Cardiff Central station car parks closing
Penarth Road car park at the southside of Cardiff Central station, and the Riverside (Fish Jetty) car park adjacent to platform 0 at the station, will permanently close from Wednesday 01 July. This includes pick-up and drop-off at both locations.
The closure of the car parks will allow us to start carrying out preparatory works so we can move forward with the start of construction works for the planned enhancements at Cardiff Central station and Cardiff Crossrail.
Parking is available nearby at Cardiff Central Quay multi-storey car park at the south of the station which is managed by Network Rail and operated by APCOA on behalf of Network Rail. If you have any queries about the multi-storey, please speak to a member of APCOA staff on site, or contact APCOA here. 20 minutes free drop off and pick up is available in all parking bays located at the multi-storey (except the spaces on the ground floor, which are designated for EV and EV accessible parking only). There is flexibility for customers with a valid disabled badge who may need more than 20 minutes, please speak to a member of APCOA staff on site.
Please note, the pedestrian route between the multi-storey and the southern entrance of the station will be longer compared to the current pedestrian route between the Penarth Road car park and the southern entrance. Please use the safe pedestrian route shown on the map. Please allow plenty of time to travel to and park in the multi-storey, and factor in time to get from the multi-storey to the station.
Please also allow extra time for pick-up and drop-off, as the pedestrian route will also be longer. If you normally use the Riverside (Fish Jetty) car park (including for pick-up and drop-off), please allow additional time to travel to and park in the multi-storey car park on the opposite side of the station.
If you have reduced mobility and have arranged passenger assistance at the station, please use the Cardiff Central Quay multi-storey for accessible drop-off / pick-up and parking. Please speak to a TfW colleague on arrival at the station.
Taxi pick-up and drop-off will continue to be located at the Saunders Road taxi rank at the north side of the station (except for event days). Cardiff Central Quay multi-storey can also be used as a pick-up and drop-off location for ride-sharing services and private hire vehicles (the 20 minute free pick-up and drop-off period applies).
Cardiff Central enhancements
We’re designing a transport system that works for everyone. As part of this transformational programme, we’re leading development work to improve Wales’ busiest rail station - Cardiff Central.
The visuals show what Cardiff Central could look like as a result of a major investment to enhance the station.
The full business case for the proposed improvements at Cardiff Central station has been approved by all funders, with planning permission secured in summer 2025.
Please note, images and fly-through shared are for illustrative purposes only and may change as designs progress.
We’re grateful to Amey and Cityscape, who we’ve worked closely with to bring the enhancements scheme to life through the virtual fly-through.
The planned enhancements at Cardiff Central will provide significant upgrades and improvements to the station, funded by up to £140 million from the Department for Transport, Cardiff Capital Region and the Welsh Government.
The enhancements scheme aims to alleviate overcrowding and congestion at the station and accommodate long-term passenger growth. It will also create an improved sense of place by transforming customer and colleague facilities, improving pedestrian flow, and enabling better accessibility for customers with reduced mobility. The scheme will enhance the look and feel of the station and improve the passenger environment while complementing the history and heritage of the building.
The Cardiff Central enhancements scheme forms part of a wider significant investment going into transforming transport in central Cardiff, including ambitious regeneration plans. The transformative work in Metro Central is being delivered through the Canolog alliance, a partnership of public sector organisations working together to transform travel in the heart of Cardiff. The Canolog alliance will work collaboratively to deliver transformational change to transport in Cardiff and the wider region to improve connections between bus, rail, walking, wheeling and cycling and encourage sustainable travel.
Celebrating Cardiff Central’s history and heritage
2025 marks the year Cardiff Central station turned 175 years old, in the same year that we celebrate 200 years of the railway. To mark this milestone, we’re celebrating the story of the station and its history.
The history of Cardiff Central station
