The Railway Data Centre | Station Overview

Cardiff Central

Station Usage

In 2021/2022, Cardiff Central had 7,463,378 entries and exits, making it the 32^nd most used station in Great Britain.

32/2554

It was the 35^th busiest station with 3,337 scheduled services per week

35/953

That's a daily average of 20,447.61 passengers starting or ending their journey here and 43.01 passengers per service, giving it the 73^rd highest passenger to service ratio.

73/1582

Service sample data based on scheduled services during the first week of the May 2021 timetable.

Usage Stats in Detail

Full price entries & exits: 3,785,042
Reduced price entries & exits: 2,880,758
Season ticket entries & exits: 797,578
Interchanges made between connecting services: 781,852
Change in usage from 2021/2022: +5,487,916 : 277.80%

Platform Lengths

Plat.	Metres	VF*	Notes
0	99	359
1	299	1087	Top of ramp to top of ramp
2	298	1083	Top of ramp to top of ramp
3	303	1101	Top of ramp to top of ramp
4	303	1101	Top of ramp to top of ramp
6	225	818	Top of ramp to top of ramp
7	226	821	To top of ramp (Cardiff West Jn end).
8	156	567	Top of ramp to top of ramp
1 Down	286	1040	Usable platform length accessible to train crew and passengers
1 Up	277	1007	Usable platform length accessible to train crew and passengers
2 Down	285	1036	Usable platform length accessible to train crew and passengers
2 Up	285	1036	Usable platform length accessible to train crew and passengers
3 Down	299	1087	Usable platform length accessible to train crew and passengers
3 Up	299	1087	Usable platform length accessible to train crew and passengers
4 Down	297	1080	Usable platform length accessible to train crew and passengers
4 Up	297	1080	Usable platform length accessible to train crew and passengers
6 Down	221	803	Usable platform length accessible to train crew and passengers
6 Up	221	803	Usable platform length accessible to train crew and passengers
7 Down	223	810	Usable platform length accessible to train crew and passengers
7 Up	223	810
8 Down	155	563	Usable platform length accessible to train crew and passengers
8 Up	155	563	Usable platform length accessible to train crew and passengers

*VF = Vicki Feet: the unit of measurement for platform lengths, as used in the excellent All The Stations. Conversion rate: YouTube video
Data derived from Network Rail timetable planning rules 2021 (Nov 2019)

Timetables

Table

Route

Swansea, Cardiff, Bristol & Cheltenham - Swindon - Didcot & London

Long distance services to and from Birmingham (North-South)

156

Manchester, Chester, Crewe & Shrewsbury - South Wales

161

Cardiff Queen Street - Cardiff Central

162

Radyr - Cardiff

163

Rhymney - Cardiff - Penarth

164

Coryton - Cardiff

165

Treherbert, Aberdare & Merthyr Tydfil - Pontypridd - Cardiff

166

Cardiff & Newport - Crosskeys - Ebbw Vale

167

Cardiff Central - Newport - Severn Tunnel Jn

Please note: we are currently working on the production of timetables in the South East. Therefore, any tables focused in this area may not yet be available. For more info, please visit our timetable pages.

Current Service Pattern

DAY/HR	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23
Mon	2	0	0	0	1	15	28	36	41	43	42	40	40	43	41	42	39	40	36	34	31	32	23	19	668
Tue	4	2	0	0	1	15	29	36	41	43	42	40	40	43	41	42	39	40	36	34	31	32	23	19	673
Wed	4	2	0	0	1	15	29	36	41	43	42	40	40	43	41	42	39	40	36	34	31	32	23	19	673
Thu	4	2	0	0	1	15	29	36	41	43	42	40	40	43	41	42	39	40	36	34	31	32	23	19	673
Fri	4	2	0	0	1	15	29	36	41	43	42	40	40	43	41	42	39	40	36	34	32	36	26	18	680
Sat	5	1	0	0	1	13	22	37	39	38	39	36	39	39	41	42	37	38	36	34	35	31	24	16	643
Sun	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	12	14	23	20	25	22	24	23	27	22	23	22	24	18	9	8	321

Timetable data based on scheduled services during the first week of the current (May 2022) timetable.

Other service patterns:

Location Details

Location: Cardiff Central
CRS: CDF / NLC: 3899 / TIPLOC: CRDFCEN
Station Facility Owner: TfW Rail
OS Grid Ref: 318194 175889
Region: Wales - Cymru
Local Authority: Caerdydd - Cardiff
ELR(s): SWM2 170m 29ch

Station Usage History

Line Chart

1997-1998: 5,858,915
1998-1999: 5,738,681 (-120,234 : -2.05%)
1999-2000: 6,457,827 (+719,146 : 12.53%)
2000-2001: 6,707,944 (+250,117 : 3.87%)
2001-2002: 7,479,904 (+771,960 : 11.51%)
2002-2003: 7,949,395 (+469,491 : 6.28%)
2003-2004: Not Conducted
2004-2005: 7,743,280 (-206,115 : -2.59%)
2005-2006: 8,357,732 (+614,452 : 7.94%)
2006-2007: 9,126,923 (+769,191 : 9.20%)
2007-2008: 9,875,014 (+748,091 : 8.20%)
2008-2009: 10,485,084 (+610,070 : 6.18%)
2009-2010: 10,742,546 (+257,462 : 2.46%)
2010-2011: 11,259,968 (+517,422 : 4.82%)
2011-2012: 11,507,598 (+247,630 : 2.20%)
2012-2013: 11,637,744 (+130,146 : 1.13%)
2013-2014: 11,739,630 (+101,886 : 0.88%)
2014-2015: 11,939,360 (+199,730 : 1.70%)
2015-2016: 12,744,582 (+805,222 : 6.74%)
2016-2017: 12,534,884 (-209,698 : -1.65%)
2017-2018: 12,951,702 (+416,818 : 3.33%)
2018-2019: 12,934,304 (-17,398 : -0.13%)
2019-2020: 12,670,920 (-263,384 : -2.04%)
2020-2021: 1,975,462 (-10,695,458 : -84.41%)
2021-2022: 7,463,378 (+5,487,916 : 277.80%)

Change between 1997 & 2020: +6,812,005 (+116.27%)
Change between 1997 & 2022: +1,604,463 (+27.38%)

Walk-up Fares

Enter a stations three letter 'CRS' code, it's 4 digit 'NLC' code or 4 or more letters of any UK station, to search the fare manual for walk-up fares. To browse the full fares database, including advance fares, please click HERE.

BACK TO STATIONS INDEX

Origin
Destination