Station Usage
In 2022/2023, Cardiff Central had 10,185,022 entries and exits, making it the 37th most used, out of 2,575 stations in Great Britain.
Service sample data based on scheduled services during the first week of the May 22 timetable.
It ranked 20th busiest (out of 997), with 4,415 scheduled services per week.
That's a daily average of 27904.17 passengers* starting or ending their journey here and 44.36 passengers per service*, giving it the 102nd (out of 1,659) passenger to service ratio.
* This increases to a daily average of 31006.46 passengers passing through the station and 54.23 passengers per service when interchanges are included.
Service sample data based on scheduled services during the first week of the May 22 timetable.
Usage stats in detail
Standard price entries & exits: 5,429,162
Reduced price entries & exits: 3,814,512
Season ticket entries & exits: 941,348
Total entries & exits: 10,185,022
Interchanges made between connecting services: 1,132,335
Change in usage from 21/22:
+2,721,644 : 36.47%
A detailed breakdown of passenger journeys between individual stations can be found in our origin/destination matrix pages.Platform Lengths
| Plat. | Metres | VF* | Notes |
| 0 | 99 | 359 | |
| 1 | 299 | 1087 | "286m in down direction |
| 2 | 298 | 1083 | 285m usable platform length accessible to train crew and passengers |
| 3 | 303 | 1101 | 299m usable platform length accessible to train crew and passengers |
| 4 | 303 | 1101 | 297m usable platform length accessible to train crew and passengers |
| 6 | 225 | 818 | 221m usable platform length accessible to train crew and passengers |
| 7 | 226 | 821 | 223m usable platform length accessible to train crew and passengers |
| 8 | 156 | 567 | 155m usable platform length accessible to train crew and passengers |
Data derived from Network Rail timetable planning rules 2025 (Jan 2024)
Service Patterns
Current Timetables
| Table | Description | Timetable |
| 009 | Swansea, Cardiff, Bristol & Cheltenham - Swindon - Didcot & London | Oct24 |
| 013 | Long distance services to and from Birmingham (North-South) | Oct24 |
| 150 | Holyhead - Bangor - Llandudno - Chester | Oct24 |
| 156 | Manchester, Chester, Crewe & Shrewsbury - South Wales | Oct24 |
| 161 | Cardiff Queen Street - Cardiff Central | Oct24 |
| 162 | Radyr - Cardiff | Oct24 |
| 163 | Rhymney - Cardiff - Penarth | Oct24 |
| 164 | Coryton - Cardiff | Oct24 |
| 165 | Treherbert, Aberdare & Merthyr Tydfil - Pontypridd - Cardiff | Oct24 |
| 166 | Cardiff & Newport - Crosskeys - Ebbw Vale | Oct24 |
| 167 | Cardiff Central - Newport - Severn Tunnel Jn | Oct24 |
| 169 | Swansea & Maesteg - Bridgend - Cardiff (incl. Barry Island) | Oct24 |
| 170 | Cardiff & Swansea - Carmarthen - South West Wales | Oct24 |
| 172 | Shrewsbury - Swansea (Heart of Wales Line) | Oct24 |
| 183 | Nottingham & Derby - Birmingham | Oct24 |
| 275 | Westbury & Swindon - Bath Spa - Bristol - Cardiff & Gloucester | Oct24 |
| 276 | Birmingham - Cheltenham Spa - Gloucester - Cardiff | Oct24 |
| 279 | Swindon - Chippenham - Melksham - Trowbridge - Westbury | Oct24 |
| 291 | Westbury - Salisbury - Romsey & Southampton | Oct24 |
To view timetables for other dateranges and routes, please visit our timetables page.
Usage History
Change between 1997 & 2023: +4,326,107 (+73.84%)
Location Details
Location: Cardiff Central
CRS: CDF / NLC: 3899 / TIPLOC(S): CRDFCEN
Station Facility Owner: TfW Rail
OS Grid Ref: 318191 175844
Constituency: Cardiff South and Penarth
Local Authority: Cardiff - Caerdydd
NR Region: Wales
ELR: SWM2 170m 30ch
CRS: CDF / NLC: 3899 / TIPLOC(S): CRDFCEN
Station Facility Owner: TfW Rail
OS Grid Ref: 318191 175844
Constituency: Cardiff South and Penarth
Local Authority: Cardiff - Caerdydd
NR Region: Wales
ELR: SWM2 170m 30ch
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 more detail, including historical pricing, restrictions & ticket types, visit our fares & ticketing pages.
Origin/Destination Matrix
Top 5 jouneys from Cardiff Central during 2022/2023:
•Newport (South Wales) (474,441 journeys)
•London Paddington (387,229 journeys)
•Swansea (260,885 journeys)
•Bristol Temple Meads (246,861 journeys)
•Bridgend (231,603 journeys)
Full reports can be created on our dedicataed ODM Pages.
•Newport (South Wales) (474,441 journeys)
•London Paddington (387,229 journeys)
•Swansea (260,885 journeys)
•Bristol Temple Meads (246,861 journeys)
•Bridgend (231,603 journeys)
Full reports can be created on our dedicataed ODM Pages.
Neighbouring Stations
Below are Cardiff Central's neighbouring stations, and the distance to them in miles. Click on a station to view details for that location.| Station | Miles |
| Cardiff Queen Street | 0.70 |
| Grangetown (Cardiff) | 1.11 |
| Ninian Park | 0.99 |
| Newport (South Wales) | 11.79 |
| Pontyclun | 11.25 |
| Pye Corner | 12.52 |