With the Nation pumped up for Wales v England in the 6 Nations tonight, we have brought you the best advice to travel safely in, out and around Cardiff during rugby day.
A crowd of 74,000 is expected to attend the first 6 Nations game of the year and most people who do not have tickets will be cramming into the pubs around the city, making it difficult to move around or get home.
So, here’s your essential guide on how to travel quickly (or, as quickly as you can on rugby day) around the city:
Buses
The council recommends using public transport and coaches, but there will be changes to your usual bus service from 3:30pm until the end of service. Visit CardiffBus for more information.
They will also be tweeting until 9pm tonight so we recommend following them if you plan on using the busses tonight. Alternatively you can download their app for free on Apple and Android devices.
Coaches
Coach parking will be provided off Sophia Close by Cardiff Council. Access these by turning of at Junction 32.
There are dedicated coach parking areas with driver facilities. The cost is £15 per coach. During any event, car parking in Sophia Close will be £10 as the car park is within a five minute walk of the stadium.
Trains
Trains into and around the city are always busy so we recommend leaving early to ensure you get to the city on time.
Arriva Trains Wales have said they will make more than 13,000 extra seats available and First Great Western will provide an additional 3,500.
After the game there will be long queues for the trains home, despite the extra services being provided. Remember to take something warm to wear and maybe food or drink to stay warm and hydrated after the match.
Queueing Diagram:
For a better quality version of this image visit the Arriva Wales website.
Queen Street station will be closed from 9.20pm.
Arriva Wales recommend buying your tickets in advance and going straight to Cardiff Central Station after the match.
For information throughout the day follow National Rail and Arriva Wales’s on Twitter or download their apps:
Arriva Wales (Apple) (Android)
National Rail (Apple) (Android)
Cars
Park and ride is available at Pentwyn Junction 29 and Cardiff City Football Club Junction 33, Leckwith, the cost is £6 per car and can be accessed from J33 of the M4. All park and ride customers are advised to follow the signage to the available site at the time of their arrival.
The drop off and pick up point will be Churchill Way for the Pentwyn Park and Ride. For Cardiff City Stadium the drop off and pick up will be Tresillian Way North at the rear of the railway station.
Both car parks will have a staff presence from 12 noon and will open at 12.30pm, with the first bus at 12.30pm. The last bus will leave the pick-up point at 11:30pm, with the car park closing at midnight.
Road Closures
There will be a full road closure from 6:00pm – 11:30pm, in which the following roads are closed:
- North Rd from its junction with Boulevard de Nantes to its junction with Kingsway.
- Kingsway from its junction with North Rd to its junction with Duke St.
- Cowbridge Road East from its junction with Cathedral Rd to its junction with Westgate St.
- Tudor St from its junction with Clare Rd to its junction with Wood St (access for residents & traders will be permitted via Fitzhammon Embankment)
- Plantagenet St & Beauchamp St from their junctions with Despenser Place to their junctions with Tudor St (access for residents & traders will be permitted)
- The following roads will be closed in their entirety: – Duke St, Castle St, High St, St.Mary St, Caroline St, Wood St, Central Sq, Westgate St, Quay St, Guildhall Pl, Golate, Park St, Havelock St & Scott Rd.
- The route to the front of the rail station, Station Approach in Central Sq from its junction with Wood St, has been closed since yesterday and will reopen tomorrow at 6pm, with access for buses to the bus station being maintained outside of the full road closure times.
