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Travel Advice for Wales vs South Africa on Saturday 19th August in Cardiff
Monday, 14 August 2023 · Cardiff Council
Wales will be taking on South Africa on Saturday August 19th at Principality Stadium.
With the kick-off taking place at 3:15pm – there will be a full city centre road closure from 11:15am until 7:15pm or as soon as it is deemed safe to do so,to ensure all ticket holders can get into and out of the stadium safely.
The M4 motorway and surrounding Trunk Road Network is expected to be very busy for this event – please plan ahead – and avoid the congestion in Cardiff by using the Park & Ride facility at County Hall, in Cardiff Bay.For up to date traffic information on the motorway and trunk roads go to the Traffic Wales website, or @TrafficWalesS on X/Twitter and Facebook.
Gates open at 1pm, those attending the rugby match are strongly advised to plan their journey and get in early. Please pay attention to the prohibited items listed at principalitystadium.wales, in particular the bag policy (no large bags permitted) before travelling into the city.
ROAD CLOSURES
From 7am, Scott Road and Park Street will be closed because of the need to prepare Gate 5 and protect queuing fans.
The following roads will be closed as part of the full city centre road closure which will take place at 11.15am until 7.15pm.
- 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.)
- The following roads will be closed in their entirety: Duke Street, Castle Street, High Street, Saint 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 from the junction with Newport Road to the junction with Churchill Way will be access for buses only during the times of the road closures. This is to ensure that there is reliable access for buses to the satellite points in Churchill Way.
- Additionally, Penarth Road will be closed 30 minutes before the game finishes and up to hour after the final whistle on safety grounds for train passengers arriving and departing from the train station.
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.
TRAINS
Transport for Wales (TfW)
Transport for Wales is carrying out infrastructure upgrades across the Core Valley Lines network for the South Wales Metro, resulting in buses replacing rail services all day between Pontypridd and Treherbert on Saturday August 19th.
TfW will be providing additional capacity where possible on routes in/out of Cardiff but services are expected to be very busy so please allow plenty of time for your journey.
Post-event queues for mainline rail services will be on Central Square and queues for Valleys services will be to the rear of the station. Cardiff Queen Street station will close at close at 4:45pm except for direct journeys to Cardiff Bay.
Visit www.tfw.wales or the TfW app for the latest travel information.
If you have any issues on the railway, please speak to a conductor or, for more serious matters, you can text the British Transport Police on 61016 or call 0800 40 50 40. In an emergency, always call 999.
Great Western Railway (GWR)
GWR will run additional services to help customers get home from the Wales vs South Africa Summer International. Extra trains will operate from Cardiff Central to Swansea, Newport, Bristol and London; with plenty of parking available at station car parks.
Trains are, however, expected to be very busy immediately after the match and a queueing system will be in place outside the station to help people board trains safely.
Those travelling from further afield should check connecting services at www.gwr.com/check.
PARK & RIDE FACILITIES
The event park & ride facilities will be at County Hall in Cardiff Bay.
The drop of point in the city centre is Callaghan Square (Eversheds car park).
Cost: £12 payable on the day.
The park & ride site will open at 8:45am with the first bus leaving at 9am. The last bus from the city centre will be at 7pm with the site closing at 7:30pm.
EVENT DAY PARKING
Civic Centre (Cars and Coaches)
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 per car and £30 per bus – payable on the day at the car park – card payments are also now available.
Parking time: The car park will open at 8am and closes at 12 Midnight.
Sophia Gardens (Cars)
(Approximately, 0.5 mile walk to the Principality Stadium, Gate 2).
Sophia Gardens Event Day Parking
Getting there: Exit junction 32 off the M4.
Cost: £20 per car and £30 per bus – payable on the day at the car park – card payments are now available.
Parking time: Car park opens at 8.00am and closes at 12 midnight.
Please note: Sophia Gardens car park will be staffed until 7.00pm 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.
BUS
Local Buses
Bus services will be diverted while the city centre road closures are in place.
Please visit the relevant bus operator’s website for more information about your specific bus routes.
All Cardiff Bus services will divert to the satellite pick up and drop off bus stops from 11.15am until 9.30pm. All the diversion bus stops for Cardiff Bus services after 12 noon can be seen here: Principality Stadium Events – Cardiff Bus
Alternatively for Stagecoach services, please visit: Welcome to Stagecoach (stagecoachbus.com)
Or for Adventure Travel services, please visit: Home | Adventure Travel
Coach Services
National Express coaches will use Sophia Gardens as usual. Between 3pm and 8pm, National Express Services will leave and arrive from Cathedral Road.
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.
SHOPPING PARKING
City centre car parks are also available: North Road Car Parks, St David’s Dewi Sant, John Lewis, Capitol Shopping Centre, and 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 former House of Fraser building) will close at 11:15am and will re-open at 7:15pm.
