Five planned stations face delays – and one of them currently has no arrival time
FIVE new train stations planned to be built across Cardiff have been delayed and one of them currently has no arrival time at all.
The new stations – Crwys Road, Butetown, Gabalfa, Ely Mill and Cardiff East – would help connect currently under-served areas of Cardiff and make onward journeys easier and each has its own timescale.
Crwys Road and Butetown stations were planned to open this year, but work has not begun at Crwys Road.
The planned Cardiff East station – to be built near Newport Road – will serve an area starved of rail connection. Those travelling to England will be able to use this new service to get to Bristol and neighbouring areas without needing to first travel to Cardiff Central.
The stations are part of major rail improvements in the city and South Wales, with the new Metro system being created and electrification of many of the surrounding Valley Lines trains.
Crwys Road
Due: 2024
Expected arrival: 2025/2026
Crwys Road station is being built on the Rhymney Line as part of the Core Valley Lines transformation funded by Welsh Government, delivered by Transport for Wales.
The Rhymney Line runs from Cardiff Central through to Rhymney and Caerphilly, while there is also a branch line to Coryton. Currently, there is no station on the line between Heath High Level and Cardiff Queen Street, which are two miles apart.
“The final design solution is currently being developed. Construction of the station is set to begin once the designs are complete,” said a spokesperson for Transport for Wales.
This station will help commuters living in the Cathays area heading out of Cardiff up to Caerphilly and vice versa.
“I am really pleased that we are getting a new and up to date transport system for Cardiff,” said Councillor Norma Mackie.
“I think the new railway and metro network will be a real asset in getting people out of cars, which is so much better for our environment, and it will also make it easier and quicker for people to get into Cardiff and move around the city.”
However, not all locals are happy with the plans.
“The proposal lacks any sense of placemaking. The proposals presented are the cheapest available, using a residential street as its access without any regard for how this would impact the residents’ lives,” said Andrew Bermingham, who lives on Alexander Street.
“My family and I really do not wish to live within a station.”
Butetown
Due: 2024
Expected arrival: 2025
Butetown Station is to be constructed by 2025 as part of the transformation works to the Cardiff Bay Line. The station will sit between Cardiff Queen Street and Cardiff Bay.
“A new fully accessible two-platform station at Butetown is currently under construction, expected to be completed in 2025,” said a spokesperson for Transport for Wales.
Work began at the site on Lloyd George Avenue in January 2023. Initially, Butetown will connect to Queen Street station but not Cardiff Central.
Connectivity between Butetown and Cardiff Central will not take place until the first phase of the Cardiff Crossrail project. Cardiff Council cabinet members are scheduled to meet next Thursday (March 21st) to agree on a delivery partner for phase one, which will see the creation of a new tram-train line between Cardiff Central and Cardiff Bay railway station.
Cardiff East Station
Due: 2028
Expected arrival: Delayed
Cardiff East Station will host existing services and new Cardiff-to-Cheltenham and Cardiff-to-Bristol services.
“The next stage is to secure funding from UK Government to further develop the design and full business case for the programme,” said a spokesperson for Transport for Wales.
“We don’t have a confirmed timescale for delivery.”
The area is not served by rail currently and suffers from heavy traffic.
A public consultation has recently been held for these plans, but no date has been set by TfW for its opening.
Gabalfa
Due: 2028
Expected arrival: TBC
Gabalfa Station will be added to the Valleys line which serves Merthyr, Treherbert and Aberdare, which runs north from Cardiff Central.
“There has been some early development work undertaken to develop conceptual options and development will continue when funding is made available,” said a spokesperson for Transport for Wales.
Gabalfa will sit between Cathays and Llandaff which are three miles apart, providing easier transport for commuters living in the area.
“As a councillor for Gabalfa we are very keen for a station to be delivered as soon as possible to serve our residents, after campaigning for many years for it,” said Councillor Ashley Wood.
“We understand TfW are still aiming for 2028 but a lack of clarity over the funding commitments needed and apparent delays to other new stations on the metro raises concerns this station will not be delivered on time either.”
Ely Mill
Due: 2024
Expected arrival: Delayed
The Ely Mill station would be on the City Line that runs from Radyr to Cardiff Central, between Waun-Gron Park and Ninian Park.
About 800 new homes have recently been built in the area, meaning demand for good public transport links are even higher.
“Plans for a station at Ely Mill are still in an early development stage. We are working with the UKG (UK Government) via the Wales Rail Board to identify the priorities for rail investment in Wales,” said a Welsh Government spokesperson.
The Welsh Government submitted a bid to the UK Government’s New Stations Fund for the construction of Ely Mill, but this was rejected as the business case did not meet the requirements to have the station completed by 31 March 2024.
That means Ely Mill is still planned but will not go ahead until further funding is secured, and it is currently unclear when that might happen.
