Trains to Cardiff Central

Cardiff Central is one of the two main railway stations in Cardiff, the other being Cardiff Queen Street. It’s Wales's busiest and largest railway station, which was originally built in the 1840s. Yet, the station owes its continued existence to 19th-century Britain’s engineer extraordinaire, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who diverted the River Taff to the west and made a larger and safer site for the station.

Cardiff Central is housed in a Grade II-listed building and sports a magnificent Art Deco façade emblazoned with ‘Great Western Railway’ above the station’s main entrance. Today, the station conveniently opens on Central Square in front of the main entrance, which was recently redeveloped and allows passengers direct access to Cardiff City Centre immediately.

Cardiff Central has a range of amenities, including:

• A ticket office (opening times: Monday to Saturday: 5.40am – 10.30pm; Sunday: 7.30am – 10.30pm). You can book train tickets as well as monthly and annual season tickets at the ticket office.
• Self-service ticket machines and accessible ticket machines. Plus, you can collect tickets you have bought online from the self-service machines.
• First class lounge (opening times: Monday to Sunday: 6am – 10pm.)
• Step-free access to all platforms.
• Boards to check the real-time train timetable.
• ATMs, shops, and hospitality.
• Public Wi-Fi, and post boxes.
• 156 bicycle storage stands.

Cardiff Central’s location on Central Square means getting to and from the station is incredibly easy and convenient. For example, Cardiff Bus Interchange is on Central Square, and there’s a taxi rank on Saunders Road, just off Central Square. Helping you get around the city easily.

If you need to get to the Cardiff Airport from Cardiff Central, an express coach service named T9 Airport Express departs from the rear end of the station.

Cardiff Central chiefly acts as an interchange between the west and south of Wales and offers inter-city services to English cities like London Paddington, Birmingham New Street, and Manchester Piccadilly.

London Paddington to Cardiff Central

It takes just under two hours to get from London Paddington to Cardiff Central with Great Western Railway(GWR). The fastest service gets you to the Welsh capital in one hour and forty-eight minutes. Two trains depart from London Paddington every hour on weekdays.

Merthyr Tydfil to Cardiff Central

On average, it takes only one hour and four minutes to travel from Merthyr Tydfil to Cardiff Central with Transport for Wales. Trains leave around every half an hour or so.

Radyr to Cardiff Central

Travelling from Radyr to Cardiff Central takes only seventeen to eighteen minutes with Transport for Wales. Trains leave every few minutes.

Rhiwbina to Cardiff Central

It takes, on average, only eighteen minutes to get from Rhiwbina to Cardiff Central with Transport for Wales.

Three train operators run services from Cardiff Central. Transport for Wales operates regional services around Wales and inter-city services to places like Manchester.

Great Western Railway operates services to London Paddington via Newport, Bristol Parkway, Swindon, and Reading.

CrossCountry operates hourly services to Nottingham via Gloucester, Birmingham New Street, and Derby, as well as two trains per day to Bristol Temple Meads.

Cardiff is a modern and dynamic city that mixes Welsh heritage with contemporary city life. The city centre is fairly compact, making everything easy to reach either on foot or by public transportation, especially when arriving at Cardiff Central Station via Central Square.

There’s so much to do in Cardiff. If you’re a history lover, Cardiff Castle, or the city’s smorgasbord of museums like the National Museum Cardiff, or St Fagans National Museum of History, will be right up your street. You might even want to go shopping and combine it with your love of history by shopping in one of Cardiff’s signature Victorian arcades.

A little further afield is Cardiff Bay, which was initially the main port for transporting coal from Wales to the rest of the globe. Nowadays, you’re more likely to get a thoroughly good day out than a lump of coal. From a glorious nature reserve, ferry trips and The Wales Millennium Centre, all the way to fantastic shopping outlets, pubs, and restaurants serving excellent Welsh, UK, and global cuisines. Cardiff has tons to see and do.

Are you feeling inspired? Get yourself to Cardiff today. Use TrainPal to search for cheap train tickets to Cardiff Central Station. It’s best to book train tickets early to secure the best deals.

What’s the postcode for Cardiff Central Train Station?

The address for Cardiff Central is Central Square, Cardiff, CF10 1EP.

How many platforms are there at Cardiff Central Train Station?

There are eight platforms at Cardiff Central.

How long is the train journey from Cardiff Central to London?

On the fastest services, it can take as little as one hour and forty-seven minutes to reach London Paddington. Usually, a journey takes on average two hours and fifteen minutes.

What is Cardiff’s main train station called?

Cardiff’s main train station is called Cardiff Central.

*Information is subject to change. Please check the latest train timetable before your trip.