Update: Cardiff transport operations for World Cup

The transport providers and tournament organisers have listened to feedback from fans and will implement a number of changes to help improve the passenger experience for rugby fans.

Lynne Milligan, Customer Services Director at Arriva Trains Wales, commented: “Getting everyone safely on their train home in the most effective way remains our most important priority. The changes being made at these events will help us to better achieve this aim, to the benefit of all our customers.  We are also determined to ensure that those not attending the rugby and relying on train services experience the least possible inconvenience.”

A spokesman for Great Western Railway said: “We’ve worked with Arriva and Network Rail to make sure we can get more trains into and out of Cardiff Central earlier, and get fans on their way as safely and quickly as possible after the match.”

Park and Ride
There will be additional spaces at Park and Ride sites across the city
Thursday 1 October, Wales v Fiji, 16:45 kick-off:
400 spaces will be made available at Blackweir
500 spaces are available at Leckwith/Cardiff West
Park and Ride sites will be open from 11:45 and stay open until 22:30

Friday 2 October, New Zealand v Georgia, 20:00 kick-off:
300 spaces will be made available in Blackweir
500 spaces will be made available at Leckwith/Cardiff West
500 spaces will be made available at County Hall – from 15:00 onwards

For 20:00 kick-offs the Park and Rides will be open from 15:00 and will stay open until 01:00

Fans should visit www.rugbyworldcup.com/travel/cardiff#car to book. There are also a number of car parking spaces within the city centre however these are pay on the day sites and are run by Cardiff City Council.

Improved queuing system at Cardiff Central Rail Station:
Priority for the services most in demand including London and Bristol Temple Meads
Additional portable toilets
Increased staff at the station
Clearer signage to help making queuing system clearer
Prioritised access for those with reduced mobility or travelling with small children under five, at the later evening matches
Additional information screens at the front of the station

Enhanced timetable to help majority of fans get a train within two hours:
Thursday 1 October, Wales v Fiji, 16:45 kick-off, final whistle expected 18:30:
To Bristol Temple Meads – 10 scheduled trains and seven supplementary trains as required after the final whistle.
To Bristol Parkway – 100 shuttle buses to enhance train services of one train per hour that run to Bristol Parkway. The expected journey time for shuttle buses is 50 minutes subject to traffic but this will be the priority and quickest way to Bristol Parkway.
To London – 11 scheduled trains and one supplementary train after final whistle.
To Newport – a train shuttle will run on this line and London bound trains will not stop at Newport for the first hour.

Friday 2 October, New Zealand v Georgia, 20:00 kick-off, final whistle expected 21:30:
To Bristol Temple Meads – there will 10 scheduled trains after the final whistle.
To Bristol Parkway – 100 shuttle buses to enhance train services of one train per hour to Bristol Parkway. The expected journey time for shuttle buses is 50 minutes subject to traffic but this will be the priority and quickest way to Bristol Parkway.
To London – there will be 13 trains scheduled after final whistle.
To Newport – a train shuttle will run on this line and London bound trains will not stop at Newport for the first hour

Last trains for Friday are scheduled for around 00:30 for London. Information on last trains for all destinations will also be available from staff at Cardiff Central Station on the night.

Fans are advised to travel early, check timetables for train times and should be prepared to queue as the whole of the transport network will be busy. Spectator travel information is available at www.rugbyworldcup.com/travel and fans are encouraged to use the Spectator Journey Planner which is available at www.rugbyworldcup.com/journeyplanner

The planner informs fans of additional travel options in place to assist them on their journeys to matches or Fanzones during the Tournament and provides links to the transport providers so that fans can book tickets directly. Fans are also encouraged to follow @RWC2015Travel for the latest travel information.

England Rugby 2015 Managing Director Steve Brown said: “The three matches that we have hosted so far in Cardiff have been a great success in a full and vibrant Millennium Stadium, but there have been a number of transport challenges. We want to ensure that fans have the best experience so we have listened to feedback and worked constructively and collaboratively with the key transport providers to agree a number of changes to the transport operation.”

The key travel advice to fans is to travel early and arrive into Cardiff at least three hours before kick-off to enjoy the atmosphere. If driving, fans are advised to arrive by mid-afternoon (14:00) to avoid commuter traffic on both days. Fans should be prepared to queue and should dress for the weather as train operators aim to get the majority or people away in the first two hours after final whistle.  The Fanzone at Cardiff Arms Park is a great place to continue to enjoy the atmosphere and allow crowds to disperse and remains open until 23:00 on both match days. Fans are advised not to wait until the last train to get home as many other fans are expected to do the same.

Spectator travel information is available at www.rugbyworldcup.com/travel and fans are encouraged to use the Spectator Journey Planner which is available at www.rugbyworldcup.com/journeyplanner. The planner informs fans of additional travel options in place to assist them on their journeys to matches or Fanzones during the tournament and provides links to the transport providers so that fans can book tickets directly. Fans are also encouraged to follow @RWC2015Travel for the latest travel information.