation from the British government of £50m of financing for the scheme, which has been matched by the Welsh government.
Phase 1a of the project is now fully funded and will involve construction of new light rail infrastructure from a designated tram-train platform at Cardiff Central mainline station via Callaghan Square to the existing heavy rail line to Cardiff Bay. This work will require significant remodelling of the road network around the square and the station.
Detailed design of the project is scheduled for completion by autumn 2025, with construction starting by the end of next year for completion in early 2028. Services are expected to begin later that year.
Under the early contractor involvement deal, Graham will work closely with Cardiff Council and Transport for Wales (TfW) during the initial phases of the project. The partnership aims to effectively manage design costs and streamline construction processes.
Phase 1b is currently unfunded and proposes extending tram-train infrastructure from Cardiff Bay station to Pierhead Street.
The Cardiff Crossrail project is a key component of Cardiff’s new light rail network, which will eventually extend from the northwest to the east of the city, connecting with the proposed Parkway station.
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