Wales releases £100m for Cardiff Crossrail, service due by 2029

The Welsh government and the central government's Levelling Up Fund have released GBP 100 million (EUR 115 million) for phase 1a of Cardiff Crossrail: a direct tram-train link is to connect Cardiff Central with Cardiff Bay, today the terminus of a branch line that is not linked to the main station, with a two-platform tram stop beside Cardiff Central and a third platform at Cardiff Bay. The contractor Graham has been planning and preparing the scheme for Cardiff Council and Transport for Wales since late 2024; construction contracts were due to be awarded in spring 2026, and phase 1b would later extend the line to the harbour. Announced on 26 March 2026; the date is a placeholder: the article names only 2029 as the year the line is to be ready for operation (LOK Report, 26 Mar 2026).