Rail transport in Cardiff

Rail transport in Cardiff has developed to provide connections to many other major cities in the United Kingdom, and to provide an urban rail network for the city and its commuter towns in southeast Wales. Today, there are three train operating companies in Cardiff: Great Western Railway, CrossCountry and Transport for Wales.

v t e Railway lines in Cardiff
Legend
Rhymney line Coryton line Heath Low Level│High Level Merthyr line & Rhondda line Llandaf Cathays Danescourt Fairwater Waun-Gron Park South Wales Main Line to Bridgend Cardiff Queen Street South Wales Main Line to Newport & Ebbw Valley line Ninian Park Cardiff Central Cardiff Riverside Canal Parade goods depot Bute West docks Bute East docks (Atlantic Wharf) East Moors depot Cardiff Bay Grangetown Roath docks Cardiff Bay quayside Queen Alexandra docks Penarth Flats docks Penarth Moors docks Vale of Glamorgan line Penarth branch

Services to/from Cardiff

Transport for Wales

National

• Cardiff Central – Newport – Hereford – Shrewsbury – Wrexham General – Chester – Rhyl – Llandudno Junction – Holyhead
• Cardiff Central – Newport – Hereford – Shrewsbury – Crewe – Manchester Piccadilly
• Cardiff Central – Bridgend – Port Talbot Parkway – Neath – Swansea – Llanelli – Carmarthen – Milford Haven
• Cardiff Central – Newport – Gloucester – Cheltenham Spa

Regional

• Cardiff Central – Bridgend – Port Talbot Parkway – Neath – Swansea
• Cardiff Central – Rogerstone – Risca and Pontymister – Ebbw Vale Parkway

Local

These services operate on the Valley Lines network – an urban rail network centred on Cardiff that connects it to its commuter towns in South East Wales:

• Cardiff Central – Cardiff Queen Street – Rhiwbina – Coryton
• Cardiff Central – Ninian Park – Fairwater – Radyr
• Cardiff Central – Grangetown – Penarth
• Cardiff Central – Grangetown – Dinas Powys – Barry – Barry Island
• Cardiff Central – Grangetown – Dinas Powys – Barry – Rhoose Cardiff International Airport – Llantwit Major – Bridgend
• Cardiff Queen Street – Cardiff Bay
• Cardiff Central – Pontyclun – Bridgend – Maesteg
• Cardiff Central – Cardiff Queen Street – Caerphilly – Ystrad Mynach – Bargoed – Rhymney
• Cardiff Central – Cardiff Queen Street – Radyr – Pontypridd – Abercynon – Merthyr Tydfil
• Cardiff Central – Cardiff Queen Street – Radyr – Pontypridd – Abercynon – Mountain Ash – Aberdare
• Cardiff Central – Cardiff Queen Street – Radyr – Pontypridd – Tonypandy – Treorchy – Treherbert

Great Western Railway

National

• Cardiff Central – Newport – Bristol Parkway – Swindon – Reading – London Paddington
• Cardiff Central – Bristol Temple Meads – Bath Spa – Southampton Central – Portsmouth Harbour
• Cardiff Central – Bristol Temple Meads – Weston-super-Mare – Taunton

Regional

• Cardiff Central – Newport – Filton Abbey Wood – Bristol Temple Meads
• Cardiff Central – Bridgend – Port Talbot Parkway – Neath – Swansea
  • Daily/Summer Weekend extensions to Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock respectively

CrossCountry

National

• Cardiff Central – Newport – Gloucester – Birmingham New Street – Derby – Nottingham

Stations in Cardiff

All 20 railway stations in Cardiff are owned by Network Rail and managed by Transport for Wales which also operates all train services at these stations, with the exception of Cardiff Central which is also served by CrossCountry and Great Western Railway. The stations form part of Cardiff's commuter rail network, colloquially known as Valley Lines

Cardiff Central ^[1] and Cardiff Queen Street are the main hubs of the city and are the two busiest stations in Wales.

Cardiff Central is one of the United Kingdom's major railway stations, providing connections to Newport, Bristol, Bath, Reading, London, Southampton, Portsmouth, Gloucester, Cheltenham, Birmingham and Nottingham. It is located in the south of the Cardiff city centre

Cardiff Queen Street is the hub of the Valley Lines network, with all lines running through the station. It is located in Cardiff's eastern city centre.

Station	Area	Station Code	Platforms	13/14 Entry/Exit (millions)	Year opened	Lines	Image
Birchgrove Llwynbedw	Birchgrove	BCG	1	0.034	1929	Coryton Line
Cardiff Bay Bae Caerdydd	Butetown Cardiff Bay	CDB	1	1.019	1841 [2]	Butetown Branch Line
Cardiff Central Caerdydd Canolog	Cardiff city centre	CDF	8	11.74	1850	Cardiff City Line Coryton Line, Ebbw Valley Railway Maesteg Line, Merthyr Line Rhondda Line Rhymney Line South Wales Main Line Vale of Glamorgan Line
Cardiff Queen Street Caerdydd Heol Y Frenhines	Cardiff city centre Adamsdown	CDQ	5	2.463	1840	Butetown Line Coryton Line Merthyr Line Rhondda Line Rhymney Line
Cathays Cathays	Cathays Cardiff University	CYS	2	0.807	1983	Merthyr Line Rhondda Line
Coryton Coryton	Coryton Pantmawr Whitchurch	COY	1	0.266	1911	Coryton Line
Danescourt Danescourt	Danescourt Llandaff North	DCT	2	0.086	1987	City Line
Fairwater Tyllgoed	Fairwater	FRW	2	0.051	1987	City Line
Grangetown Grangetown	Grangetown Leckwith	GTN	2	0.180	1882	Vale of Glamorgan Line
Heath High Level Lefel Uchaf y Mynydd Bychan	Heath Cyncoed	HHL	2	0.311	1915	Rhymney Line
Heath Low Level Lefel Isel y Mynydd Bychan	Heath Cyncoed	HLL	1	0.054	1911	Coryton Line
Lisvane and Thornhill Llys-faen	Lisvane Thornhill	LVT	2	0.176	1871	Rhymney Line
Llandaf Llandaf	Llandaff North Gabalfa Whitchurch	LLN	2	0.441	1840	Merthyr Line Rhondda Line
Llanishen Llanishen	Llanishen	LLS	2	0.221	1871	Rhymney Line
Ninian Park Parc Ninian	Leckwith Ninian Park Canton	NNP	2	0.100	1987	City Line
Radyr Radyr	Radyr Morganstown	RDR	3	0.469	1863	Merthyr Line Rhondda Line City Line
Rhiwbina Rhiwbina	Rhiwbina	RHI	1	0.046	1911	Coryton Line
Ty Glas Tŷ Glas	Llanishen Heath	TGS	1	0.131	1987	Coryton Line
Waun-Gron Park Parc Waun-Gron	Fairwater Canton	WNG	2	0.055	1987	City Line
Whitchurch Yr Eglwys Newydd	Whitchurch	WHT	1	0.011	1911	Coryton Line

Railway lines

The rail network within and around Cardiff

These are the main rail lines that serve Cardiff. Most of the lines are Cardiff commuter lines that form the city's urban rail network.

South Wales Main Line

Main article: South Wales Main Line

The South Wales Main Line is a branch of the Great Western Main Line from London Paddington. It diverges from the main line near Swindon, first passing through Bristol Parkway and continuing through the Severn Tunnel to Cardiff Central via Newport. The line continues from the city towards West Wales. The line between London and Cardiff has been electrified. ^[3]

Butetown Line

The Butetown Line is a short line running from Cardiff Queen Street to Cardiff Bay. Rail services call only at those stations with a frequency of every 12 minutes.

Cardiff City Line

The Cardiff City Line is entirely within Cardiff running to its western suburbs. The line terminates at Radyr, after calling at Ninian Park, Waun-Gron Park, Fairwater and Danescourt. Rail services run to Cardiff Central and Queen Street every 30 minutes, and usually continue on the Coryton Line.

Coryton Line

The Coryton Line is entirely within Cardiff running to its northern suburbs. The line terminates at Coryton, after calling at stations in Heath, Ty Glas, Birchgrove, Rhiwbina and Whitchurch. Rail services run to Cardiff Central and Queen Street every 30 minutes, and usually continue on the Radyr Line.

Ebbw Valley Railway

The Ebbw Valley Railway was re-opened to passenger rail services in February 2008. The line provides an hourly service between Cardiff Central and Ebbw Vale Town. The line follows the South Wales Main Line eastbound out of Cardiff before diverging north and calling at Rogerstone, Risca and Pontymister, Crosskeys, Newbridge, Llanhilleth and Ebbw Vale Parkway.

Maesteg Line

The Maesteg Line runs from Cardiff to Maesteg in Bridgend County Borough. The line follows the South Wales Main Line through the Vale of Glamorgan until Bridgend, calling at minor stations which are not served by high speed services. The line then diverges northwards through Sarn and Tondu. Services run every hour to and from Cardiff, often extending to Cheltenham Spa.

Merthyr Line

The Merthyr Line runs northward out of Cardiff, calling at stations in the suburbs of Cathays, Llandaff and Radyr, where it connects with the City Line. It continues into Rhondda Cynon Taff, through Taffs Well, Treforest and Pontypridd. Frequencies on this stretch of the line are usually every 10 minutes.

After calling at Abercynon, the line splits into two branches; one to Merthyr Tydfil via Merthyr Vale and another to Aberdare via Mountain Ash. Frequencies are every 30 minutes on both branches and often link up with Vale of Glamorgan Line services to Barry Island or Bridgend via Rhoose Cardiff International Airport.

Rhondda Line

The Rhondda Line is a line that runs north from Cardiff through the Rhondda Valley to Treherbert. The line is shared with the Merthyr Line until Pontypridd. From there, the line diverges through Porth, Tonypandy and Treorchy amongst others.

Services run every 30 minutes and often continue through Cardiff onto the Vale of Glamorgan Line to Penarth or Barry Island.

Rhymney Line

The Rhymney Line is another line that runs northwards from Cardiff and calls at stations in the city suburbs of Heath, Llanishen and Lisvane before continuing to Caerphilly and places such as Ystrad Mynach, Hengoed and Bargoed.

Services on this stretch of line run every 15 minutes. Every hour, trains continue on the rest of the line to Rhymney. Trains often continue through Cardiff onto the Vale of Glamorgan Line to Penarth.

Vale of Glamorgan Line

The Vale of Glamorgan Line is a line that runs from Cardiff through the largely rural county of the Vale of Glamorgan to Bridgend. The line comprises three branches. Trains call at Grangetown in Cardiff before continuing on the main line to stations in Dinas Powys and Barry, or diverging onto a branch serving Penarth. After Barry, services can either continue again to Rhoose Cardiff International Airport, Llantwit Major and Bridgend or diverge to Barry Island.

Frequencies to Penarth or to Barry Island are every 15 minutes, and to Bridgend via Cardiff Airport are every hour. Train services often continue after Cardiff Queen Street on the Merthyr, Rhondda or Rhymney Lines.

Main destinations

There are direct services from Cardiff Central to the following destinations, with the average scheduled journey time:

National Destination Time from Central Operator Bath Spa 65 mins Great Western Railway Birmingham New Street 120 mins CrossCountry Bristol Parkway 41 mins Great Western Railway Bristol Temple Meads 48 mins Great Western Railway Derby 174 mins CrossCountry Gloucester 59 mins CrossCountry Transport for Wales Holyhead 301 mins Transport for Wales London Paddington 100-110 mins Great Western Railway Manchester Piccadilly 205 mins Transport for Wales Milford Haven 160 mins Transport for Wales Nottingham 200 mins CrossCountry Portsmouth Harbour 211 mins Great Western Railway Shrewsbury 121 mins Transport for Wales Southampton Central 156 mins Great Western Railway Taunton 122 mins Great Western Railway Wrexham General 161 mins Transport for Wales

Regional/Local Destination Time from Central Operator Aberdare 63 mins Transport for Wales Rhymney 60 mins Transport for Wales Barry 24 mins Transport for Wales Bridgend 22-59 mins Great Western Railway Transport for Wales Coryton 19 mins Transport for Wales Ebbw Vale 56 mins Transport for Wales Maesteg 54 mins Transport for Wales Merthyr Tydfil 62 mins Transport for Wales Newport 13-15 mins CrossCountry Great Western Railway Transport for Wales Penarth 16 mins Transport for Wales Pontypridd 30 mins Transport for Wales Radyr 26 mins Transport for Wales Tredegar 84 mins Transport for Wales Treherbert 66 mins Transport for Wales

Train operators

Current train operators Operator Image Stock operated Route(s) CrossCountry Class 170 Turbostar Class 220 Voyager Class 221 Voyager Cardiff Central – Nottingham via Gloucester and Birmingham Cardiff Central – Edinburgh via Birmingham and York [4] Great Western Railway Class 800 IET Class 158 Express Sprinter London – Paddington via South Wales Main Line, Bristol Parkway and Reading Cardiff Central – Portsmouth Harbour via Bristol Temple Meads, Bath, Salisbury and Southampton Cardiff Central – Taunton via Bristol Temple Meads and Weston-Super-Mare Transport for Wales Class 67 and Mark 4 Class 158 Express Sprinter Class 153 Super Sprinter Class 150 Sprinter Class 197 Class 231 FLIRT Class 756 FLIRT [5] Cardiff Central – Holyhead via Shrewewsbury, Wrexham & Chester West Wales – Manchester Piccadilly via Shrewewsbury & Crewe Maesteg – Cheltenham Spa via Gloucester South Wales Main Line to Swansea, Carmarthen, Tenby, Pembroke Dock, Milford Haven Valley Lines Cardiff Bay Line

Former train operators Operator Years Image Arriva Trains Wales 2003–2018 Central Trains 1997–2007 Valley Lines 1995–2001

Former train operators Operator Years Image Virgin CrossCountry 1997–2007 Wales & Borders 2001–2003 Wales & West 1997–2001 Wessex Trains 2001–2006

Transport connections

The Cardiff Waterbus towards Cardiff Bay stops at Taff Mead Embankment, near Central Station.

Taxi ranks are located outside Central Station, as is cycle parking which is also available at many other city stations.

Cardiff Airport connects with the Cardiff rail network at Rhoose Cardiff International Airport station, from which free shuttle buses run to the departures terminal.

Future plans

The South Wales Metro System is a proposed major overhaul of the transport systems in South East Wales, including integration of heavy rail and development of light rail and bus-based public transport services around the hub of Cardiff Central.

The disused railway station in the St. Fagans area, in the west of the city, could be reopened to bolster transport links for a major Cardiff tourist attraction, under a proposal in March 2010 by former First Minister Rhodri Morgan AM and Cardiff West MP Kevin Brennan, follow predictions that visitor numbers to the National History Museum could top one million a year by 2017. By 2012, further submissions will be made to try to secure £8.7m of funding towards the project. ^[6]

Network Rail is currently proposing adding an extra two platforms to both Cardiff Central and Cardiff Queen Street station, and installing a light rail metro system in the city. ^[7]

See also

• Transport in Cardiff
• Transport in Wales

References

1. 51°28′34″N3°10′48″W / 51.4760°N 3.1800°W / 51.4760; -3.1800
2. "BBC - South East Wales - Walk through time". Archived from the original on 27 September 2004.
3. Milmo, Dan (21 July 2009). "London to Cardiff rail line will be electrified to cut carbon footprint". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
4. "Special event at Cardiff Central marks return of direct services between Cardiff and Edinburgh". www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
5. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 February 2022.
6. Gaskell, Simon (9 March 2010). "Calls for disused St Fagans train station to be reopened". WalesOnline.
7. Steffan Rhys (26 November 2008). "News – Wales News – Train-tram could set off in transport proposals". WalesOnline. Retrieved 2 January 2010.

External links

• Transport for Wales
• Cross Country trains
• Great Western Railway