Major revamp of Wales' busiest station gets go-ahead

Plans for a major revamp of Wales' busiest railway station have received final approval.

The £140m upgrades to Cardiff Central - including a new brick arch rear entrance, larger concourse and improved waiting areas - aim to support passenger growth and reduce overcrowding.

Better accessibility for people with reduced mobility and additional retail and cycle facilities are also among the changes.

Work is due to start in the middle of next year with the aim of completing most of it within three years.

The station will remain open during the works.

Around 35,000 passengers a day use the station, which increases during concerts and rugby internationals, the Department for Transport said.

The scheme is being led by Transport for Wales, with the funding made up of £78m from the UK Department for Transport (DfT), £40m from the Cardiff Capital Region City Deal and £21m from the Welsh government.

The DfT money is part of £445m for rail improvements across Wales announced in Chancellor Rachel Reeves' spending review in June.

UK Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the changes would "transform the experience of the millions of passengers who use the station every year", while also improving connectivity with "the rest of Wales and beyond".

Welsh government Transport Secretary Ken Skates welcomed a "major milestone" to upgrade the station, which he said was a "key hub" on the South Wales Metro, which includes a promise to provide twice the number of services, as well as new stations.

He said the investment would "modernise and enhance the station, benefitting passengers and accommodating our ambitions for long term growth".

Skates added that the newly revamped Wales Rail Board would also meet for the first time on Thursday to "discuss future projects such as this and relevant funding".

Plaid Cymru Westminster transport spokesperson Ann Davies welcomed the investment but warned Wales' rail network faced "persistent problems - from delays and cancellations to ageing infrastructure and stations in desperate need of upgrades".

"The pittance handed to Wales by the UK government does nothing to address this deep-rooted neglect of Welsh rail," she said.

Cardiff Central station opened in 1850 as Cardiff station, was renamed Cardiff General in 1924 and was given its current name in 1973.

People in Cardiff had mixed opinions about the renovations.

Jackie Watkins said she felt the ticket barriers needed to be updated, adding there had been queues that morning.

Nathan said he disliked the station on matchdays, particularly the long queues.

"I get the train to Bristol a lot and every time its delayed and I think that is probably due to congestion on the platforms," he said.

Kathryn, who is from Wales but lives in London, said the station had already been "beautifully renovated" in the centre of Cardiff.

"So hopefully [the renovation] is practical for everyone coming in and out," she said, adding that her daughter was at university in the city and uses the station regularly.

"My mum and auntie live up the Valleys and luckily the train line up there has just been upgraded so they are very happy - more shopping opportunities."

But she said she would like to see efforts made to encourage people to use trains more than cars, including by lowering train fares.