Transport for Wales and Cardiff Council hope the proposals will mean “faster and more frequent services” in the city.

Plans for the tram through Cardiff. Pic: The Urbanists

Plans for a tram through the city of Cardiff have been launched.

The proposals would directly connect Cardiff Central and Cardiff Bay stations by rail for the first time.

Transport for Wales (TfW) has begun a six-week consultation to hear the views of its customers.

TfW is working with Cardiff Council to deliver Cardiff Crossrail.

The aim of the project is to “allow faster and more frequent services” in the city, which next year will play host to the opening performances in Oasis

As part of the scheme, a new two-platform station will be located in the southern car park of Cardiff Central station.

The proposed route for the tramway is through Callaghan Square, before it joins the existing Cardiff Bay line.

The station at Cardiff Bay will see a third platform built there, in addition to the second being constructed as part of the South Wales Metro.

The council says Cardiff Crossrail will eventually connect the northwest of the city to the east of the city.

Councillor Dan De’Ath, Cardiff Council’s cabinet member with responsibility for transport, said the project would “connect some of the most deprived communities in Cardiff to the railway network for the first time”.

TfW’s chief infrastructure officer Dan Tipper said he hoped the tramway would encourage “more people to leave their cars at home”.

A series of drop-in events will be held before the end of October to give members of the public the opportunity to find out more about the plans.