Station access arrangements and map
As construction works progress for both Cardiff Central station improvements and Cardiff Crossrail, pedestrian routes around the station may change.
Please follow the directional signs, including those between the multi-storey car park and the station’s southern entrance on Penarth Road, and allow plenty of time for your journey.
| Map of Cardiff Central temporary footpath | Image | Description |
|---|---|---|
|
| Station entrance. |
| Footpath closed.
| |
| Pedestrian routes are step free and accessible. | |
| Cardiff Central Quay multi-storey car park and station pick-up and drop-off. | |
| Construction site. | |
| Rail replacement bus stop. |
Map of Cardiff Central temporary footpath
Image and description
Station entrance.
Footpath closed.
Pedestrian routes are step free and accessible.
Cardiff Central Quay multi-storey car park and station pick-up and drop-off.
Construction site.
Rail replacement bus stop.
Temporary closure of the footway adjacent to the south wall of Cardiff Central station - from 23 September
The pedestrian footway which runs alongside the wall of Cardiff Central station for access to the southern entrance (on the Penarth Road side of the station) will temporarily close from 23 September.
You’ll still be able to access the southern entrance of the station, please follow the directional signage that’ll be in place and allow plenty of time for your journey. This footway closure won’t impact access between Cardiff Central Quay multi-storey car park and the southern entrance.
The footway needs to close so preparatory works can be carried out for the construction of a temporary gate-line at the south of the station. The footway will reopen later in the autumn, we’ll share the date and further information as soon as this is confirmed.
The rail replacement pick-up and drop-off point at Cardiff Central station will continue to be located at the bus stop outside 3 Callaghan Square, near the junction of Penarth Road and West Canal Wharf.
Station parking / pick-up and drop-off
Parking is available nearby at Cardiff Central Quay multi-storey car park at the south of the station which is managed by Network Rail and operated by APCOA on behalf of Network Rail. If you have any queries about the multi-storey, please speak to a member of APCOA staff on site, or contact APCOA here.
20 minutes free drop off and pick up is available in all parking bays located at the multi-storey (except the spaces on the ground floor, which are designated for EV and EV accessible parking only). There is flexibility for customers with a valid disabled badge who may need more than 20 minutes, please speak to a member of APCOA staff on site.
Taxi pick-up and drop-off will continue to be located at the Saunders Road taxi rank at the north side of the station (except for event days). Cardiff Central Quay multi-storey can also be used as a pick-up and drop-off location for ride-sharing services and private hire vehicles (the 20 minute free pick-up and drop-off period applies).
Rail replacement
The rail replacement pick-up and drop-off point at Cardiff Central station is located at the bus stop outside 3 Callaghan Square, near the junction of Penarth Road and West Canal Wharf. This location will also be used on event days.
Please follow directional signs which will guide you between Cardiff Central station and the rail replacement pick-up and drop-off point.
Accessibility information for rail replacement services is available within the Accessibility and assistance section below.
Accessibility and assistance
Information on this page is provided in accessible formats, including an image description of the map for customers using screen readers.
Accessible route map
| Map of Cardiff Central temporary footpath | Image | Description |
|---|---|---|
|
|
| Station entrance. |
|
| Footpath closed.
| |
|
| Pedestrian routes are step free and accessible. | |
|
| Cardiff Central Quay multi-storey car park and station pick-up and drop-off. | |
|
| Construction site. | |
|
| Rail replacement bus stop. |
Map of Cardiff Central temporary footpath
Image and description
Station entrance.
Footpath closed.
Pedestrian routes are step free and accessible.
Cardiff Central Quay multi-storey car park and station pick-up and drop-off.
Construction site.
Rail replacement bus stop.
Image description
This image is a simplified route map showing the pedestrian route between the Cardiff Central Quay multi-storey car park and the southern entrance of Cardiff Central railway station.
The railway station occupies the centre of the map. The Cardiff Central Quay multi-storey car park is shown in the lower centre of the map and is marked with a black "P" parking symbol. Nearby streets include Penarth Road on the right side and Crawshay Street at the bottom. The multi-storey car park can be used for pick up and drop off for Cardiff Central station.
Construction sites are located where the Penarth Road car park used to be. Red "No Entry" symbols indicate sections where footpaths are closed, including the pedestrian footway which runs alongside the wall of Cardiff Central station for access to the southern entrance which is on the Penarth Road side of the station.
A clearly marked pedestrian route is shown with a thick blue line. The route begins near the multi-storey car park, travels north-east around the edge of the construction works, then turns north-west towards the station. The route avoids the closed footpaths and construction areas. Blue accessibility symbols along the route show that the walkway is step-free and accessible. The pedestrian route is approximately X metres.
A purple bus symbol on the eastern side of the map marks the location of a rail replacement bus stop, outside 3 Callaghan Square near the junction of Penarth Road and West Canal Wharf.
Passenger Assist and additional support
Passenger Assist is available for customers who need support.
Booking assisted travel
If you have reduced mobility and have arranged passenger assistance at the station, please use the Cardiff Central Quay multi-storey for accessible drop-off / pick-up and parking. Please speak to a TfW colleague on arrival at the station.
Accessible drop-off and pick-up
Accessible parking, pick-up and drop-off are available at Cardiff Central Quay multi-storey car park.
20 minutes free drop off and pick up is available in all parking bays located at the multi-storey (except the spaces on the ground floor, which are designated for EV and EV accessible parking only). There is flexibility for customers with a valid disabled badge who may need more than 20 minutes, please speak to a member of APCOA staff on site.
Rail replacement
The rail replacement pick-up and drop-off point at Cardiff Central station is located at the bus stop outside 3 Callaghan Square, near the junction of Penarth Road and West Canal Wharf.
A step-free route between the station and the rail replacement location is available. Accessible boarding arrangements will also be provided for customers who need them.
Cardiff Central enhancements
We’re improving Wales’ busiest railway station to make it more welcoming, accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
To deliver these changes, there’ll be construction works in and near the station over the next few years, which may lead to some disruption.
If you’re travelling through the station, please plan ahead and allow extra time for your journey.
We’ll be sharing further information on the next phases of construction and any impacts.
Our community booklet has further information on the enhancements scheme and how we'll keep passengers, residents, businesses and the local community updated on any disruption.
Please note, images and fly-through shared are for illustrative purposes only and may change as designs progress.
We’re grateful to Amey and Cityscape, who we’ve worked closely with to bring the enhancements scheme to life through the virtual fly-through.
The planned enhancements at Cardiff Central will provide significant upgrades and improvements to the station, funded by up to £140 million from the Department for Transport, Cardiff Capital Region and the Welsh Government.
The enhancements scheme aims to alleviate overcrowding and congestion at the station and accommodate long-term passenger growth. It will also create an improved sense of place by transforming customer and colleague facilities, improving pedestrian flow, and enabling better accessibility for customers with reduced mobility. The scheme will enhance the look and feel of the station and improve the passenger environment while complementing the history and heritage of the building.
The Cardiff Central enhancements scheme forms part of a wider significant investment going into transforming transport in central Cardiff, including ambitious regeneration plans. The transformative work in Metro Central is being delivered through the Canolog alliance, a partnership of public sector organisations working together to transform travel in the heart of Cardiff. The Canolog alliance will work collaboratively to deliver transformational change to transport in Cardiff and the wider region to improve connections between bus, rail, walking, wheeling and cycling and encourage sustainable travel.
Celebrating Cardiff Central’s history and heritage
2025 marks the year Cardiff Central station turned 175 years old, in the same year that we celebrate 200 years of the railway. To mark this milestone, we’re celebrating the story of the station and its history.
The history of Cardiff Central station
