Cardiff Central station

The railway station forecourt — in the practical manner common in continental Europe but relatively rare in Great Britain — accommodates Cardiff's central bus station.

The railway station

Platform 1 is a platform which houses up to 3 short DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) trains, providing eastbound services to destinations such as Crewe, Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester (Piccadilly according to the maps, Oxford Road according to the trains). Platform 2 is the usual stopping point for eastbound High Speed Trains (HSTs) to London Paddington.

Platform 3 is where westbound HSTs normally stop, whether terminating, or continuing to Swansea or Carmarthen. Platform 4 is the usual location for westbound Regional Express services to Swansea, Carmarthen, and beyond to Fishguard, Milford Haven or Pembroke Dock.

Platforms 6 and 7 are used for services under the Valley Lines brand. Platform 6 is for services running via Queen Street east of the River Taff, to Rhymney, Caerphilly, the Rhondda valleys and the single-track Coryton line. Platform 7 is used for services to Maesteg, Barry, Penarth and the occasional Rhondda or Radyr service via the "City Line", which runs through the Riverside and Canton areas of the city, staying west of the Taff.

In the walkway beneath the platforms, the old GWR decorations are still visible, including the lettering "TO PLATFORMS 3, 4 & 5". Platform 5 was a bay platform, the remains of which can be seen at the west end of the station. The new seventh platform, Platform 0, is an old staff platform which is now used as an overflow at busy times, and most usually used in regular service for the Central Trains Turbostar services via Gloucester and Birmingham New Street to Nottingham.

There were formerly more platforms south of platform 7 (known as the Riverside station), which served the line to Barry and Penarth and a branch which ran parallel to the east bank of the River Taff to Butetown. These platforms have been demolished and the site is now occupied by the signalbox.

The bus station

The bus station is the central point of reference for all local and national bus services in the city. The extent of the bus terminal is from a bay at the south side of the station (used by services 6 and 7), six covered ranks on the north side, and stops either side of Wood Street, which runs alongside.

Long-distance services to the valleys and coach services, e.g. TrawsCambria, National Express, etc. run from rank A at the north end, cross-city services and services to the Vale operate via the stops on Wood Street.

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