Platform 0 at Cardiff Central

[SDF_regular]

With the new timetable many of the Pembroke dock lines now arrive into Cardiff Central at platform 0, which seems to be outside of the main station. To catch the connecting train to Birmingham you only have 7 minutes to navigate a narrow corridor and stairs, sometimes go through a manned ticket check, then re-enter the main station through the ticket gates and get to the platform.

If you are at the front of the train and everything is on time, it is just about ok; but any delays, being at the wrong end of the train, or issues with mobility mean you will miss the connection.
Are there any plans to integrate the platform properly into the rest of the station as for me it just doesn't work unless Cardiff is your final destination.

 

[Smwrff]

The current developments planned for Cardiff Central include an extension to Platform 0 to allow for full length trains and fully integrated into the station. But final plans have still not been published (a planning application was scheduled for end 2024) and the delivery timescale will likely be another 2 years. So in the meantime I suggest a fitness app...

 

[Tomos y Tanc]

I'm not sure why consideration hasn't been given to reopening the bay platforms which would provide better intergration for services terminating at Central.

 

[ajay1071]

I concur that the arrivals from West wales at platform 0 are not ideal, I have also had to endure a brisk walk/run to catch onward connections.

 

[30907]

I'm not sure why consideration hasn't been given to reopening the bay platforms which would provide better intergration for services terminating at Central.

I imagine that the cost of track and signal alterations would be disproportionate.

 

[Jez]

I think the reason platform 0 is used for the new Swanline/Pembroke Service is to avoid even more terminating trains on platforms 3/4. I believe the Maesteg-Ebbw Vale Service also used Platform 0 but in Ebbw Vale direction. Going to Maesteg it uses either 3 or 4.

Back in the days of 'Central Trains' when they ran the Nottingham service that used to use platform 0. Its a shame it doesnt now as passengers from the Swanline/Pembroke could wait on Platform 0 for the Birmingham/Nottingham service.

I personally think trains that start at Cardiff would be better off using 0, perhaps the Cheltenham and Nottingham services. But then you would have an extra terminating/starting on 3 or 4 for the Pembroke every 2 hours which might cause more congestion.

 

[Topological]

Controversial thought is that there should be much less terminating at Cardiff Central, with routes mapped to each other as far as practical.

It would also be good to have splits in Platforms 2 and 3 so trains could get out of the way.

An arrival from the West really needs to go into 1 or 2 to allow connections, but then the departure need to go from 3 or 4 for connections in that direction. There have been a lot of speculative discussions on alternative track arrangements etc.

The new designs for Cardiff Central appear to address the problems in so far as 0 gets extended and there would be a bridge at the west end.

 

[Harpo]

Platform 0 has already had signalling alterations. In its original form, the western approach was not signalled to passenger standards so the platform could only be used for departures.

 

[Jez]

Controversial thought is that there should be much less terminating at Cardiff Central, with routes mapped to each other as far as practical.

It would also be good to have splits in Platforms 2 and 3 so trains could get out of the way.

An arrival from the West really needs to go into 1 or 2 to allow connections, but then the departure need to go from 3 or 4 for connections in that direction. There have been a lot of speculative discussions on alternative track arrangements etc.

The new designs for Cardiff Central appear to address the problems in so far as 0 gets extended and there would be a bridge at the west end.

There should be very little services terminating from the West now apart from the Pembroke Dock/Swansea on 0. Even a few of the West Wales services which didnt go to Manchester have been withdrawn now so there arent that many. From the East though its a different story and many terminating services including 2 per hour from TFW (hourly Cheltenham and 2 hourly each from Holyhead and Manchester)

It would be a good idea tohave splits in Platform 2 and 3 as at least they could be used better. Ive lost count of the amount of times there is congestion in Central and a trains sits on platform 3 or 4 longer than it should.

 

[Topological]

There should be very little services terminating from the West now apart from the Pembroke Dock/Swansea on 0. Even a few of the West Wales services which didnt go to Manchester have been withdrawn now so there arent that many. From the East though its a different story and many terminating services including 2 per hour from TFW (hourly Cheltenham and 2 hourly each from Holyhead and Manchester)

It would be a good idea tohave splits in Platform 2 and 3 as at least they could be used better. Ive lost count of the amount of times there is congestion in Central and a trains sits on platform 3 or 4 longer than it should.

The value of splits is made even more clear by the fact that aside from the GWR Paddington trains all of the others are only half length. The only other train that might be problematic on half a platform is the TfW Mk4 sets as they waste space with a DVT and loco. Otherwise, the longest non-London train is 5-car (TfW 3+2 197, GWR single 80x, GWR Turbostars, XC Voyager)

If 3 were split then 4 becomes the default GWR platform as a 9/10 car GWR cannot arrive while even half of 3 is in use.

If points were not so expensive then I would put another two sets between the two through roads so trains could arrive on the East of 3 then shunt to the middle and over to the East of 2, while trains could also arrive at the West of 2 and then shunt over the West of 3.

Might even reach a point where platform 0 is not needed.

 

[WAB]

Thing is, the platforms are already used much more than booked because Cardiff's proximity to Canton makes it popular for Cardiff. And as @Jez says, there's very little running across Cardiff, and given the reliability of the West Wales services, running the Pembrokes across to say Manchester would seem unwise.

It also looks like there are some STP changes in the timetable for this week, which seem to split up and shuffle the Maestegs, Ebbw Vales and Cheltenhams, with far more intensive usage of 2, 3, and 4 and less use of 0. Interesting...