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  1. ITV Report

Multi-million pound upgrade to improve Cardiff Central station

Artist impressions of the south side of Cardiff Central Station Credit: Artist impression/Cardiff Capital Region

Cardiff Central station is to undergo a multi-million pound upgrade to ease crowding and congestion.

The Department of Transport announced £58 million to improve access and upgrade platforms to cope with longer trains.

The UK Government says the upgrades will "ease crowding and congestion through the station during peak periods, drive forward regeneration and enable longer trains with more seats to serve the capital."

Credit: PA Images

Passengers in Cardiff deserve a modern, accessible station at the heart of their vibrant city centre.

This funding has the potential to deliver just that, ensuring more reliable, comfortable and faster journeys into and out of the capital.

It is imperative that the two governments in Wales work closely together – in doing so, this strengthens the Union and I look forward to receiving the proposals for an ambitious and deliverable business case.

– Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling

The announcement comes two years after Mr Grayling was criticised for a controversial decision to scrap plans for electrification of railway lines in areas of the UK including Wales.

The news was welcomed by Welsh Secretary, Alun Cairns MP, and he repeated the UK Government's pledge to progress plans for a West Wales Parkway station.

This funding will allow Cardiff to become an attractive tourist and commuter destination at a crucial time in the city’s regeneration.

We are also committing to progressing plans for a West Wales Parkway station, which will deliver time savings of up to a quarter of an hour from Pembrokeshire to Cardiff and increase local connectivity around Swansea to provide greater opportunities for the whole of the Swansea Bay City region.

– Secretary of State for Wales, Alun Cairns

The UK Government said this investment intends to build on the £5 billion the UK Government is investing on improving journeys for passengers on the Great Western Mainline between South Wales and London, targeted at introducing more reliable and faster services, new trains and more seats.

The UK Government says it wants to build a new West Wales Parkway station, near Swansea, to boost connectivity and capacity for passengers across the south and west of Wales.