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This is how a revamped Cardiff Central Train Station will look if plans for a multi-million pound project to transform it into a 21st century transport hub capable of handling up to 32 million passengers a year by 2043 are given the go-ahead.

Last year Network Rail Wales outlined early stage visionary plans maintaining its 1920s built listed facade, but seeing the station redeveloped to provide a modern environment for passengers with new retail outlets throughout.

Facade redesign

Early stage design

Latest design

The initial plans were for a glass box design coming out from the front of the station, with a wave designed roof.

But now architects Powell Dobson have amended the designs so the front of the station doesn't encroach as much on the proposed new 150,000 sq ft headquarters for BBC Cymru Wales - on the site of the existing bus station.

Interior station design options

The options under consideration are whether to have retail underneath the existing platforms with passenger access to train services or, similar to the recent revamp of Reading Station, to have retail and access above track level.

Factors such as cost and construction disruption, the amount of retail space and "circulation" areas for passengers, will now be looked at in greater detail before the final business case and costings are submitted by Network Rail Wales' team, headed by its route managing director Mark Langman.

Until these options are investigated, Network Rail said it was too early to give any indicative cost for the proposed project and what the total square footage of retail would be.

However, last year's vision stage suggested the expanded concourse could provide 40,000 sq ft of new retail space with a mezzanine floor.

And based on developing below track level it would see a 30-metre public throughfare at the heart of the station with retail space along its length.

Why the station needs investment

Earlier this year Network Rail published its long-term planning document for projects in its draft Welsh routes study.

Cardiff Train Station passenger numbers 13 million 2013 passenger numbers 22 million 2023 32 million 2043 Cardiff Train Station passenger numbers

It identified that the station is in urgent need of investment due to projected increases in annual passenger numbers.

The station currently handles 13 million passengers a year, but by 2043 this is projected to reach up to 32 million, a rise of 144%.

Network Rail Wales is working on the proposals with transport consultancy Steer Davies Gleaves.

The team have been working on a design panel as part of the wider Central Square project immediately in front of the station with developer Rightacres, BBC Wales, and Cardiff Council, which last month unveiled plans for a replacement for the current bus station with plans for its Interchange scheme.

Related:What next at Central Square? Two-and-a-half year timeline for work to create city's new bus station

There will be a ground level covered link between the Interchange and any new look station.

So what next?

Along with other Network Rail infrastructure projects proposals for Wales, including electrification of the North Wales Mainline, and the rest of the UK, effectively a shopping list of schemes for the UK Government's Department for Transport to back will then be published in the so called initial industry plan in September next year.

It will then be for the UK Government to decide which projects it will take forward in its next five year investment programme, carried out by Network Rail from 2019-24, which is known as control period six.

The identify of those projects that will be taken forward in CP6 should be revealed in 2017.

If approved preparatory work could start ahead of 2019 at Cardiff Station.

This would ensure it would hit the ground running and could be completed potentially before 2024.

Network Rail view

Mr Langman said: "Our railway is carrying almost 50% more passengers than we were 10 years ago and that number is predicted to grow significantly in the years ahead, with up to 32 million passengers forecast to use Cardiff Central station by 2043."

He added: "There is still more to do to meet future demand and to build a station fit for a capital city.

"The Welsh Route Study Draft for Consultation sets out a number of investment choices for funders to meet increased passenger and freight demand, including a major redevelopment of Cardiff Central station and plans to modernise the railway across North Wales.

"Investment across the route will help to improve journeys for passengers and help to build a bigger and better railway that Wales and the borders can be proud of.”

“Work we are already doing over the next five years will make a huge difference, including electrifying parts of the railway and installing new signalling to help deliver improved reliability and the potential for more and faster journeys."

Electrification of the Great Western Mainline

A review of £38bn of projects in CP5, due to delays and rising costs, is currently being conducted by the Department for Transport.

But the UK Government said that electrification of the Great Western Mainline from Paddington to Swansea is a top priority.

Although we will have to wait and see if the project reaches Swansea by the initial target date of 2018.

Current projects at Cardiff

As part of a £20m investment project, which has already seen a revamping of Queen St Station, a number of projects are currently being worked on at Cardiff Station.

This will see a new station building, with a modern ticketing office, at the south side of the station officially opened before the Rugby World Cup this autumn.

Related story:Latest on the South Wales Metro project.

Mr Langman said: "At the end of August, we will open a new entrance at the south side of Cardiff Central station which will provide additional station capacity – allowing even more people to use the busiest station in Wales.

"This builds on the work we have done at Cardiff Queen Street station, which includes a new station entrance, new lifts and two extra platforms.

"We have also completed new platforms at Tir-phil, Pontypridd, Barry Town Station and Caerphilly as part of the Cardiff Area Signalling Renewal project to improve the reliability of rail services for passengers across South Wales."

Work on the new platform eight, which will accommodate Valley Lines services, will be opened in December next year.