Station
Finding Cardiff Central station
Cardiff Central is located at Central Square in Cardiff city centre. It’s a Grade II listed building opened in 1850, easy to spot thanks to its grand stature and location in the heart of this historic city.
The station is on the South Wales Main Line. It’s the main station in Cardiff and a large transport interchange. You can access Cardiff Central most easily on foot, by bike or bus. You can also pay to use the car park. The station has step-free access.
Buy your Advance ticket directly with us for cheaper fares and no admin fees. Board your train at Cardiff Central to explore Wales and the UK.
Station facilities
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Parking
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Shops
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Ticket machine
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Ticket office
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Toilets
This is automated information from www.nationalrail.co.uk (opens in new window).
General service information
- Staffing Level
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Full time
- Closed Circuit Television
- Yes
- Information Available From Staff
-
Yes - from help point
Yes - from information point
Yes - from ticket office - Information Services Open
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Mon-Sun
- CIS
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- Departure Screens
- Announcements
- Customer Help Points
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No
The Assistance Meeting Point is by the ticket office.
Ticket buying and collection
- Ticket Office
- Yes
- Prepurchase Collection
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Ticket Office: Yes
Ticket Machine: Yes - Ticket Machine
- Yes
- Oystercard Issued
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No
- Use Oystercard
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No
- Oyster Comments
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Oyster cannot be used at this station.
- Always Show Oyster Card Fields
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No
- Smartcard Issued
- Yes
- Smartcard Validator
- Yes
- Smartcard Comments
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For more information on using the Key smartcard, please visit the Key smartcard webpage on the Great Northern website.
All station facilities
- Seated Area
- Yes
- Waiting Room
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Heated waiting areas are available on all platforms.
- Station Buffet
- Yes
- Toilets
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Yes
Located within the booking hall.
- Telephones
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No
- Wi Fi
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No
There is no WIFI at this station. However, WIFI is available onboard trains which serve this station. More information about onboard WIFI can be found on the Great Northern website.
- Atm Machine
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Yes
ATM located in station entrance
- Shops
- Yes
Accessibility and mobility access
- Helpline
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For help with planning your journey, or to book assistance, please contact our assisted travel helpline on:
- Phone - 0800 058 2844
- Textphone - 0800 138 1018
https://www.greatnorthernrail.com/travel-information/travel-help/assisted-travelMon-Sun - Induction Loop
- Yes
- Accessible Ticket Machines
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Yes
All Great Northern ticket machines are able to sell tickets with Disabled Persons Railcard discounts.
Ticket machines are of an accessible design, however their location and the station itself may not be. Please check the station map or the 'step free access' section before making your way to the station.
- Ramp For Train Access
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Yes
A staff-operated ramp is required for step-free access between train and platform at this station.
- Accessible Taxis
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No
- National Key Toilets
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Yes
Toilets may only be available during staffed hours at some locations.
- Step Free Access
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This is a Category B1 station: Step free access to all platforms via main entrance (Lytton Way). Steep ramp access from Leisure Park entrance via long, steep council ramp.
The Assistance Meeting Point is by the ticket office.
Coverage: partial Station - Ticket Gates
- Yes
- Impaired Mobility Set Down
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Yes
Station staff assistance to ground level, subject to staff availability. Cannot be guaranteed
- Wheelchairs Available
- Yes
- Assisted Travel
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Staff are available at this station at all times for providing assistance getting on and off the train and assistance around the station and to the platform. Assistance can be provided unbooked (turn up and go) or pre booked up to two hours before departure by contacting Assisted Travel.
Whether you pre book assistance or travel unbooked, please contact a member of staff on arrival. We recommend arriving 20 minutes prior to your train departing. This is to allow us to make sure arrangements are in place at your destination, or interchange, station such as the availability of staff and lifts. If there is insufficient time to check these arrangements, we may assist you onto the next available train.
For further information on assisted travel please see:
Transport links
- Cycle Storage
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Spaces: 266
Sheltered: Yes
Cctv: Yes
Location:Located in both the short and long term car parks.
Cycles are left at owners risk. Abandoned cycles may be removed.
Type: Stands - Rail Replacement Services
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Please click the link for details regarding the rail replacement bus location for Great Northern, Thameslink, Lumo, Hull Trains and London North Eastern Railway services:
Rail Replacement Map: https://assets.nationalrail.co.uk/e8xgegruud3g/65n H L Ipb60w S2 S A Q Ya Qqya/4ebec35b1f0e6c81608799b4afe20d56/2025-01_ C I_ G N_ R R B_ S V G_ D R.pdf - Taxi Rank
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Located outside the main entrance.
- Onward Travel
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Information to plan your onward journey is available in the 'Onward Travel Information Map', located in the 'Maps' section below.
Parking information
- Car Park
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Car parking1:
Operator Name: A P C O A Parking U K
Name: Station Car Park
Spaces: 17
Number Accessible Spaces: 2
Accessible Spaces Note:Free parking is offered to all Blue Badge holders.
Please ensure that your Blue Badge is displayed at all times when parking at any Thameslink, Southern or Great Northern station car parks.
If dedicated Blue Badge bays are occupied, please park within any available standard bay (excluding premier bays) and display your Blue Badge.
Accessible Car Park Equipment: No
Cctv: No
Open:
Mon-Fri - 24h
Saturday - 24h
Sunday - 24h
Car parking2:
Operator Name: Stevenage Borough Council
Name: Railway South Car Park
Spaces: 0
Number Accessible Spaces: 0
Accessible Car Park Equipment: No
Cctv: No
Passenger services
- Left Luggage
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No
- Lost Property
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If you have lost something at a Great Northern station or onboard a Great Northern train, please visit the Great Northern website and use the webform to register your lost item.
Some Great Northern trains serve stations which are managed by other train operators (see below). You should consider logging your lost item with them, just in case it's been handed in at one of their stations.
If you have found an item of lost property, please hand it in to a member of staff.
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