'Totally nauseating for the majority of people in Wales' Cardiff tram plan sparks criticism
'Totally nauseating for the majority of people in Wales' Cardiff tram plan sparks criticism
"When are they ever going to spend money in other parts of Wales that are falling apart?'
Trams are seen as a more sustainable form of transport
(Image: The Urbanists )
Wales Online readers are somewhat sceptical about plans for Cardiff to welcome its first trams in decades and the opening of a new railway station off Newport Road. The city council has unveiled five images depicting the initial phase of Cardiff's new tram system, which is slated to open in 2028.
The Welsh and UK governments have agreed to fund the £100m first phase of the project, dubbed Cardiff Crossrail, which will see tram-trains running from Central station down to the Bay.
The plans involve some traffic re-routing around Callaghan Square, which is the path the trams will take from the central station down to the Bay. The hope is to construct a short piece of linking track that would allow tram trains to continue onto the existing rail network, enabling services to run further afield.
However, these long-term visions hinge on future funding, which is not believed to be included in the Chancellor's £445m spending commitment announced in last week's spending review. The Chancellor's announcement did include funding for a junction at Cardiff west, which is crucial to the future plans by allowing an increase in the number of services able to run on the City and Coryton lines to four an hour.
The aim is for the first phase of the new tram link, running from Cardiff Central Station to Cardiff Bay, to be operational by the summer of 2028.
Dan Tipper, Chief Infrastructure Officer at Transport for Wales, expressed his hopes for the new tramway: "Our ambition is that the new tramway will contribute towards a more sustainable transport network for Cardiff, which will encourage more people to leave their cars at home and instead choose more sustainable ways to travel."
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Commenter TaffintheRaf says: 'In China, once a project has been given the go ahead, the applicants have a maximum of 5 years to complete the work otherwise there are huge penalties. Surely, since the money has been allocated, the whole project can be finished in 5 years?'
StevenBoyd is not convinced: 'It took nine years to build a bus station which is totally unsuitable and requires a half mile walk if connecting with a coach.'
Taf1956 agrees: '"Will" will soon change to "probably won't" as the planning process drags on for a decade or so, at great expense of course. With loads of money going to "consultants" before the whole idea is shelved.'
IronPaws writes: 'This will just be serving empty office buildings. When are they ever going to spend money in other parts of Wales that are falling apart?'
Jackambition agrees: 'Any chance we could have a tram from Swansea Marina to Mumbles to replace the Mumbles train or does Wales finish in Cardiff?'
Littlenell adds: 'Can we have the Carmarthen to Aberystwyth line re-instated please, as the good people of Cardiff can probably walk or cycle the length of the tram line?'
Ilco feels it is: 'Totally nauseating for the majority of people in Wales whose transport services are so bad that they could not get anywhere close to Cardiff without a car.'
Barrian asks: 'Why not just buy loads of buses which can go anywhere in Wales (and beyond)? All this money just so the AMs don't have to walk a couple of hundred metres from Cardiff Bay station.'
Davebuses agrees: 'The 'ambition' is to extend from Bute Street to Pierhead Street - a five minute walk. Surely up Saint Mary Street to the castle would be far more useful?'
Scarsdaleblue wonders: 'Are the roads wide enough to cope with cars, bike lanes and trams?'
Bobbythegunner replies: 'Cars will be banned. It's the next step. Have you not seen the thin end of the wedge over the past few years?'
Migwan points out: 'The bottom line is - people will leave their cars at home if there's reliable and affordable public transport. Something that the trains are not. Hopefully they'll get the money together to fully fund it how they want it and not just be a single phased pipe dream.'
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Windway thinks: 'Reducing vehicle access east/west further is a big mistake, we never see a plan to widen, construct, repair or improve a road. Blinkered transport plan as usual.'
How do you feel about the new tram plans? Do you think it will work and will it come to fruition? Have your say in our comments section.
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