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.

Station message

EPCR Challenge Cup Final - 23rd and 24th May 2025

There are two upcoming rugby events at Principality Stadium:

Friday 23 May - EPCR Challenge Cup Final

Saturday 24 May - Investec Champions Cup Final

Services are expected to be extremely busy and there will be a post-event queuing system in place at Cardiff Central.

Taxi Rank Changes

23 May - The taxi rank on Saunders Road will close at 15:30 and there will be a temporary taxi rank at the rear of the station from 15:30-20:00

23 May - The taxi rank on Saunders Road will close at 10:30 and there will be a temporary taxi rank at the rear of the station from 10:30-14:45

Cardiff Bus Interchange Closure

Due to road closures, the CBI be closed during the event and buses will be operating from bus stops across the city centre.

23 May - closure 15:30

24 May - closure 10:30- 19:00

Car Park Closures

Riverside (fish jetty) 

From: Thursday 22nd May 20:00

To: Sunday 25th May 04:00

Penarth Road  

From: Thursday 21st May 06:00

To: Sunday 25th May 04:00

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
Yes
Information Available From Staff
Yes - from ticket office
CIS
  • Departure Screens
  • Arrival Screens
  • Announcements
Customer Help Points

No
Ticket buying and collection
Ticket Office
Yes
Prepurchase Collection
Ticket Office: Yes
Ticket Machine: Yes
Ticket Machine
Yes
Oystercard Issued

No
Use Oystercard

No
Always Show Oyster Card Fields

No
Smartcard Issued

No
Smartcard Topup
Ticket Office: Yes
Ticket Machine: Yes
Smartcard Validator
Yes
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
Yes
Waiting Room
Mon-Sun 06:00 to 22:00

On platforms 1/2, 3/4, 6/7 and 8.

Station Buffet
Yes

Cold drinks vending machine.

Hot drinks vending machine.

Food vending machine.

Marks and Spencers, WHSmith, Upper Crust and Warrens Bakery located at front concourse.

Upper Crust stall located on platform 1/2.

Toilets
Yes

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
Yes
Telephones

No
Wi Fi
Yes
Post Box
Yes

At the Penarth Road entrance and also in the main concourse.

Atm Machine
Yes

Located outside the main entrance.

Shops
Yes

There is a WHSmith and Marks and Spencers 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
Yes
Accessible Ticket Machines
Yes

Ticket machines are located at the Penarth Road entrance and on the concourse.

Height Adjusted Ticket Office Counter
Yes
Ramp For Train Access
Yes
Accessible Taxis

No
National Key Toilets
Yes

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
Yes

Accessible gate available at each set of ticket gates

Impaired Mobility Set Down
Yes

15 Spaces - (2 displayed bays on riverside car park). There are 20 minute bays in the Fish Jetty car park.

Wheelchairs Available
Yes
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.

Transport links
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
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)

Parking information
Car Park
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

Passenger services
Customer Service

Contact our Customer Relations team directly via the Transport for Wales Website.

Left Luggage

No
http://www.tfwrail.wales
Lost Property
Yes

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?