The essential journalist news source
Back
28.
November
2017.
Travel advice for Wales vs. South Africa at Principality Stadium

Wales will be taking on South Africa at Principality Stadium on Saturday December 2ndand all those coming to watch the game are being strongly advised to leave plenty of time to get into the stadium due to enhanced security measures.

A full city centre road closure will be in place from 11.00am until 5.30pm.The gates to Principality Stadium will open at 11.30am.

With the city centre expected to be very busy on Saturday, all those visiting Cardiff are being advised to plan ahead and plan their travel in advance and arrive in Wales and Cardiff in ample time.

Those travelling by car are strongly advised to book a space in the park & ride facility through the following linkhttps://www.parkjockey.com/principality-stadium

Cardiff Council will re-open the roads when it is safe to do so after the event. Usually this is approximately an hour after the match has finished.

From early in the day, Scott Road and Park Street will be closed as a result of the need to prepare Gate 5 and protect queuing fans.

The following roads will be closed at 11.00am:

https://roadworks.org/?tmi=2510348

  • Kingsway from its junction with North Road to its junction with Duke Street.

  • Cowbridge Road East from its junction with Cathedral Road to its junction with Westgate Street.

  • Tudor Street from its junction with Clare Road to its junction with Wood Street (access for residents and traders will be permitted via Fitzhammon Embankment.)

  • Plantagenet Street and Beauchamp Street from their junctions with Despenser Place to their junctions with Tudor Street (access for residents and traders will be permitted.)

  • Saunders Road from its junction with St Mary Street.

  • Customhouse Street throughout its length (access to private car parks will be permitted).

  • Penarth Road from its junction with Saunders Road to the entrance leading to the rear of the Central Train Station.

  • The following roads will be closed in their entirety: Duke Street, Castle St, High Street, St Mary Street, Caroline Street, Wood Street, Central Square, Westgate Street, Quay Street, Guildhall Place, Golate, Park Street, Havelock Street and Scott Road.

 
Civic Centre: Access to part of the Civic Centre will be controlled throughout the day, with access allowed only for event parking, limited commuter parking, loading and access to private car parks.

Roads affected include: King Edward VII Avenue, Museum Avenue, City Hall Road, College Road and Gorsedd Gardens Road.

From 2.30pm until the train queues disperse, Station Terrace will be closed to traffic at 3.15pm at the very earliest. Cars will be able to leave the Capitol shopping centre car park via North Edward Street/station terrace Northbound onto Newport Road/Dumphries Place.

If there are any safety concerns in connection with crowds queuing to go into the venue prior to gates opening, there may be a need to close Wood Street and Westgate Street earlier, along with lane restrictions adjacent to Gate 1 on Cowbridge Road East.

If there are any safety concerns relating to the queuing system at Cardiff Central Train Station, then Wood Street, Westgate Street, Park Street, Havelock Street, St Mary Street, Penarth Road, Saunders Road and Customhouse Street will remain closed until safety concerns are remedied. 

Can you cycle or walk?

Those who live locally in Cardiff may want to travel by bicycle or walk. Research shows us that 52% of car trips made in the Welsh capital are less than 5km. This is a distance that can be comfortably cycled in 20 minutes.

We also know that 28% of Cardiff residents who currently do not cycle would like to do so.

When the roads are congested this makes cycling an even more attractive option as travel by bicycle would be quicker than a car during rush hours or during big events.

Park & Ride

Cars - Park and Ride site is accessed from Junction 33 off the M4

Leckwith Park and Ride.

Drop-off point: Tresilian Way North (Rear of the train station)

Distance from city centre: 1.5 miles (10 to 15 mins)

Cost: £10 or £8 if you pre-book

To pre book your park & ride, click on https://www.parkjockey.com/principality-stadium

If you pre-book your park & ride parking space, print off the pre-booking confirmation and to staff on arrival

Trains

Network Rail and Great Western Railway are advising customers that work will be taking place on the railway between Swindon and Didcot Parkway on Saturday 2 December, which will mean that journeys to and from London, will take approximately an hour longer than usual. When leaving London Paddington, after the train calls at Reading, high speed trains will call at Chippenham, Swindon, Bristol Parkway, Newport and then Cardiff Central.

 

There will be extra trains provided, including at least one high speed train in either direction in addition to normal services. However, Great Western Railway is advising all customers to travel early and to leave extra time to get into and from Cardiff.

Arriva Trains Walesis advisingcustomers attending the match to take the earliest service possible into Cardiff as train services will be busy all day.

Customers are asked to buy a ticket before they board their train and to buy a return ticket on their outward journey if they plan to take the train home.

Extra capacity will be added to the existing services as much as possible and customers are advised to check the time of their last train home.

After the match, customers for local Cardiff and Valleys routes must use Cardiff Queen Street station.

Post-match queueing systems will be in place at Cardiff Central Station (for mainline services) and at Cardiff Queen Street Station (for local Cardiff and Valleys services). Please see attached queue plan for full details on which routes will be operating from each station.

Event Day Parking

Cardiff Council has recently launched Park Cardiff, which is a smart parking app which guides people to available car parking spaces in the city. All of the road closures for large events are programmed into the app, so that people can see the parking spaces available. All those wishing to park in Cardiff are strongly encouraged to download the free app and use the service. Get the app here:

 

[image]

 

[image]

Sophia Gardens (cars)

Campervans are not allowed to park in Sophia Gardens car park. Those that want to park and stay overnight in campervans have to park in the Civic Centre or the Caravan Park

(Approximately, 0.5 mile walk to the Principality Stadium, Gate 2).

Getting there: Exit junction 32 of M4

Cost: £15 payable on the day at the car park (cash only)

Parking time: Car park opens at 8.00am and closes at midnight

Please note: Sophia Gardens car park will be staffed until 6.30pm, all vehicles are left on site at the owner's risk. Cardiff Council will not be held responsible for any theft or damage to motor vehicles or personal possessions. Any vehicles left in the car park after closing time will be fined.

Civic centre (cars, mini buses and coaches)

(Approximately 0.5 miles walk to the Principality Stadium, Gate 2)

Civic centre Event Day Parking (cars)

Getting there: Exit Junction 32 of the M4, head south on the A470 towards the city centre and follow signage to the civic centre.

Cost: £12 pre-book online or £15 payable on the day at the car park (cash only).

Parking time: The car park opens at 8am, with a staff presence from 7.30am. All cars must be removed, or have a pay & display ticket on the vehicle by 8.00am on Sunday November 19th.

To pre-book your parking, click on to: https://www.parkjockey.com/principality-stadium (this is available to cars only).

Civic Centre Event Day Parking (coaches and mini buses)

Getting there: Exit Junction 32 of the M4, head south on the A470 towards the city centre and follow signage to the civic centre.

Cost: £20 payable on the day at the car park (cash only).

Parking time: The car park opens at 8am and closes at midnight.

Shopping Parking

Shoppers are advised to make use of the dedicated Shopping Park & Ride sites at Pentwyn or County Hall.

Or city centre car parks are also available:

North Road Car Parks

St David's Shopping Centre

John Lewis

Capitol Shopping Centre

NCP - Adam Street, Dumfries Place and Greyfriars Road

Disabled parking

Disabled drivers are advised to use Sophia Gardens. Disabled parking is also available at various private car parks. Please check individual websites for availability.

Taxis

St Mary Street taxi rank (outside the House of Fraser) will be closed from11.00am and will re-open from 5.30pm
 
Bus
 
Local buses:  
Buses will be diverted out of the central city bus stops. Buses displaced from stops within the closure will relocate to either Churchill Way for the east, Greyfriars Road for the north or Tudor Street for the west. 

Night buses are also available and operated by Cardiff Bus up until 3.30am on routes to Ely, Thornhill, St Mellons and Pontprennau.
 
Please visit the relevant bus operator's website for more information about your specific bus route.
 
National Express:
 
National Express coaches will use Sophia Gardens as usual.