Under an early contractor involvement deal, the city council and Transport for Wales will now work with Graham during the early stages of the contract to manage the cost of the design and how the project will be built.
Both the Welsh and UK Governments have confirmed £50m each to back the initial phase of the tram project from Cardiff Central railway station to Cardiff Bay.
Initial delivery phases
Phase 1a) Cardiff Central to Cardiff Bay Station.
This fully funded phase will require a significant redevelopment of the highway network around Callaghan Square, so the tram can connect onto the existing Cardiff Bay train line, as well as a new tram/train platform at Cardiff Central.
Phase 1b) Cardiff Bay Station to Pierhead Street.
This phase isn’t currently funded but will include the re-modelling of the highway network around the Flourish and Pierhead Street to allow for a new tram track extension to be built.
Earlier this year, Cardiff council appointed consultants WSP and Rider Levett Bucknall to provide programme and cost management services for the project.
A Cardiff Council spokesperson said: “It is great news that we have had the funding confirmed from both the UK and Welsh Government.
“This means that the detailed work can now begin, with the detailed design set to be complete by Autumn 2025 and work on the ground due to start at the end of next year.
“Under the current programme of works, the construction could be complete by early 2028, with trams running on the track from later that year.
“The Cardiff Crossrail is an ambitious plan to deliver Cardiff’s new tram transport system which will eventually run from the northwest of the city, all the way to the east of the city connecting with the proposed Parkway Station.”
