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Wednesday 31 May 2017

Cardiff-bound football fans urged to plan ahead

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Wales & Western

With 200,000 football fans set to flock to Cardiff for the UEFA Champions League Finals and Festival from 1-4 June, and 60,000 train journeys expected to be made into Cardiff on Saturday 3 June alone, passengers travelling by rail are urged to plan ahead.

Here is why Cardiff is going to be busy this week:

 1-4 June – UEFA Champions Festival in Cardiff Bay

1 June – UEFA Champions League Women’s Final at Cardiff City Stadium at 7.45pm

3 June – UEFA Champions League Final at the National Stadium of Wales at 7.45pm

Top travel tips to ensure passengers get safely to and from events:

• Allow extra time because trains to Cardiff will be busy
• If you’re going to the match, aim to be in the city by 1pm
• Expect queues
• Bags are not allowed into the National Stadium of Wales. Please use the fan bag-drop provided at the Fan Meeting Points
• Know the times of your last trains home. If you have booked yourself on to a specific service, get to the station at least 30 minutes before your train is due to depart
• Check nationalrail.co.uk for on-the-day journey checks and advice 
• For travel advice in advance, visit cardiff2017.wales/travel or download the ‘Cardiff 2017 Travel Guide’ app from www.cardiff2017.wales/travelapp and follow @cardiff17travel on twitter

Network Rail, Arriva Trains Wales and Great Western Railway have volunteers at Cardiff Central station to help passengers until Sunday 4 June.

Great Western Railway will be running over 30 additional trains throughout Saturday on the routes to and from South Wales, with 150 buses on standby supporting trains services to and from Bristol. Great Western Railway customers who are travelling to Cardiff will need to reserve a specific train to the city, and reserve their return journey in an hourly time slot.

Andy Thomas, Network Rail route managing director for Wales, said: “We have been working closely with our partners at Arriva Trains Wales and Great Western Railway to prepare for the Champions League, and we are proud to play our part in welcoming thousands of visitors to Cardiff this week.

"Safety is a priority and we want everyone home safe, so we are urging passengers to plan their journeys well ahead, allowing extra travel time as trains, stations and other travel modes in and around Cardiff will be very busy, especially during the men's final on Saturday 3 June."

Lynne Milligan, Customer Services Director for Arriva Trains Wales, said: "After two years of careful and detailed planning we are excited to welcome up to 200,000 additional people into Cardiff for the Champions League.

“Our timetable has had to change, particularly on the Saturday night to meet the needs of this exceptional, once in a generation level of demand. As such, any train coming from or going to Cardiff may be subject to change and we urge all passengers around our network to check their journeys carefully."

Richard Rowland, Customer Service & Transformation Director for Great Western Railway said: “We are very excited to be only a few days away from the Champions League Final. With many additional trains and 150 buses supporting our services, we are looking forward to playing our part in transporting visitors from London and Bristol to Cardiff and back.

“Trains will be extremely busy that day with over 15,000 train tickets sold so far, and we encourage our customers to only travel to Cardiff if their journey is necessary. We wish both teams the best for the final and hope that is a memorable occasion for the city.”

Passengers are advised to check before they travel at nationalrail.co.uk and allow for extra journey time.

For UEFA Champions League Travel advice visit www.cardiff2017.wales/fantravel for those travelling to the Event and www.cardiff2017.wales/travel if you are not going to the Event and want to understand how your journey may be affected.

 

Video: The railway prepares for the UEFA Champions League: