Cardiff Central railway station

Address and directions

Cardiff Central Station
Central Square
Cardiff
Cardiff
CF10 1EP

Buy tickets

Ticket office opening hours

Monday: 05:40 to 21:30
Tuesday: 05:40 to 21:30
Wednesday: 05:40 to 21:30
Thursday: 05:40 to 21:30
Friday: 05:40 to 21:30
Saturday: 05:40 to 21:30
Sunday: 07:30 to 21:30

Where is it?

Cardiff Central is located at Central Square in Cardiff city centre. It’s a Grade II listed building, easy to spot thanks to its grand stature and location in the heart of this historic city. Find things to do in Cardiff and buy your Advance tickets with no booking fees today. Want to know how busy your train to or from Cardiff Central is likely to be? Use our handy capacity checker.

Station facilities

Parking
Shops
Step-free access
Ticket machine
Ticket office
Toilets
Wifi

This is automated information from www.NationalRailEnquiries.co.uk (opens in new window).

General service information
- Staffing Level
  
  Full time
- Closed Circuit Television
- Information Available From Staff
  
  Yes - from ticket office
- CIS
  - Departure Screens
  - Arrival Screens
  - Announcements
- Customer Help Points
Ticket buying and collection
- Ticket Office
- Prepurchase Collection
  
  Ticket Office: Yes
  Ticket Machine: Yes
- Ticket Machine
- Oystercard Issued
- Use Oystercard
- Always Show Oyster Card Fields
- Smartcard Issued
- Smartcard Topup
  
  Ticket Office: Yes
  Ticket Machine: Yes
- Smartcard Validator
- Penalty Fares
  
  Train Operator: AW
  Url: https://tfwrail.wales/policies-and-reports/revenue-protection-policy
All station facilities
- First Class Lounge
  
  Located on Platform 1
  All First Class tickets accepted.
  A comfortable modern lounge, with information screens, complimentary refreshments and a dedicated customer host ready to serve you.
  Wi-Fi is available.
  
  Mon-Fri 06:00 to 18:30
  Saturday
  Sunday
- Seated Area
- Waiting Room
  
  Mon-Sun 06:00 to 22:00
  
  On platforms 1/2, 3/4, 6/7 and 8.
- Station Buffet
  
  Cold drinks vending machine.
  Hot drinks vending machine.
  Food vending machine.
  Food outlet (Seating available).
- Toilets
  
  The toilets are located on Platforms 1 to 8. The National Key toilets are located in the East Subway near the lifts and on Platform 8; these toilets are operated by a radar key and are only available during staffing hours.
- Baby Change
- Telephones
- Wi Fi
- Post Box
  
  At the Penarth Road entrance and also in the main concourse.
- Atm Machine
  
  Located outside the main entrance.
- Shops
  
  There is a WHSmith located on the concourse.
Accessibility and mobility access
- Helpline
  
  03333 211202
  
  https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/
  
  Mon-Sun 08:00 to 20:00
- Staff Help Available
  
  Monday to Friday 04:00 to 01:00
  Saturday 04:00 to 00:30
  Sunday 07:00 to 00:30
  
  Mon-Fri 04:00 to 01:00
  Saturday 04:00 to 00:30
  Sunday 07:00 to 00:30
- Induction Loop
- Accessible Ticket Machines
  
  Ticket machines are located at the Penarth Road entrance and on the concourse.
- Height Adjusted Ticket Office Counter
- Ramp For Train Access
- Accessible Taxis
- National Key Toilets
  
  The National Key/Accessible toilets are located in the East Subway near the lifts and on Platform 8; these toilets are operated by a RADAR key and are only available during staffing hours.
- Step Free Access
  
  Category A.
  Step free access is available to Platforms 0 to 8.
  
  Coverage: whole Station
- Ticket Gates
  
  Accessible gate available at each set of ticket gates
- Impaired Mobility Set Down
  
  15 Spaces - (2 displayed bays on riverside car park). There are 20 minute bays in the Fish Jetty car park.
- Wheelchairs Available
- Assisted Travel
  
  We want everyone to travel with confidence. That is why, if you are planning on travelling on national rail services, you can request an assistance booking in advance - now up to 2 hours before your journey is due to start, any time of the day. For more information about Passenger Assist and how to request an assistance booking via Passenger Assist, please click here.
Parking information
- Cycle Storage
  
  Spaces: 156
  Sheltered: Yes
  Cctv: Yes
  Location:
  Cycle parking is available at a number of locations at Cardiff Central. Sheffield stands are provided at the east end of platforms 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 6 and 7. Sheffield stands are also located outside the southern entrance to the station. Wheelgrip stands and a shelter is located in the Riverside/Fish Jetty Car Park - adjacent to platform 0
  
  Annotation:
  Sheltered stands are available on each platform.
  
  Type: Stands
- CarPark
  
  Car parking1:
  
  Operator Name: A P C O A
  Name: Penarth Road
  Spaces: 193
  Number Accessible Spaces: 8
  Accessible Car Park Equipment: Yes
  Cctv: No
  Open:
  Mon-Sun
  
  Website: https://www.apcoa.co.uk/tfwr
  
  Car parking2:
  
  Operator Name: A P C O A
  Name: Riverside
  Spaces: 110
  Number Accessible Spaces: 7
  Accessible Car Park Equipment: Yes
  Cctv: Yes
  Open:
  Mon-Sun
  
  Website: http://www.apcoa.co.uk/tfwr
  
  Car parking3:
  
  Operator Name: A P C O A
  Name: Brewery Car Park
  Spaces: 44
  Number Accessible Spaces: 0
  Accessible Car Park Equipment: No
  Cctv: Yes
  Open:
  Mon-Sun
  
  Website: https://www.apcoa.co.uk/tfwr
- Rail Replacement Services
  
  The rail replacement bus stop is at the rear car park (Penarth Road entrance).
- Taxi Rank
  
  The taxi rank is located on Saunders Road, to the north of the station and right off Central Square). Exit the station through the main north side entrance turn right and the taxi rank will be in front of you as you head eastwards.
- Onward Travel
  
  The Cardiff Bus Interchange is now open on Central Square.
  Buy a Cardiff PlusBus ticket with your train ticket for discount-priced unlimited bus travel around the town. For details visit www.PlusBus.info
- Airport
  
  The T9 Airport Express coach service departs from the bus stop at the rear of the railway station.
  The full timetable can be found http://www.trawscymru.info/t9/. The journey time is 40 minutes.
- Cycle Hire
  
  Cycle hire is provided by Brompton Bike Brompton Bike are located next to Marks and Spencer in the south west area of Central Square. Home - Brompton Bike Hire (bromptonhire.com)
Passenger services
- Customer Service
  
  Contact our Customer Relations team directly via the Transport for Wales Website.
- Left Luggage
  
  http://www.tfwrail.wales
- Lost Property
  
  Operator Name: Transport for Wales
  
  https://tfwrail.wales/lost-property

Live departures and arrivals

The history of Cardiff Central Railway station

A major station on the South Wales Main Line, Cardiff Central carries a big responsibility for getting people across Wales and the UK where they need to be. Its grand halls with glorious Art Deco architecture truly reflect the golden age of train travel.

The site of Cardiff Central was once part of the River Taff’s floodplain. It was up to the great man himself, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, to come up with a workable solution. His idea was to reroute the river, creating a safe and stable location for the station. In 1850, the original station was opened for business. With several rebuilds and additions through the ensuing years, the glamorous Art Deco style was incorporated in the early 1930s. Today, the Grade II listed station is the busiest in Wales.

It’s just a 10-minute walk to the home of Welsh rugby - the Principality Stadium, the Millennium Centre and so much more that the city has to offer. Looking for inspiration? Check out this list of things to do in Cardiff that we’ve put together for you.

Take a virtual tour of our stations

Virtual tour of Cardiff Central station

See all of our TfW 3D station tours here and learn how they work.

How long does it take to get from Cardiff Central station to Cardiff airport?
- To travel from Cardiff Central station to Cardiff airport, you need to hop on the train to Rhoose Cardiff International Airport station, and from there catch the convenient shuttle bus service to the airport.
How long does it take to walk from Cardiff Central station to Cardiff city centre?
- The walk to Cardiff city centre, via St. Mary Street, takes an easy five minutes.
What car parking facilities are available at Cardiff Central station?
- The 24-hour car park has 402 spaces, including Blue Badge spaces.
What facilities are there for bike storage at Cardiff Central station?
- With 90 available bike spaces, including sheltered storage, there’s plenty of space, and it’s all overlooked by CCTV.
What other facilities are available at Cardiff Central station?
- Toilets, including baby changing facilities
- Station buffet
- Shops
- Coin and card telephones
- ATM
- Wi-Fi
- First-class lounge
- Disabled access - step-free throughout the station, ramps and induction loop available
Which popular destinations can be reached from Cardiff Central station?
- Cardiff to Manchester
- Cardiff to Swansea
- Cardiff to Liverpool
- Cardiff to Bangor
- Cardiff to Chester
- For more popular routes from Cardiff station, click here.