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14.
March
2018.
Wales vs France travel advice for March 17

Wales will be taking on France in the Natwest 6 Nations at Principality Stadium on Saturday March 17.

The game will kick off at 5pm, so the gates of the stadium will open at 2pm, with a full city centre road closure from 1pm until 8pm.

Enhanced security measures will be in place at Principality Stadium so all those that are coming to Cardiff to watch the game are strongly advised to leave plenty of time to get into the city and into the stadium.

Rugby fans are strongly advised toleave large bags at home and pay attention to the prohibited items listedat  principalitystadium.wales  before they travel into the city.

The annual United Nations Day Against Racism march will also be taking place on Saturday. There will be a rolling road closure to facilitate this event. The march will begin at Grange Gardens at 1pm and will arrive at City hall at 2pm.

Detailed information from public transport providers is included in this media briefing.

Road closures

From early in the day, Scott Road and Park Street will be closed as a result 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:

  • 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.)
  • Saunders Road from its junction with St Mary Street.
  • Customhouse Street throughout its length (access to private car parks will be permitted).
  • Penarth Road from its junction with Saunders Road to the entrance leading to the rear of the Central Train Station.
  • The following roads will be closed in their entirety: Duke Street, Castle St, High Street, St Mary Street, Caroline Street, Wood Street, Central Square, Westgate Street, Quay Street, Guildhall Place, Golate, Park Street, Havelock Street and Scott Road.

Additions: 
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.

From 6.30pm, Station Terrace will be closed. Cars will be able to exit the Capitol Shopping Centre car park via North Edward Street/Station terrace - northbound onto Newport Road/Dumphries place.

Please note: 
If there are any safety concerns in connection with crowds queuing to go into the venue prior to gates opening, there may be a need to close Wood Street and Westgate Street earlier, along with lane restrictions adjacent to Gate 1 on Cowbridge Road East.

If there are any safety concerns relating to the queuing system at Cardiff Central Train Station, then Wood Street, Westgate Street, Park Street, Havelock Street, St Mary Street, Penarth Road, Saunders Road and Customhouse Street will remain closed until safety concerns are remedied. 

Trains

Great Western Railway (GWR)has confirmed that the Paddington to Cardiff services will run to an amended timetable due to planned engineering works. All services will be diverted around Swindon, via Bath Spa.

This will add up to 50 minutes onto the journey time and trains will call at Filton Abbey Wood, Bristol Temple Meads and not Swindon, Didcot Parkway or Bristol Parkway.

Replacement bus services will be running between Filton Abbey Wood and Bristol Parkway, as well as Didcot Parkway/Reading, Bath Spa/Chippenham and Cheltenham Spa/Gloucester to Swindon.

The amended services between Paddington to Cardiff and vice versa will run at approximately one train per hour before and after the game. Two Additional services will be put in place. From Paddington to Cardiff at 9.45am and from Cardiff to Paddington at 7.47pm.

GWR is warning their customers that these services are expected to be extremely busy and the last train from Cardiff to Paddington is expected to leave Cardiff Central at 8.30pm.

Further information is available via the following link -www.GWR.com/Electrfication2018

Arriva Trains Walesis advising all customers attending the match, to take the earliest service possible into Cardiff as train services in the area will be busy all day.

Customers to buy a ticket before they board the train and to buy a return ticket on their outward journey if planning to take the train home.

Extra capacity will be added where possible; however pre and post-match services are expected to be extremely busy. Customers are advised to check their last train home and to arrive at the station in plenty of time to filter through the post-match queueing systems that will be in place at Cardiff Central (for mainline services) and at Cardiff Queen Street (for local Cardiff and Valleys services).

After the match, customers for local Cardiff and Valleys routes must use Cardiff Queen Street station.

Event Park & Ride

Event Park & Ride is available at Leckwith and can be accessed from junction 33 off the M4 and then follow signs to Leckwith Road.

To pre-book Park & Ride visit -https://www.parkjockey.com/principality-stadium

The drop off point is Tresillian Way North, at the back of the train station.

The Park & Ride is 1.5 miles from the city centre which take approximately 10 to 15 minutes.

If you pre-book, the cost is £8 or £10 payable on the day (cash only). If you pre-book you have to print your pre-booking confirmation and hand it to the member of staff.

Staff will arrive at the car park at 8.30am and will open at 9am with the first bus leaving at 9am. The last bus will leave the pick up at the pick-up point at 9pm with the car park closing at 9.30pm.

Motorways and trunk roads

As with all major events, ticket holders are encouraged to plan their travel well ahead and make allowances for busy motorways and trunk roads. The M4 corridor and approaches to Cardiff are expected to be very busy.

Event Day Parking

Sophia Gardens (cars)

(Approximately, 0.5 mile walk to the Principality Stadium, Gate 2).

Sophia Gardens Event Day Parking

Getting there: Exit junction 32 of M4

Cost: £15 payable on the day at the car park (cash only)

Parking time: Car park opens at 8am and closes at 12 midnight.

Please note: Sophia Gardens car park will be staffed until 5.30pm, 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.

Civic Centre Event Day Parking (cars)

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: £12 pre-book online or £15 payable on the day at the car park (cash only).

If you pre-book parking you will be required to print the pre-booking confirmation and hand it to staff when parking your vehicle.

Parking time: The car park opens at 8am and either have to be removed or a pay and display ticket has to be put on the vehicle from 8am on Sunday March 18.

To pre-book your parking, click on to: https://www.parkjockey.com/principality-stadium (this is available to cars only).

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

Shoppers are advised to make use of the dedicated Shopping Park & Ride sites at Pentwyn or County Hall. Or city centre car parks are also available: North Road Car Parks, St David's Shopping Centre, 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 House of Fraser) will close at 11am and will re-open from 8pm.
 
Bus
 
Local buses: 
Buses will be diverted out of the central city bus stops. Buses displaced from stops within the closure will relocate to either Churchill Way for the east, Greyfriars Road for the north or Tudor Street for the west. 
 
Please visit the relevant bus operator's website for more information about your specific bus route.
 
National Express:
 
National Express coaches will use Sophia Gardens as usual.