First pictures show planned £140m redevelopment of Cardiff Central station

Major changes have been put forward for Cardiff Central railway station. They would see a new entrance built at the rear, changes on the platforms, and increasing capacity as well as more gates for passengers to enter and exit the station.

There will also be improved waiting, retail, and cycle storage facilities and better accessibility for those with reduced mobility if the £140m plans get approval. The money will come from the Department for Transport, Cardiff Capital Region, and the Welsh Government.

Cardiff Central is Wales' busiest railway station and the changes will require planning and a full business case approval, the result of which would be expected in the autumn. If approval were given the first works would begin at the south side of the station later this year. The main aim is to ease overcrowding and congestion as well as enabling better accessibility for those with reduced mobility. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here.

Chief commercial officer at TfW Alexia Course said: "Today we've revealed images which show what Cardiff Central could look like as part of plans to enhance the station. The investment of up to £140m means we can deliver improvements to Cardiff Central to make it fit for a capital city and sustain future growth.

"The proposals for the station form part of a wider significant investment going into transforming transport in central Cardiff including ambitious regeneration plans. We've submitted the full business case for the scheme and we'll soon be submitting the planning documents and if this is approved we can progress with the delivery of the enhancements."

Transport for Wales say the revamped station will be part of an integrated transport hub in the city centre known as Metro Central with the idea to improve connections between bus, rail, walking, wheeling, and cycling and encourage sustainable travel. The go-ahead for the £100m first phase of the Cardiff Crossrail project, with a new tram link from the city centre to Cardiff Bay, has already been confirmed.