Cardiff Bus/Coach Station

[markymark2000]

But they own the bus company.

It's amazing isn't it!

Simply owning a bus company does not mean they are pro bus. I can provide other examples of that if people want a separate thread.

 

[Cdiff]

https://www.wales247.co.uk/cardiffs-new-bus-interchange-welcomes-9000-passengers-a-day

News article about the Bus Interchange and it includes that First Cymru will be using it from the 5th January.

 

[markymark2000]

https://www.wales247.co.uk/cardiffs-new-bus-interchange-welcomes-9000-passengers-a-day

News article about the Bus Interchange and it includes that First Cymru will be using it from the 5th January.

Great news. That's another 3.5 buses per hour into the interchange. It also now means no buses will be starting or ending their journey on Westgate Street (bar the circulars and one or two late night Cardiff buses which terminate on Westgate Street so they can turn right and head homewards).

I hope First don't face the same issues that Newport Bus did at night with Cardiffs lawless taxi drivers blocking access and parking in all sorts of dangerous ways around the southern bus station entrance/exit.

 

[Markdvdman]

Funny you should say that. I was on the 63 from the Porthcawl Interchange at 6:15am on Saturday and driver told me the X2 would start there in January. I would have posted earlier but you do not always get thr truth ha ha!

 

[Cdiff]

ITV Wales also did a segment on the interchange and had a member of TFW state that First Cymru would take it to near capacity. I can’t imagine adding 3 extra services an hour would take it anywhere near capacity unless Cardiff Bus are also planning to add extra services.


https://www.itv.com/watch/news/card...terchange-continues-to-divide-opinion/7332gtf

 

[Cdiff]

First cymru will be using stands 1&2 for their services. Cardiff Bus are also going to start putting the 11 into the interchange but only on Sundays and every hour.

Hopefully that’ll be the catalyst to start putting some more services into it. The services that go down Mill Lane/Canal St (1,2,6,7&8) are every hour apart from the 6 and should all be able to fit into the Interchange without much problem.

 

[CN12 AWU]

I'm Suprised Stagecoach are not taking there T4/T14, X3 etc into the bus station or back around the railway station loop like they used to, be better than there current terminus down a back street near the Castle

 

[markymark2000]

I'm Suprised Stagecoach are not taking there T4/T14, X3 etc into the bus station or back around the railway station loop like they used to, be better than there current terminus down a back street near the Castle

The distance may not seem like much but the time it takes from Greyfriars Road area to the bus station is about 7 minutes so it's an extra bus needed. The route gets heavily congested quite easily and lots of traffic lights to contend with, as such you risk reliability of the service.
Any time there is any event, you are forced to cut the link again because the road near the Castle gets shut. In the end, you hardly serve the bus station, and when you do it will cost you in additional resources. It's just not worth it for any of the Stagecoach North Road routes to divert to the bus station.

X3 could do it easily by not serving Greyfriars Road at all, and running in via Queen Street station and Customhouse Street to get to the bus station. Cwmbran have been trying to kill off the X3 and so I highly doubt they would put more resources into it to serve both. Also paying bus station departure fees, I can't see that helping the X3 viability.

 

[Dai Corner]

I'm Suprised Stagecoach are not taking there T4/T14, X3 etc into the bus station or back around the railway station loop like they used to, be better than there current terminus down a back street near the Castle

Greyfriars Road bus stops are only about 3 mins walk from Queen's Arcade in the shopping district. Depending on exactly where you're going it's probably quicker to get off there than stay on until the bus station.

 

[embers25]

True but it's a long walk to central station from Greyfriars and Trawscymru are supposed to be integrated links with trains which the T4 is not now at all.

 

[Dai Corner]

True but it's a long walk to central station from Greyfriars and Trawscymru are supposed to be integrated links with trains which the T4 is not now at all.

I don't expect there are many bus passengers from Pontypridd or Merthyr Tydfil to Cardiff Central for onward connections. An Anytime Day Return from Pontypridd to Bristol (for example) is £4.80 more than the fare from Cardiff but the bus return fare is £6.00 so the train is cheaper as well as more convenient. Those travelling from north of Merthyr can change to rail there with about a 3 minute walk.

 

[Cowley]

Thread reopened for @tigermonstera to update

 

[tigermonstera]

Thanks! Cardiff Council have approved an application (Planning Ref. 24/02813/ADV) to install a large digital screen outside of Cardiff Bus Interchange, above its main pedestrian entrance. This screen was included in the original renders of the building, but wasn't present when it first opened.

The screen has been approved under the condition that its usage be split as follows:

Commercial advertisements : 4 of 6 per minute
1/6 of the time per minute will be shared by Cardiff Council and TfW and this space will be made
available at zero cost.
1/6 will be available for the Welsh Government or other public sector messaging at 50% of the
commercial rate

Additionally, the application also includes provision for a new illuminated sign to replace the existing vinyl "Cardiff Bus Interchange" sign.

 

[satters]

I wonder how long it will remain operational, before as so many it fails and gets a paper notice atop of it, or just switched off blank

 

[Cdiff]

Some extra routes are also going into the interchange, Cardiff Bus 6/7/8 will now operate from the end of June.

 

[markymark2000]

Some extra routes are also going into the interchange, Cardiff Bus 6/7/8 will now operate from the end of June.

The Skycar is moving in as well. It will be really helpful moving the 6 into the bus station as it's a question that staff at Cardiff Central get asked constantly, "where do I get the bus to the Bay?" especially when the trains are off and TFW does the normal ticket acceptance.

It will leave only the 1/1A, 2/2A on Canal Street and the 11 off Hayes Bridge Road. This is quite good and should hopefully help buses as I know they do sometimes get stuck because of the amount of taxis on Canal Street or amount of cars coming out of the St Davids car park. I wonder if these services will ever move into the interchange or whether they will forever stay on Canal Street/Hayes Bridge Road?


I do think it's a shame that TFW still won't put services together which run the same way. 6, 7 and 8 will be on the same stand despite going completely different ways. The 96 and X2 still aren't on the same stands despite running the exact same route from the Bus Interchange to Culverhouse Cross etc. Is this what we have to look forward to with public control and nationalisation? An organisation who can't even allocate stands in a bus station to try and keep routes together which are running to the same destinations?

 

[Envoy]

Thanks! Cardiff Council have approved an application (Planning Ref. 24/02813/ADV) to install a large digital screen outside of Cardiff Bus Interchange, above its main pedestrian entrance. This screen was included in the original renders of the building, but wasn't present when it first opened.

The screen has been approved under the condition that its usage be split as follows:


Additionally, the application also includes provision for a new illuminated sign to replace the existing vinyl "Cardiff Bus Interchange" sign.

Sounds like it will be tacky to me.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Jun 2025 ==

The Skycar is moving in as well. It will be really helpful moving the 6 into the bus station as it's a question that staff at Cardiff Central get asked constantly, "where do I get the bus to the Bay?" especially when the trains are off and TFW does the normal ticket acceptance.

I also note that signage in the Central station subway is non existent for those unfamiliar with the city; for example, there is nothing to indicate which way to the city centre / Transport Interchange (bus station).

I do think it's a shame that TFW still won't put services together which run the same way. 6, 7 and 8 will be on the same stand despite going completely different ways. The 96 and X2 still aren't on the same stands despite running the exact same route from the Bus Interchange to Culverhouse Cross etc. Is this what we have to look forward to with public control and nationalisation? An organisation who can't even allocate stands in a bus station to try and keep routes together which are running to the same destinations?

Totally agree. Someone wanting the X2 or 96 would like them on the same bay - or next to each other as they both follow the same route to Culverhouse Cross.

 

[tigermonstera]

From this post on Facebook (link), it appears the new screen has now gone in.

 

[Jellyfish261]

Digital displays within the Interchange advertising that the C1 Cross City service will be serving the Interchange soon.

Seems an odd priority to divert in (over, for example, the 11), as I'd always thought the USP for the service was to cover the gap in the market for through-journeys between west of Canton and Roath/Penylan/Pontprennau.

I'd go as far to question if a case to avoid looping the Station/Churchill Way completely, and just going direct via Castle Street/Boulevard de Nantes, as the route duplicates well served corridors on both sides - but I guess we are still in the world of competitive bus operations.

 

[tigermonstera]

On the topic of additions to the interchange, a planning application (Ref: 25/02043/ADV) went in last month for the sandwich chain "Which Wich" to open a branch. If it goes ahead, it'll take part of the middle commercial unit (Unit 2).

 

[markymark2000]

Digital displays within the Interchange advertising that the C1 Cross City service will be serving the Interchange soon.

Seems an odd priority to divert in (over, for example, the 11), as I'd always thought the USP for the service was to cover the gap in the market for through-journeys between west of Canton and Roath/Penylan/Pontprennau.

Personally I'd try and get everything off St Mary Street as then you can increase the widths of the pavement and make it a more pleasant area to walk. It's a big bottleneck in the evenings because of all of the bars with outdoor smoking and waiting areas. You could then also mess with the traffic light phasing as there would be less conflicting movements (ie access between Premier Inn/Wetherspoons is then forced via the bus station). Probably makes too much sense for them to do it, but it's something I'd like to see.

On the topic of additions to the interchange, a planning application (Ref: 25/02043/ADV) went in last month for the sandwich chain "Which Wich" to open a branch. If it goes ahead, it'll take part of the middle commercial unit (Unit 2).

That's great news. Surprised it's taken so long to get shops in there. Certainly surprised there is no supermarket there yet given how busy Tesco is and the fact inside Cardiff Central is just SSP rip off places. It's crying out for a CoOp or something like that.

 

[Dai Corner]

That's great news. Surprised it's taken so long to get shops in there. Certainly surprised there is no supermarket there yet given how busy Tesco is and the fact inside Cardiff Central is just SSP rip off places. It's crying out for a CoOp or something like that.

Which Which apparently has two sandwich shop franchises in the UK; in the City and West End of London. They look rather upmarket for a bus station, to be honest, and I agree a general convenience store would be more suitable.

 

[Envoy]

I would think that upmarket foodie places are needed to serve all the residents of the nearby high rise apartment blocks.

It is regrettable that the empty unit facing the Central station is not used as a Tourist Information Centre.

 

[Dai Corner]

Social Media posts by Adventure Travel say the C1 will be using the bus station from Monday 20 October.

 

[tigermonstera]

That's great news. Surprised it's taken so long to get shops in there. Certainly surprised there is no supermarket there yet given how busy Tesco is and the fact inside Cardiff Central is just SSP rip off places. It's crying out for a CoOp or something like that.

Plans had been submitted in 2024 for Unit 2 in its entirety to become an Asda Express (Refs: 24/01228/NMA & 24/02275/ADV). Interestingly, last month's Which Wich application covers about 2/5th of Unit 2 (Hence Unit 2C), including areas that the Asda application had included as part of the express (e.g. the checkout), so plans may have changed since 2024.

Another application also went in recently to add an external door to the smaller commercial unit nearest to Wood Street (Ref: 25/01873/NMA). The reason given is that:

The proposed door will allow for access into the retail unit from Marland Street. This access is required in order to allow for a suitable tenant to occupy the unit. The unit is being actively marketed, however it remains vacant as this access is key for potential tenants.

 

[Christian Schm]

Digital displays within the Interchange advertising that the C1 Cross City service will be serving the Interchange soon.

Seems an odd priority to divert in…

I‘d agree. I wonder if there’s any strategy? Given the limited I‘d though prioritising which services‘ passengers would benefit most, would be useful? Or which service would benefit most operationally?

 

[markymark2000]

I‘d agree. I wonder if there’s any strategy? Given the limited I‘d though prioritising which services‘ passengers would benefit most, would be useful? Or which service would benefit most operationally?

Not just this to consider, but also the stand allocations at the station now are a right mess. The C1 to Culverhouse Cross is on the same stand as the Newport 30. The X2 runs 6 stands away from the 96 despite following the exact same route all the way out of Cardiff etc etc.

It's a complete mess for stand allocations and it seems that TFW is just using a random number allocator rather than using any common sense (not that I'm overly surprised given it's TFW).

 

[Christian Schm]

So I was in Cardiff again on the day of the last autumn international, and the bus station was closed again.

That bus station was originally planned to be further west, accessed only from Wood Street. It was moved so that an access from Penarth Rd is possible precisely to keep it open during matches / concert.

There were meetings with officers from other councils that have bus services to Cardiff where it was literally said that the bus station could be served during events. So I really want to know who and with what reason is ow claiming it isn’t possible.

I bet it is someone far removed from the operational and financial consequences of it, and who isn’t a regular bus passenger

But what could be done to overturn that false decision?

 

[Caaardiff]

There were meetings with officers from other councils that have bus services to Cardiff where it was literally said that the bus station could be served during events. So I really want to know who and with what reason is ow claiming it isn’t possible.

Given that there's a 70k+ capacity stadium kicking out in one go, I would expect it wouldn't be safe driving buses through them.

 

[Christian Schm]

they wouldn’t be driving through them, that is the point. you close the Wood St entrance/exit, and all buses go in&out the other way