Billy Joel Fans: Extra Trains Announced for Cardiff Concert
Great Western Railway (GWR) is putting on extra trains to help Billy Joel fans get home from Cardiff this Friday. The train operator will run nine additional services, providing over 5,000 extra seats for passengers heading back from the concert at the Principality Stadium.
However, despite the additional capacity, services are expected to be extremely busy. Thousands of concertgoers will be making the short walk from the stadium to Cardiff Central station, creating large queues for both GWR and Transport for Wales (TfW) services.
To manage the crowds, GWR will operate five extra services from Cardiff to Swansea starting at 22:40. For those travelling east towards Newport and beyond, nine services will depart Cardiff Central from 22:30.
The specific departures and estimated arrival times are as follows:
From Cardiff Central to Swansea:
22:40
22:50
23:00
23:15
23:22
From Cardiff Central to Newport (and beyond):
22:30 - Bristol Temple Meads (23:20)
22:42 - Newport (22:57)
23:00 - Newport (23:16), Bristol Temple Meads (23:45)
23:15 - Newport (23:28), Bristol Parkway (23:49), Swindon (00:12)
23:22 - Newport (23:35), Bristol Temple Meads (00:03)
23:30 - Newport (23:42), Bristol Temple Meads (00:24)
23:40 - Newport (23:52), Bristol Temple Meads (00:26)
23:43 - Newport (23:58), Bristol Parkway (00:26), Swindon (00:44)
00:13 - Newport (00:26), Bristol Temple Meads (00:56)
In a repeat of the queue management system used for previous concerts, passengers travelling east towards Newport will be directed to queue in the square in front of Cardiff Central station, rather than from Riverside Car Park.
GWR Customer Service Director, Rachel Geliamassi, stated: "We're doing everything we can to help customers get home after the concert by providing extra trains alongside our usual timetable services. However, as we've seen with other concerts at the Principality Stadium this summer, services will be very busy, and queuing outside the station will be necessary. The safety of our customers is paramount, and we encourage everyone to check journey times and connections at gwr.com/check and allow plenty of time for their journey home."
TfW is also providing additional capacity where possible on routes in and out of Cardiff on Friday, but services are expected to be extremely busy. Customers are advised to factor in ample time for their journey.
For Valleys services, post-event queues will be located at the rear of the station. Cardiff Queen Street will close at 21:30, with the exception of accessible access and passengers travelling to Cardiff Bay.
Revenue checks will be taking place throughout the day at Cardiff Central. Passengers can find the latest travel information on the TfW website (tfw.wales) or through the new TfW app.
It is important to note that the National Eisteddfod is also taking place in Pontypridd on Friday, which will likely increase passenger numbers on Valleys services throughout the day.
Doors to the Principality Stadium open at 17:00, and the concert is expected to finish around 22:00.
