Autumn Internationals are returning to the Principality Stadium and the city is getting ready for another busy matchday.
If you are heading into Cardiff for Wales vs South Africa on Saturday November 29th, with kick off at 3.10pm, there are a number of things you will want to plan ahead for. Road closures will run between 11am and 7.15pm, so it is worth thinking about how you are getting into the city and where you want to park.
The M4 is expected to be very busy, so keep an eye on the latest updates through Traffic Wales or @TrafficWalesS on Twitter and Facebook. To avoid sitting in queues, the park and ride at the car park by the Vindico Arena on International Drive in the Sports Village at CF11 0JS is a handy choice.
Anyone heading to the stadium is also encouraged to arrive early and check the prohibited items and bag policy at principalitystadium.wales before setting off.
Road closures begin early. Scott Road and Park Street will shut from 7am to prepare Gate 5 and manage the queues. From late morning the wider city centre closure will be in place, covering:
- Kingsway from North Road to Duke Street
- Cowbridge Road East from Cathedral Road to Westgate Street
- Tudor Street from Clare Road to Wood Street with local access via Fitzhammon Embankment
- Plantagenet Street and Beauchamp Street from Despenser Place to Tudor Street with local access allowed
Other roads shutting completely include Duke Street, Castle Street, 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.
Station Terrace and Guildford Street will stay open for buses only between Newport Road and Churchill Way. This is to help services reach the satellite pick up points on Churchill Way. Penarth Road will also close for safety reasons 30 minutes before the game finishes and up to an hour after the final whistle.
Access around the Civic Centre will be controlled throughout the day. Only event parking, limited commuter parking, loading and private car park access will be allowed. Roads affected include King Edward VII Avenue, Museum Avenue, City Hall Road, College Road and Gorsedd Gardens Road.
If you are travelling by train, both GWR and Transport for Wales will be running extra services. GWR is adding more trains between Cardiff and Swansea, Newport, Bristol and London, with plenty of parking at the stations. Pre match trains are reservation only, so book early. Post match trains will be very busy and a queuing system will be in place outside Cardiff Central. If you are travelling from further away, check connections at https://www.gwr.com/check
Transport for Wales will also boost capacity on all routes in and out of the city. There will be a full queuing system with mainline services lining up on Central Square and Valleys services queuing behind the station. Cardiff Queen Street will close at 4.30pm for the fixture, though passengers going to Cardiff Bay or needing accessible access can still get through. The bus interchange will shut between 11am and 7.15pm.
Revenue checks will take place before and after the match at Cardiff Central, so make sure you are ticketed before joining the queue. Pay As You Go can be used on TfW and CrossCountry services across the South Wales Metro network, though not on GWR. Remember to tap in at your departure station and tap out at Cardiff Central. TfW volunteers will be around to help if needed.
The event park and ride will operate from the former Toy’s R Us site in the Sports Village at Cardiff Bay with the drop off point at Callaghan Square. The car park opens at 10am with the first bus leaving at 10.30am. The last bus back from the city centre is at 6pm and the site closes at 6.30pm. It costs £15, cash only.
If you prefer to park in the Civic Centre, follow the signs from Junction 32 of the M4. Parking is £20 for cars and £30 for coaches and card payments are accepted. It opens at 8am and closes at 12 midnight.
Sophia Gardens will also offer event day parking with the same pricing and opening hours. The car park is staffed until 7pm and vehicles are left at the owner’s risk. Any left after closing will be fined.
Local bus services will be diverted during the city centre closures, so check your operator’s website before travelling. Cardiff Bus, Stagecoach and Adventure Travel all have updated information online. National Express coaches will continue to use Sophia Gardens as usual.
Cycling or walking may be a good option if you live nearby. All cycleways within the closure area will remain open, though cyclists are asked to take care due to the crowds. As 52 per cent of car journeys in Cardiff are under 5 kilometres, it is often quicker to cycle during big events when roads are busy.
City centre car parks will still be available. These include North Road, St David’s Shopping Centre, John Lewis, Capitol Shopping Centre and NCP sites at Adam Street, Dumfries Place and Greyfriars Road. Disabled parking is recommended at Sophia Gardens or other private car parks depending on availability.
The St Mary Street taxi rank will close at 11am and reopen at 7.15pm.
If you are heading into Cardiff for the match, planning ahead will help you make the most of the day and avoid any surprises. Enjoy the rugby.
