Station message
The lifts are out of order between Platforms 1 & 2 and Concourse at Cardiff Central station.
Car parking at Cardiff Central update
There is no parking available to the public at the Riverside car park (Wood Street) to allow for operational staff car parking only. However, the public will still be able to drop off / pick up customers and accessible parking bays will also still be available.
The Central Quay development on the old Brains Brewery site behind the station has started. A section of the Penarth Road car park ( 55 parking spaces) is in the process of being removed to facilitate the works .
We're working with our partners to explore options to help improve parking for station users during this time of redevelopment and we hope to share an update on this soon. Sorry for any inconvenience caused during the works. Please allow extra time for parking and consider alternative city centre parking options where possible
Station facilities
We apologise that not all information on these pages is bilingual.
This is automated information from www.nationalrail.co.uk (opens in new window), which may contain elements of content only available in English.
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General service information
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Staffing LevelFull time
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Closed Circuit Television
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Information Available From StaffYes - from help point
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CIS
- Departure Screens
- Arrival Screens
- Announcements
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Customer Help Points
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Ticket buying and collection
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Ticket Office
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Prepurchase CollectionTicket Office: Yes
Ticket Machine: Yes -
Ticket Machine
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Oystercard Issued
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Use Oystercard
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Always Show Oyster Card Fields
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Smartcard Issued
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Smartcard TopupTicket Office: Yes
Ticket Machine: Yes -
Smartcard Validator
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Penalty FaresTrain Operator: AW
Url: https://tfwrail.wales/policies-and-reports/revenue-protection-policy
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All station facilities
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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
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Waiting Room
On platforms 1/2, 3/4, 6/7 and 8.
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Station Buffet
Cold drinks vending machine.
Hot drinks vending machine.
Food vending machine.
Food outlet (Seating available).
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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.
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Baby Change
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Telephones
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Wi Fi
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Post Box
At the Penarth Road entrance and also in the main concourse.
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Atm Machine
Located outside the main entrance.
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Shops
News agent and convenience store
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Accessibility and mobility access
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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
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Accessible Ticket Machines
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Height Adjusted Ticket Office Counter
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Ramp For Train Access
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Accessible Taxis
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Accessible Public Telephones
There are four payphones in the concourse and one each on platforms 1/2, 3/4 and 6/7.
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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.
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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
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Impaired Mobility Set Down
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Wheelchairs Available
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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.
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Parking information
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Cycle StorageSpaces: 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 -
CarParkCar parking1:
Operator Name: A P C O A
Name: Penarth Road
Spaces: 193
Number Accessible Spaces: 7
Accessible Car Park Equipment: Yes
Cctv: Yes
Open:
Mon-Fri - 24h
Saturday - 24h
Sunday - 24h
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 Spaces Note:From Monday 12 June, the Riverside car park will be closed to the public. However, the drop off / pick up bays and the accessible car park spaces will remain open to the public
Accessible Car Park Equipment: Yes
Cctv: Yes
Open:
Mon-Fri - 24h
Saturday - 24h
Sunday - 24h
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: Yes
Cctv: Yes
Open:
Mon-Fri - 24h
Saturday - 24h
Sunday - 24h
Website: https://www.apcoa.co.uk/tfwr
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Rail Replacement Services
The rail replacement bus stop is at the rear car park (Penarth Road entrance).
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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.
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Onward Travel
There is currently no central bus station. Bus services depart and arrive at stops around the city centre. Click on the link to see a list of routes and timetables
Buy a Cardiff PlusBus ticket with your train ticket for discount-priced unlimited bus travel around the town. For details visit www.PlusBus.info
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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.
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Cycle Hire
Cycle hire is provided by Brompton Bike and Ovo/Next Bikes Brompton Bike are located next to Marks and Spencer in the south west area of Central Square. Home - Brompton Bike Hire (bromptonhire.com)
Ovo/Next bike are located in the north east of Central Square by the bus station area - opposite Greggs, and a second location on Penarth Road at the entrance to the Penarth Road car park nextbike - origin bike sharing
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Passenger services
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Customer Service
Contact our Customer Relations team directly via the Transport for Wales Website.
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Left Luggagehttp://www.tfwrail.wales
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Lost Property
Operator Name: Transport for Waleshttps://tfwrail.wales/lost-property
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- Car parking restrictions
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Car parking at Cardiff Central Station car parks will be restricted/closed:
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Rear station Penarth Road carpark will be closed from 06:00 Thursday 2 November 2023 - 04:00 Sunday 5 November 2023.
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Riverside/Fish jetty car park will be closed from 20:00 Friday 3 November 2023 - 04:00 Sunday 5 November 2023.
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This is due to a rugby game at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff.
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Overview
As one of the major stations on the South Wales Main Line, Cardiff Central station carries a lot of responsibility, and with its grand halls reflecting the golden age of train travel, the glorious Art Deco architecture feels more than capable. However, it nearly didn’t happen.
The site of Cardiff Central was part of the River Taff’s floodplain, and it was up to the great man himself, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, to come up with a workable solution. His idea was to re-route the River, creating a safe and stable location for the station, and thus, in 1850 the original station was opened for business. With several rebuilds and additions throughout the ensuing years, the glamourous Art Deco style was incorporated in the early 1930s, and today the Grade II listed Cardiff Central is the busiest station in Wales.
It’s just a short ten-minute walk to the home of Welsh rugby - the Principality Stadium, the Millennium Centre, and everything the city has to offer.
If you'd like to find out more fascinating facts about this wonderful city, as well as reveal a couple of new places to visit while you're there, take a look at this great list of things to do in Cardiff City Centre prepared by the Transport for Wales team.
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.
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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.
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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.
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What car parking facilities are available at Cardiff Central station?
- The 24-hour car park has 402 spaces, including Blue Badge spaces.
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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.
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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
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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.
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Did you know?Multiflex ticketsOur lowest single fare for hundreds of regular journeysAvailable exclusively on our app
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Did you know?Travel saferYou can plan ahead and decide when to travel using our Capacity Checker.Check capacity
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