View source for Cardiff Central railway station

{{short description|Grade II listed railway station in Cardiff, Wales}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2025}}

{{Infobox station
| name               = Cardiff Central
| native_name        = {{langx|cy|Caerdydd Canolog}}
| symbol_location    = gb
| symbol             = rail
| image              = Cardiff Central station (26526139271).jpg
| caption            = 1930s frontage of Cardiff Central station (northern entrance)
| borough            = [[Cardiff]], [[Cardiff Council|City and County of Cardiff]]
| country            = Wales
| coordinates        = {{coord|51.4755|-3.1780|type:railwaystation_region:GB_scale:10000|display=inline,title}}
| grid_name          = [[Ordnance Survey National Grid|Grid reference]]
| grid_position      = {{gbmapscaled|ST181758|25|ST181758}}
| owned              = [[Network Rail]]
| manager            = [[Transport for Wales Rail]]
| platforms          = 8 (numbered 0-4 and 6-8)
| code               = CDF
| classification     = [[United Kingdom railway station categories|DfT category]] A
| years              = 19 June 1850
| events             = Opened as ''Cardiff''
| years1             = 1896
| events1            = Enlarged
| years2             = 1924
| events2            = Renamed ''Cardiff General''
| years3             = 1931–34
| events3            = Rebuilt
| years4             = 1940
| events4            = Merged with Cardiff Riverside station
| years5             = 1964
| events5            = Riverside platforms closed
| years6             = 1973
| events6            = Renamed ''Cardiff Central''
| years7             = 2015-17
| events7            = Enlarged
| mpassengers        = {{Rail pass box |pass_year=2019/20 |passengers={{decrease}} 12.671 million |interchange={{pad|1em}}{{increase}} 2.033 million}}
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2020/21 |passengers={{decrease}} 1.975 million |interchange={{pad|1em}}{{decrease}} 0.240 million}}
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2021/22 |passengers={{increase}} 7.463 million |interchange={{pad|1em}}{{increase}} 0.782 million}}
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2022/23 |passengers={{increase}} 10.185 million |interchange={{pad|1em}}{{increase}} 1.132 million}}
{{Rail pass box |pass_year=2023/24 |passengers={{increase}} 11.499 million |interchange={{pad|1em}}{{increase}} 1.388 million}}
| footnotes          = Passenger statistics from the [[Office of Rail and Road]]
| mapframe           = yes
| mapframe-zoom      = 13
}}

'''Cardiff Central''' ({{langx|cy|Caerdydd Canolog}}) is a major station on the [[South Wales Main Line]]. It is located in the capital of [[Wales]], [[Cardiff]], {{convert|144|miles|77|chain|km|0|lk=in}} down the line from [[London Paddington station|London Paddington]], via {{rws|Bristol Parkway}},<ref>{{cite web|url=https://brouter.damsy.net/latest/#map=14/51.4837/-3.1803/standard&lonlats=-0.178098,51.517214;-3.180137,51.475605&profile=rail|title=BRouter.net}}</ref> and {{convert|170|miles|30|chain|km|0|lk=in}} measured via {{rws|Stroud}}.<ref>{{cite book |last=Padgett |first=David |editor-last=Munsey |editor-first=Myles |title=Railway Track Diagrams 3: Western & Wales |edition=6th |date=June 2018 |orig-year=1989 |publisher=Trackmaps |location=Frome |isbn=978-1-9996271-0-2 |at=map 21 }}</ref> It is one of the city's two urban rail network hubs, along with [[Cardiff Queen Street railway station|Cardiff Queen Street]]. Opened in 1850 as ''Cardiff'' station, it was renamed ''Cardiff General'' in 1924 and then ''Cardiff Central'' in 1973.

The station is sited at [[Central Square, Cardiff|Central Square]], in [[Cardiff city centre]]. The Grade II [[listed building]] is managed by [[Transport for Wales Rail]], and is both the largest and busiest station in Wales.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-46209535|title=Why Wales' quietest station got busier|last=Shuttleworth|first=Peter|date=2018-12-11|access-date=2020-01-11|language=en-GB}}</ref>

Cardiff Central is one of twenty [[List of railway stations in Cardiff|railway stations in the city]] and one of two in the city centre, serving as a hub for the [[Valleys & Cardiff Local Routes]]. It is an [[Interchange station|interchange]] for services between [[South Wales]], [[West Wales]] and [[North Wales]], as well as other major British cities.

Transport for Wales Rail operates services to most destinations in Wales and to [[Manchester Piccadilly railway station|Manchester]], while [[CrossCountry]] operates trains to {{rws|Gloucester}}, [[Birmingham New Street|Birmingham]] and {{rws|Nottingham}}. [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]] runs all inter-city services between [[Paddington railway station|London Paddington]] and {{stn|Swansea}} via [[Bristol Parkway railway station|Bristol]], as well as some regional services to [[Bath Spa railway station|Bath]], {{rws|Taunton}} and [[Portsmouth Harbour railway station|Portsmouth]] via [[Southampton Central railway station|Southampton]].

== History ==
===Early history===
In the early 1840s, the [[South Wales Railway]] was trying to find a suitable site for a railway station, but the area that is now Cardiff Central railway station was prone to flooding. It was [[Isambard Kingdom Brunel]]'s solution to divert the [[River Taff]] to the west, creating a larger and safer site for the station.<ref name="Brunel">{{cite web |url=https://cricketarchive.com/Glamorgan/History/Cardiff_Arms_Park/Creation.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015004127/http://cricketarchive.com/Glamorgan/History/Cardiff_Arms_Park/Creation.html |archive-date=15 October 2012|publisher=Cardiff Council|title= Cardiff Arms Park, A short History – The Creation of the Arms Park|access-date=22 May 2008}}</ref> The initial part of the South Wales Railway between {{rws|Chepstow}} and {{rws|Swansea}} through Cardiff was opened on 18 June 1850,  with all trains operated by the [[Great Western Railway]] (GWR) under a lease agreement.<ref>{{cite book| last=MacDermot| first=E.T.| title=History of the Great Western Railway, volume I 1833–1863| publisher=[[Great Western Railway]]| year=1927| location=London}}</ref>{{page needed|date=March 2017}} Through services from Cardiff to [[London Paddington station|London Paddington]] began on 19 July 1852, when the [[Chepstow Railway Bridge]] was opened, completing the connection between the South Wales Railway and the Great Western Railway. The South Wales Railway was absorbed into the GWR in 1863.{{sfn|Walters|1995|pp=9–10}}

The South Wales Railway had originally been built as a [[broad-gauge railway]], but on the weekend of 11–12 May 1872, the entire South Wales system was converted to [[standard-gauge railway|standard gauge]].{{sfn|Walters|1995|pp=9–10}}

Cardiff to London trains originally ran via the circuitous route via {{rws|Gloucester}} and took an average of five hours. This was reduced to around four hours from 1886 when the [[Severn Tunnel]] was opened creating a shorter route via [[Bristol]] and [[Bath Spa railway station|Bath]]. In 1903, another shortcut, the [[Badminton railway line]] was opened, bypassing Bath and Bristol, and this reduced the Cardiff-London journey times by another hour. By the 1930s, the fastest Cardiff-London trains took around 2 hours 40 minutes, and this remained fairly static until 1961, when the diesel [[Blue Pullman]] service reduced the fastest journey time to 2 hours 7 minutes. In October 1976, the [[InterCity 125]] services were introduced, reducing the fastest journey times to 1 hour 53 minutes.{{sfn|Walters|1995|pp=18–20}}

The original 'Cardiff' station, as it was then known, had four through tracks running through the site, and consisted of two through platforms each with its own bay platform. During the 1890s, the station underwent considerable expansion, in 1896 a flying junction was constructed connecting the station to nearby [[Cardiff Queen Street station]], and extra platforms were added to accommodate the new [[Taff Vale Railway|Taff Vale]] services, bringing the total number up to six.{{sfn|Walters|1995|pp=63–71}}

Initially named ''Cardiff'', the station was renamed ''Cardiff General'' in July 1924 and then ''Cardiff Central'' by [[British Rail]] in May 1973.<ref>{{cite book| last=Butt| first=R.J.V.| title=The Directory of Railway Stations| year=1995| publisher=Patrick Stephens Ltd| page=53}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://pirate.cardiffschools.net/index1.htm| title=Cardiff Timeline| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929134414/http://pirate.cardiffschools.net/index1.htm| archive-date=29 September 2007}}</ref>

===1930s rebuild===
[[File:Cardiff_Central_Station,_geograph_4993654_by_Richard_Sutcliffe.jpg|thumb|Exterior of main building]]
Between 1931 and 1934, the station underwent a major rebuild, designed by the GWR's architects department under their chief architect [[Percy Emerson Culverhouse]], the centrepiece of this was a new [[Art Deco]] entrance building faced in [[Portland stone]], containing a booking hall and concourse with noted Art Deco light fittings, all topped by a clock [[cupola]].<ref>{{cite web| title=Cardiff General Railway Station, Cardiff| url=http://www.coflein.gov.uk/en/site/34783/details/CARDIFF+GENERAL+RAILWAY+STATION%2C+CARDIFF/| work=Coflein| publisher=[[Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales]]| access-date=1 April 2013}}</ref> The current Art Deco lamps in the booking hall are replicas of the originals, installed in 1999, having been funded by the Railway Heritage Trust. A GWR war memorial is located at the eastern end of the concourse.<ref name="HPCC"/> 
[[Image:Cardiff Central railway station concourse - 01.jpg|thumb|left|The interior of the concourse]]
The Great Western Railway has its full name carved onto the façade (larger than the name of the station). The rebuild also saw a number of other improvements including the lengthening of the platforms, the widening of the Taff River railway bridge to allow the approach lines to the station to be quadrupled, and the installation of [[Railway signalling#Colour lights signals|colour-light signalling]]. The rebuild of the station cost the GWR £820,000 ({{Inflation|UK|820000|1934|r=-4|fmt=eq|cursign=£}}),{{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}}, and was formally opened by the Minister of Transport [[Oliver Stanley]] on 26 February 1934.{{sfn|Walters|1995|pp=63–71}}

In July 1934, the GWR began a pioneering [[GWR railcars|diesel railcar service]] with a buffet between Cardiff General and {{rws|Birmingham Snow Hill}} which had only two stops at {{rws|Newport}} and {{rws|Gloucester}}. This was the first long distance diesel express service in Britain, covering the {{convert|117.5|miles|km}} between Cardiff and Birmingham in 2 hours 20 minutes. It proved so successful that larger railcars with more seating and no buffet had to be introduced to cope with demand, and even this had to be augmented by a normal locomotive hauled service. During the Second World War, two such trains ran to and from Cardiff daily. At this time it consisted of a three car train consisting of a standard carriage sandwiched between two railcars, and a stop at {{rws|Stratford-upon-Avon}} was introduced.<ref>{{cite web|title=Great Western railcars.|url=http://www.greatwestern.org.uk/aec1.htm|publisher=The Great Western Archive|access-date=14 January 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.warwickshirerailways.com/gwr/gwrsa1491.htm|title=Stratford on Avon Station: An unidentified Great Western Railway Diesel Railcar is seen passing Stratford on Avon West Signal Box on the up 9:10am Cardiff to Snow Hill service|website=www.warwickshirerailways.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.warwickshirerailways.com/gwr/gwrsa1509.htm|title=Stratford on Avon Station: GWR Diesel Railcars W37 W and W38 W are seen with a Third class coach in between departing on the up 5:05pm Cardiff to Birmingham service|website=www.warwickshirerailways.com}}</ref><ref name="JBoynShakl">{{cite book|last1=Boynton|first1=John|title=Shakespeare's Railways|date=1994|publisher=Mid England Books|isbn=0-9522248-1-X}}</ref>

As a result of representations by the GWR, a nearby working-class district, [[Temperance Town, Cardiff|Temperance Town]], was cleared during the late 1930s in order to improve the outlook of the rebuilt station.<ref>{{cite web| last=Fisk| first=Stephen| title=Abandoned Communities – Temperance Town| date=June 2009| url=http://www.abandonedcommunities.co.uk/temperancetown3.html| access-date=3 November 2009}}</ref>

In 1992, the station, its buildings and platforms, became Grade II [[Listed buildings|listed]].<ref>{{cite web| title=Cardiff Central Station, Booking Hall, Passenger Subway, Platforms 1–4, 6 & 7 and Platform Buildings| url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/wa-14063-cardiff-central-station-booking-hall-pass| publisher=British Listed Buildings| access-date=1 April 2013}}</ref>

===Cardiff Riverside railway station===
[[File:Cardiff Riverside railway station.jpg|thumb|Cardiff Riverside railway station in 1993, shortly before demolition.]]
On 14 August 1893, the GWR opened the adjacent '''Cardiff Riverside ''' station which had two platforms located to the south of and adjacent to the main Cardiff station which curved away to the south on the [[Cardiff Riverside Branch]], which ran to its terminus at {{rws|Clarence Road}} about one mile to the south. Riverside station was rebuilt as an [[island platform]] with two platform faces in the early 1930s at the same time as Cardiff General was being rebuilt. On 28 October 1940 Riverside station was formally incorporated into Cardiff General station with its platforms being designated 8 and 9. The Riverside platforms were closed for passenger use on 16 March 1964, but they continued to be used for parcels and newspaper traffic for a number of years after.{{sfn|Walters|1995|pp=63–71}} They were demolished in 1994 after becoming disused.{{sfn|Walters|1995|p=82}}<ref name="HPCC">{{cite web |title=Cardiff Central rail station |url=http://historypoints.org/index.php?page=cardiff-central-rail-station |publisher=History Points |access-date=20 November 2018}}</ref>

===21st century developments===
====Electrification====
{{see also|21st-century modernisation of the Great Western Main Line}}
In June 2010, Network Rail began its £5 billion [[railway electrification in Great Britain|Great Western electrification project]] which promised the construction of overhead line equipment, station improvements, and resignalling along parts of the [[Great Western Main Line]] and the [[South Wales Main Line]]. The changes would see the retirement of [[InterCity 125]] trains on London services, and the introduction of [[Hitachi Rail|Hitachi]] designed [[British Rail Class 800]] electric trains, under a side project named the [[Intercity Express Programme]].

Plans to install overhead equipment as far as {{rws|Swansea}} were withdrawn in 2017 when the [[Department for Transport]] announced it would no longer fund the Cardiff-Swansea project, instead ordering [[Electro-diesel locomotive|bi-mode trains]] which switch to diesel when departing Cardiff for west Wales.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sheffield, Swansea and Windermere electrification cancelled|url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/policy/single-view/view/sheffield-swansea-and-windermere-electrification-cancelled.html|website=Railway Gazette|access-date=21 July 2017|date=20 July 2017}}</ref> Electrification to Cardiff was to be completed by 2018, but late that year [[Network Rail]] announced that completion would be delayed a further year.<ref>{{cite news |title=Rail electrification to south Wales delayed |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/business/business-news/rail-electrification-south-wales-delayed-14876447 |author=Sion Barry|newspaper=[[Western Mail (Wales)|The Western Mail]]|publisher=[[Reach plc]]|location=[[Cardiff]]|access-date=22 November 2018 |date=6 July 2018}}</ref>

The first electric services began at Cardiff Central on 5 January 2020,<ref>{{cite web |title=Cardiff electric services go live |url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/uk/cardiff-electric-services-go-live/55486.article |publisher=Railway Gazette |date=7 January 2020|access-date=2 May 2020}}</ref> starting with a single 5-car [[British Rail Class 800|Class 800]] forming the 08:50 Cardiff to London. Trains were unable to operate on electric power through the [[Severn Tunnel]] due to difficult operating conditions in the 133-year-old tunnel,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-48621944|title=Tunnel blow to £2.8bn rail electrification scheme|last=Shuttleworth|first=Peter|work=[[BBC News]]|publisher=[[BBC Cymru Wales]]|location=[[Cardiff]]|date=2019-06-28|access-date=2020-01-11|language=en-GB}}</ref> but the service was fully electrified by June 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=London–Cardiff Electrification Fully Completed |url=https://railway-news.com/london-cardiff-electrification-complete/ |publisher=Railway-News |date=8 June 2020|access-date=15 February 2023}}</ref>

====Station improvements====
[[File:CardiffCentral_SouthBuilding_ESE.jpg|thumb|The new southern entrance and booking hall, opened in 2015]]
In 2011, it was announced that Cardiff Central would be enhanced with a new platform ('Platform 8') and a new two-storey southern entrance and booking hall. This was part of a £200m regeneration scheme to boost train capacity in Cardiff and the surrounding areas. With work planned to start from June 2014, the Assembly Government committed £7m for the overall programme.<ref>{{cite web| first=Peter| last=Law| url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/cardiffonline/cardiff-news/2011/02/09/cardiff-rail-stations-set-for-revamp-91466-28138130/#ixzz1DUE8M71o| title=Cardiff rail stations set for revamp| website=South Wales Echo| date=9 February 2011}}</ref>

The old Grade II listed [[Water Tower, Cardiff Central Station|Water Tower]] (next to Platform 0 and the [[River Taff]]) was repainted in 2012 in the original brown and beige colours of the Great Western Railway.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/cardiff-centrals-landmark-water-tower-2029318|title=Cardiff Central's landmark water tower renovation starts – without a daffodil in sight|date=19 June 2012|work=Wales Online|access-date=5 January 2014}}</ref>

The new entrance on the south side of the station, was opened in September 2015,<ref>{{cite press release |title=Wales Office Minister visits new entrance which gives passengers more room at Cardiff Central station |url=https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/wales-office-minister-visits-new-entrance-which-gives-passengers-more-room-at-cardiff-central-station |location=Cardiff|publisher=Network Rail Wales & Borders|access-date=20 November 2018 |date=22 September 2015}}</ref> and the new platform  8 on the south side of the station, opened in January 2017, allowing the number of trains on the busy Cardiff Central to Cardiff Queen Street corridor to be increased from 12 to 16 per hour. This was opened in conjunction with a resignalling scheme in the station, which saw all of the station's platforms signalled to become bi-directional, in order to increase the flexibility of the operations.<ref>{{cite web |title=UK: Cardiff Central station expanded with new platform |date=10 January 2017 |url=https://www.railwaypro.com/wp/uk-cardiff-central-station-expanded-with-new-platform/ |publisher=Railway Pro |access-date=20 November 2018}}</ref><ref name="CarResig">{{cite web |title=Cardiff resignalled |url=https://www.railengineer.uk/2017/01/31/cardiff-resignalled/ |publisher=RailEngineer |access-date=20 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729012825/https://www.railengineer.uk/2017/01/31/cardiff-resignalled/ |archive-date=29 July 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

====Central Square====
A major redevelopment scheme began in 2015 of [[Central Square, Cardiff|Central Square]] in front of the main station entrance, of which Network Rail owned part. 500,000 square feet of new office space were planned for the area formerly occupied by [[Cardiff Central bus station]]. The landscaping, designed to create a positive impression to visitors exiting the railway station, would include a major pedestrianised route between the railway station and the [[Millennium Stadium]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Cardiff's new Central Square development: An Exclusive glimpse at the dramatic overhaul planned for the heart of the capital. |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/business/business-news/cardiffs-new-central-square-development-8018417 |publisher=Wales Online |access-date=20 November 2018 |date=26 February 2015}}</ref>

====Future proposals====

[[File:Cardiff Central station upgrade.jpeg|thumb|An artist's impression of the proposed Cardiff Central railway station upgrade]]

In 2015, plans were unveiled to substantially redevelop the station in order to cope with the expected rise in passenger numbers, which are projected to rise from the current 13 million to 32 million by 2043.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-49061910|title=Wales' busiest railway station to get £58m upgrade|date=2019-07-22|access-date=2020-01-11|language=en-GB}}</ref> The proposed redevelopment would see an enlarged glass fronted concourse which would leave the current 1930s façade intact.<ref>{{cite news|title=New plans to transform Cardiff Central Railway Station revealed. |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/business/business-news/new-plans-transform-cardiff-central-9736568 |last=Barry|first=Sion|newspaper=The Western Mail|location=Cardiff|publisher=Reach plc|access-date=22 November 2018 |date=28 July 2015}}</ref>

It was announced in July 2019 that significant upgrades would take place at Cardiff Central under a £38m improvement project, which also proposes a £20m [[West Wales Parkway railway station|West Wales Parkway station]] north of Swansea in order to reduce journey times between Cardiff and West Wales.<ref name=":0" />

In August 2020 it was announced that Cardiff Central would be upgraded. Design work had already begun on a £113m upgrade which is expected to be funded by £40m from the Cardiff Capital Region group of local authorities, £15m from [[Transport for Wales]] and from the UK [[Department for Transport]]. It is envisaged that work will begin in 2022, but that would depend upon the design and development exercise.<ref name="Upgrade">{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-53847661|title= Design work on Cardiff Central station upgrade under way|work=[[BBC News]]|publisher=[[BBC Cymru Wales]]|location=[[Cardiff]]|date=2020-08-21|access-date=2020-05-21}}</ref>

In September 2024 it was proposed that Cardiff Central would gain an additional 2 platforms as part of Cardiff Crossrail, a project planned to cross the city west-to-east via [[Cardiff Bay railway station|Cardiff Bay]]. The first phase of this project would see Cardiff Central connected to the [[Butetown branch line]] with tram-trains running to Cardiff Bay. The two new platforms would be built in the southern car park. Construction is anticipated to start in Autumn 2025.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c303y2l8g85o | title=Cardiff Crossrail: The new tram which could span Wales' capital city | date=15 September 2024 }}</ref>

== Station layout and platforms==
[[File:Cardiff Central plan.png|thumb|upright 2.2|Layout plan of Cardiff Central]]
There are two entrances to the station. The northern main entrance leads to the main concourse and is on [[Central Square, Cardiff|Central Square]]. The [[Millennium Stadium]] is a short distance to the northwest.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?sourceid=navclient&hl=en-GB&rlz=1T4GGLL_en-GB&q=cardiff%20central%20station%20view&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl| title=Cardiff Central Station view| website=Google Maps}}</ref>

The southern entrance is at the rear of the station on Tresillian Way, accessed from Penarth Road, where the station car park is found.

The railway lines are above the station concourses. Two [[Subway (underpass)|subways]], one each at the eastern and western side of the station, run parallel under the tracks linking the two main entrances, from which the platforms are accessed by stairs and lifts, with the exception of Platform 0 which is accessed from the main concourse near Marks and Spencer.
[[File:That way to 3, 4 and 5. - geograph.org.uk - 1186807.jpg|thumb|1930s signage to platforms, indicating the now non-existent platform 5]]
[[File:150251 at Cardiff Central (30954620912).jpg|thumb|Platforms 8–2, seen from the east]]
Cardiff Central has eight platforms, numbered 0, 1a/b, 2a/b, 3a/b, 4a/b, 6a/b, 7a/b and 8. There is no longer, despite signage, a Platform 5; this was a west-facing bay platform situated between Platforms 3 and 4 which was removed in the 1960s.{{refn|Potential reinstatement of this platform is mentioned on page 10 of Network Rail's route plan for the Valley Lines<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/StrategicBusinessPlan/RoutePlans/2008/Route%2015%20-%20South%20Wales%20Valleys.pdf| title=Route Plans 2008 – Route 15, South Wales Valleys| page=10| website=Network Rail| access-date=27 October 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607092114/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/StrategicBusinessPlan/RoutePlans/2008/Route%2015%20-%20South%20Wales%20Valleys.pdf| archive-date=7 June 2011| url-status=dead}}</ref>}}{{sfn|Walters|1995|p=80}} Platform 0, a short through platform at the north of the station was created in 1999.<ref name="HPCC"/><ref name="CarResig"/>

The station has ten tracks running through it. All but two of the tracks have an adjacent platform, and the remaining two are through lines for goods trains and other non-stopping traffic.

Platforms 3 and 4 are divided into 'A' and 'B' sections and are capable of holding two local trains or a nine car [[British Rail Class 800|Class 800]] train. Other platforms can be used by more than one train, but are not all sectioned.

Platforms 6 to 8 at the south side of the station are used by [[Valley Lines]] trains between {{Stnlink|Cardiff Queen Street||Cardiff Queen Street}}, the north of Cardiff, the [[South Wales Valleys|Valleys]], and the [[Vale of Glamorgan]].

Platforms 0 to 4 are typically used by longer distance regional and national services operated by [[Transport for Wales Rail]], [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]], and [[CrossCountry]] to destinations including  [[Paddington railway station|London Paddington]], {{stnlnk|Birmingham New Street}}, {{stnlnk|Bristol Temple Meads}}, {{stnlnk|Carmarthen||Carmarthen}}, [[Derby railway station|Derby]], [[Nottingham station|Nottingham]], {{stnlnk|Gloucester}}, {{stnlnk|Manchester Piccadilly}}, {{stnlnk|Milford Haven}}, [[Taunton]], {{stnlnk|Portsmouth Harbour}}, {{stnlnk|Swansea}}, [[Holyhead railway station|Holyhead]] and [[Chester railway station|Chester]].

To the West of the station lies [[Cardiff Canton TMD|Canton TMD]], operated by Transport for Wales Rail, as well as the junction splitting trains to Penarth and the Vale of Glamorgan, Swansea, and Valley line services via Ninian Park and Radyr.  To the East of the station lies [[Cardiff Queen Street railway station|Cardiff Queen Street]] (for Cardiff local and Valley Line services), and the mainline toward [[Newport, Wales|Newport]], [[Bristol]] and [[London]].

== Facilities ==
The majority of facilities are in the main concourse, including ticket desks and machines, cash machines, an information desk, departure and arrival screens, public telephones, a newsagent, and food shops. The station has the only First Class waiting room in Wales.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Your-journey/On-board/First-class| title=First Class| website=First Great Western| access-date=21 December 2013| archive-date=5 February 2012| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205074309/http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Your-journey/On-board/First-class| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/routes-stations/first-class-lounges/| title=First Class Lounges at Major Train Stations| website=Virgin Trains| access-date=18 February 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150819090400/http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/routes-stations/first-class-lounges/| archive-date=19 August 2015| url-status=dead}}</ref>  Outside, a pay-and-display car park provides 248 spaces.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/cdf.aspx| title=Cardiff Central (CDF)| website=National Rail}}</ref>

[[British Transport Police]] maintains a presence at Cardiff Central.<ref name=SE>{{cite web| url=http://www.btp.police.uk/local_btp_teams/wales_and_western.aspx#cardiff| title=British Transport Police, Wales & Western Area| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225091304/http://www.btp.police.uk/local_btp_teams/wales_and_western.aspx#cardiff| archive-date=25 December 2013}}</ref>

Additional ticket barriers were installed in the main entrance of the station in November 2019 as part of plans to reduce congestion at the station at peak times. A study found that the station can see over 40,000 people use the station on major event days in the city. The work was funded by [[Transport for Wales Rail|Transport for Wales]], who also aimed to refurbish toilets, install more ticket machines, phone charging points, and build cycle storage in 2020.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.pbctoday.co.uk/news/planning-construction-news/refurbishment-of-cardiff-central/67124/|title=Refurbishment of Cardiff Central to continue with new gates|last=Sketchley|first=Elisha|date=2019-11-11|website=Planning, BIM & Construction Today|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-11}}</ref> Cardiff Central's customer numbers are forecast to top 34 million users annually by 2043.<ref name=":1" />

In January 2020, Transport for Wales installed a dedicated passenger assistance meeting point in the ticket hall of the station, stating it would provide a comfortable and identifiable location for those needing assistance to wait while their booked assistance is prepared, for example the preparation of boarding aids.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/uk/passenger-assistance-meeting-points-provided-at-cardiff-central/55478.article|title=Passenger assistance meeting points provided at Cardiff Central|last=|date=2020-01-08|website=Railway Gazette International|language=en|access-date=2020-01-11}}</ref>

==Services==
{{see also|Rail transport in Cardiff}}
[[File:South-east_Wales_rail_network_map.svg|thumb|Map of the south-east Wales rail network]]
{{Cardiff Lines|collapse=yes}}
Three train operators run services to Cardiff Central, a summary is as follows:

*Transport for Wales Rail:
**Operate frequent local commuter services on the [[Valleys & Cardiff Local Routes]]; the local [[Urban rail in the United Kingdom|urban rail network]].
**Operate regional services predominantly within [[South Wales]] and [[West Wales]] to destinations including {{rws|Swansea}}, {{rws|Ebbw Vale Town}}, {{rws|Carmarthen}}, {{rws|Milford Haven}}, {{rws|Pembroke Dock}}, {{rws|Maesteg}} and {{rws|Cheltenham Spa}} via {{rws|Chepstow}}, typically on an hourly or two-hourly frequency.
**Operate longer distance services via the [[Welsh Marches Line]], including an hourly service to {{stn|Manchester Piccadilly}}, via [[Hereford railway station|Hereford]], [[Shrewsbury railway station|Shrewsbury]] and [[Crewe railway station|Crewe]], and a two-hourly service to {{rws|Holyhead}}, via Shrewsbury, {{rws|Wrexham General}}, {{rws|Chester}} and the [[North Wales Coast Line]]. A premium daily return service to Holyhead known as the [[Premier Service]] is also run.
**Infrequent [[boat train]]s to and from [[Fishguard Harbour railway station|Fishguard Harbour]], connecting with the [[Stena Line]] ferry to [[Rosslare Europort|Rosslare Harbour]] in Ireland.
*[[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]]:
**Operate two trains per hour (tph) to [[London Paddington railway station|London Paddington]] via {{rws|Newport}}, {{rws|Bristol Parkway}}, {{rws|Swindon}} and {{rws|Reading}}, one of these hourly services begins or terminates at Cardiff and the other begins at or continues to Swansea or Carmarthen.
**Operate an hourly service to {{rws|Portsmouth Harbour}} and an hourly service to {{rws|Taunton}}, both running via {{rws|Bristol Temple Meads}}, with a small number carrying on to {{rws|Penzance}}.
*[[CrossCountry]]:
**Operate an hourly service to {{stn|Nottingham}} via {{rws|Gloucester}}, {{rws|Birmingham New Street}} and {{rws|Derby}}.
** Also operate 2 trains per day to [[Bristol Temple Meads railway station|Bristol Temple Meads]].

===Future services===
*[[Lumo (train operating company)|Lumo]]:
**Has been approved to operate five trains per day to [[London Paddington railway station|London Paddington]] from December 2024, calling at {{rws|Newport}}, {{rws|Severn Tunnel Junction}} and {{rws|Bristol Parkway}}. In the return direction these services will run to [[Carmarthen railway station|Carmarthen]], calling at {{rws|Gowerton}} and {{rws|Llanelli}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-63819582 | title = Trains: Plans for new London-west Wales services approved |date=1 December 2022 |website=BBC News |access-date=1 December 2022}}</ref><ref>ORR approves Grand Union London - Carmarthern trains ''Rail'' issue 972 14 December 2022 page 17</ref> 

== Routes ==
{{rail start}}
{{rail line |previous={{stnlnk|Cardiff Queen Street}} |route=[[Transport for Wales Rail]] <br /><small>[[Cardiff City Line|City Line]]</small> |next={{stnlnk|Ninian Park}} |col={{KAW colour}} |lightcol={{CV colour|City}} }}
{{rail line |previous={{stnlnk|Cardiff Queen Street}} |route=[[Transport for Wales Rail]] <br /><small>[[Rhondda Line]]</small> |col={{KAW colour}} |lightcol={{CV colour|Rhondda}} }}
{{rail line two routes |previous={{stnlnk|Cardiff Queen Street}} |route1=[[Transport for Wales Rail]] <br /><small>[[Rhymney Line]] or [[Merthyr Line]]</small> |route2=[[Transport for Wales Rail]] <br /><small>[[Vale of Glamorgan Line|Vale Line]]</small> |next={{stnlnk|Grangetown}} |col={{KAW colour}} |lightcol1={{CV colour|Rhymney}} |lightcol2={{CV colour|Vale of Glamorgan}} }}
{{rail line |route=[[Transport for Wales Rail]] <br /><small>[[Ebbw Valley Railway|Cardiff Central – Ebbw Vale Town]]</small> |previous={{stnlnk|Pye Corner}} |col={{KAW colour}} |lightcol={{CV colour|Ebbw Vale}} }}
{{rail line |previous={{stnlnk|Newport}} |route=[[Transport for Wales Rail]] <br /><small>[[Maesteg Line|Maesteg / Cardiff Central – Cheltenham Spa]]</small> |next={{stnlnk|Pontyclun}} |col={{KAW colour}} |lightcol={{CV colour|Maesteg}} }}
{{rail line one to two|previous={{stnlnk|Newport}} |route1=[[Transport for Wales Rail]] <br /><small>[[Welsh Marches Line|Cardiff Central – Holyhead]]</small>|next2={{stnlnk|Bridgend}}|route2=[[Transport for Wales Rail]] <br /><small>[[South Wales Main Line]]</small> |col={{KAW colour}} }}
{{rail line |route=[[Transport for Wales Rail]] <br /><small>[[Swanline]]</small> |next=[[Bridgend railway station|Bridgend]] |col={{KAW colour}} }}
{{rail line|previous={{stnlnk|Newport}}|route=[[CrossCountry]]<br /><small>[[Cross Country Network|Cardiff Central – Birmingham - Derby - Nottingham]]</small> |col={{XC colour}} }}
{{rail line|route=[[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]]<br /><small>[[South Wales Main Line|London Paddington – Swansea]]</small>|previous={{stnlnk|Newport}} |col={{FGW colour}} |next=''Terminus'' or {{rws|Bridgend}}}}
{{rail line|route=[[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]]<br /><small>[[South Wales Main Line|Portsmouth Harbour – Cardiff Central]]</small>|previous={{stnlnk|Newport}} |col={{FGW colour}} |next=''Terminus''}}
{{rail line|route=[[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]]<br /><small>[[South Wales Main Line|Penzance - Taunton – Cardiff Central]]</small>|previous={{stnlnk|Newport}} |col={{FGW colour}} |next=''Terminus''}}

{{s-note|text=Future services}}
{{rail line |previous={{rws|Newport}}|next={{rws|Gowerton}}|route=[[Lumo (train operating company)|Lumo]]<br /><small>[[Grand Union (train operating company)|London - Carmarthen]]</small> |col={{ECT colour}} }}
{{s-end}}

== Incidents ==
On 4 May 1998, eleven wagons of a freight train which was carrying [[iron ore]] from [[Port Talbot]] [[derailment|derailed]] just east of the station, causing substantial damage to the track, as well as blocking the main line into the station. This caused enormous disruption to the services which lasted for several days. No-one however was injured in the incident.<ref>{{cite news |title=Train accident causes travel chaos |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/87876.stm |work=BBC News |access-date=22 November 2018 |date=4 May 1998}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Derailment of Iron Ore train at Cardiff May 1998 with 56083 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psiEUdLOZ04  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/psiEUdLOZ04| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|website=YouTube | date=25 October 2011 |publisher=Mike Wilcock |access-date=22 November 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

To the east of the platforms, the Valley Lines tracks rise up and cross over the South Wales Main Line using a bridge. Rail services were severely disrupted in August 2012 when the retaining wall between the tracks partially collapsed, spilling five tonnes of earth. The South Wales Main Line was swiftly reopened, but all services between Cardiff Central and {{rws|Cardiff Queen Street}} were cancelled, with a replacement bus service operating. It was expected that repairs could take two weeks.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-19219834|title=Cardiff rail disruption 'to continue' after wall breaks|location=Cardiff| publisher=BBC Cymru Wales| work=BBC News| date=11 August 2012| access-date=11 August 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-19205533|title=Cardiff rail services disruption after wall collapse| publisher=BBC Cymru Wales|location=Cardiff| work=BBC News| date=10 August 2012| access-date=11 August 2012}}</ref> There were worries that the bronze medal match in the [[Football at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|2012 Summer Olympics men's football competition]], held at the nearby [[Cardiff Millennium Stadium]] could be disrupted, but most fans were due to arrive by the main line rather than the Valley Lines.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-19213045|title=Cardiff wall collapse causes rail delays| publisher=BBC Cymru Wales|location=Cardiff| work=BBC News| date=10 August 2012| access-date=11 August 2012}}</ref> There had been severe congestion at the station earlier in the month due to another Olympic match.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-19112404| title=Olympic football: Team GB Cardiff quarter-final attracts thousands| publisher=BBC Cymru Wales|location=Cardiff| work=BBC News| date=5 August 2012| access-date=11 August 2012}}</ref>

In December 2016, a serious accident was narrowly averted by the alertness of a driver. During the Cardiff Area Resignalling Scheme, a set of points had been left in an unsafe condition, and undetectable by the signalling system. The [[Rail Accident Investigation Branch]] report into the incident revealed that lessons learnt following the [[Clapham Junction rail crash]] in December 1988 appeared to have been forgotten. Excessive working hours and a lack of detailed planning were cited as contributory factors.<ref name=RAIBCardiff>{{cite report |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/655196/R152017_171030_Cardiff_East_Junction.pdf |title=Serious irregularity at Cardiff East Junction 29 December 2016 |location=Farnborough|publisher=Rail Accident Investigation Branch |access-date=30 October 2017}}</ref>

==Media==
In 2020, the [[Rail Delivery Group]] nominated Cardiff Central as one of the Welsh stations as a contender for the World Cup of Stations. It passed the group stages and was the Wales contender in the semi-finals. However, it lost to [[Stourbridge Junction railway station]] to reach the final in the west region.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bigplanbigchanges.co.uk/big-changes/world-cup-of-stations-2020|title=Back by popular demand! The World Cup of Stations tournament|access-date=16 February 2021|archive-date=4 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304023534/https://bigplanbigchanges.co.uk/big-changes/world-cup-of-stations-2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of railway stations in Wales]]
* [[Transport in Wales]]
* [[Commuter rail in the United Kingdom]]
* [[Rail transport in Cardiff]]

== References ==
===Citations===
{{reflist}}

===Sources===
* {{cite book
  | last = Walters
  | first = Laurence
  | year = 1995
  | title = Railways of Cardiff
  | publisher = Ian Allan Ltd
  | location = Addlestone
  | isbn = 0-7110-2380-8 
  }}

== Further reading ==
*{{cite magazine|title=Cardiff plan|magazine=[[RAIL (magazine)|Rail Enthusiast]]|publisher=EMAP National Publications|date=October 1982|page=52|issn=0262-561X|oclc=49957965}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category-inline|Cardiff Central railway station}}
{{stn art lrnk|CDF|CF101EP}}

{{Railway stations served by Transport for Wales}}
{{Cardiff, Newport and the Valleys railway stations}}
{{Major railway stations in Britain}}
{{Transport in Cardiff}}
{{South Wales Metro}}

[[Category:Grade II listed buildings in Cardiff]]
[[Category:Grade II listed railway stations in Wales]]
[[Category:Railway stations in Cardiff|Central]]
[[Category:DfT Category A stations]]
[[Category:Former Great Western Railway stations]]
[[Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1850]]
[[Category:Railway stations served by CrossCountry]]
[[Category:Railway stations served by Great Western Railway]]
[[Category:Railway stations served by Transport for Wales Rail]]
[[Category:South Wales Main Line]]
[[Category:Art Deco railway stations]]
[[Category:Art Deco architecture in Wales]]
[[Category:Castle, Cardiff]]