Plans for the first phase of Cardiff Crossrail have taken a forward with the appointment of project consultants.
Cardiff Council has appointed engineering and environmental professional services consultancy WSP and construction, property and management consultants Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB) to provide programme and cost management services for the project. The scheme has secured £100m in committed funding - with £50m from the 海角视频 Government’s Levelling Up Fund alongside a matched contribution from the Welsh Government.
The project envisages two dedicated new platforms integrated into Cardiff Central Station with the line then running across Callaghan Square, before linking up with the existing heavy rail line running alongside Lloyd George Avenue and reaching a new station at Pierhead Street. The light rail network is being seen as a key public transport project linking the city centre with Cardiff Bay, and through the redevelopment of Atlantic Wharf with a new indoor arena at its heart.
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However, it is unclear, with infrastructure inflation pressures, whether £100m will be enough to get it as far as Pierhead Street. The commitment funding will also need to finance a re-configuration of the road network in and around Callaghan Square.
Moreover, Network Rail needs to ensure that its plans for commercial development at its 10-acre site south of Cardiff Central Station, don’t dilute the positive public transport impact of Crossrail. It has appointed Hawkins Brown to head up a masterplanning team for a project which it said would “improve connectivity and deliver homes within a new mixed-use neighbourhood creating a new entrance gateway for the Welsh capital.” It intends to submit a planning application later this year.
The land is next to the Central Quay development, on the former Brains brewery site, from Rightacres Property. The Cardiff-based firm will deliver a new 695 space multi-storey car park for Network Rail, which will allow for development on an existing surface car park area. At Central Quay work started last year on more than 700 build-to-rent apartments overlooking the River Taff. Construction work is being undertaken by Watkin Jones on behalf of L&G.
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So, whatever plans Network Rail bring forward, they need to be sensitively designed around already worked up plans for Crossrail from the council and Transport for Wales. This means ensuring dedicated platforms are integrated into Cardiff Train Station (which is also being upgraded), as well as connecting to the City Line to the west and allowing services from the Valleys through to Cardiff Bay. This will also take pressure off Queen Street Station. The context here is that Network Rail is a custodian of a publicly-owned asset and its primary purpose has to be maintaining and enhancing the 海角视频’s rail infrastructure. Providing its masterplan is wholly supportive of Crossrail, it should then consider appropriate commercial development on its site.
Over the next five years, WSP will work with its cost consultant partners RLB to provide strategic support to deliver phase one of Crossrail. These services will include high-level programme management, cost analysis and cost management. WSP will also support Cardiff Council in appointing a lead design organisation that will manage the design integration of each project area.
The WSP and RLB team will co-locate with Cardiff Council officials. Steve Wharton, project director at WSP, said: “Transformative rail infrastructure holds significant potential to drive economic growth and increase prosperity within our communities. Cardiff Crossrail is a fantastic project to be involved in and we’re looking forward to bringing our expert local knowledge and world-leading light-rail capability to help make it a reality.”
Andy Stamps, national head of infrastructure for RLB 海角视频 said: “We know the role that great transportation systems play as drivers of regeneration, economic growth and social mobility of regions. Working with the teams at WSP, Transport for Wales and Cardiff Council, we are looking forward to helping provide a robust rail system that will add social value to the Cardiff area.”