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Cardiff Central rear entrance upgrade complete

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gareth950

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So the new rear entrance (Penarth Rd) finally opens at Cardiff Central this weekend.
http://www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk/cardiffcentral/
On Saturday 29 August, the rear entrance building (Penarth Rd) at Cardiff Central Station will be open to the public.
There will be a new ticket gate-line, ticket office (with two normal ticket desks and two excess fares desks) and customer information screens in the concourse.

Extra staff will be at hand to assist customers to familiarise themselves with the new facilities over the opening weekend

Works to reinstate the Penarth Rd car park to its original layout will now commence with completion due ahead of the first Rugby World Cup event in Cardiff.
Any info on when the new Platform 8 will be operational? I still fail to see how it's going to make much of a difference to timetabling, unless terminating valleys services can be held there whilst Barry/VOG/Penarth services pass.
It's the same with the extra platform at Barry station - the only benefit of that so far has been it's allowed late running Barry Island trains to turnaround there and not at the Island.

It seems like they've been working on the upgrade to the rear of Central station forever now!
(Although I know they had a serious incident last year that delayed the work)
 
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XCTurbostar

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<Insert words about how I have produced the design for this entrance but can't talk about it>

Let's hope the PA and CIS work because that's my bit!

Thanks,
Ross
 
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I believe that platform 8 is 2016 or even 2017, the works on the crossovers before CDF are a year behind at least. Seems daft to complete the platform so far in advance of it opening but there must have been contracts in place I suppose.
 

EbbwJunction1

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I believe that platform 8 is 2016 or even 2017, the works on the crossovers before CDF are a year behind at least. Seems daft to complete the platform so far in advance of it opening but there must have been contracts in place I suppose.

This answer is interesting to me, as I've been wondering about when it's going to open for a while.

Virtually everything platform-wise looks to be complete, it's just that there's a lack of tracks. One part has ballast and possibly some rails, but the majority has neither ... it looks very strange!

Any new advice will be appreciated, please; thanks.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
And another question, please: Will they renumber the platforms to include a new No. 5 (i.e. Nos. 0 to 7) or even remove No. 0 and number them from Nos. 1 to 7?
 
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This answer is interesting to me, as I've been wondering about when it's going to open for a while.

Virtually everything platform-wise looks to be complete, it's just that there's a lack of tracks. One part has ballast and possibly some rails, but the majority has neither ... it looks very strange!

Any new advice will be appreciated, please; thanks.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
And another question, please: Will they renumber the platforms to include a new No. 5 (i.e. Nos. 0 to 7) or even remove No. 0 and number them from Nos. 1 to 7?

Platform 8 is due to come into use with the new December timetable.

Platforms won't be renumbered. (The signs with the '8' on are all ready in place)

I think renumbering Cardiff Central would add unnecessary confusion for passengers, it would mean in years to come if the old Platform 5 ever came back into part of the station would need to be renumbered again, plus there are very nice numbering signboards in the underpass which are listed and can't be altered (although could be covered up).

On a non rail forum, some people who commenting/moaning that it was typical of Cardiff 'only they could have a Platform 0' until I pointed out a) why it was called 0 and why they couldn't and indeed shouldn't be renumbered.
 

louis97

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Platform 8 is due to come into use with the new December timetable.

Platforms won't be renumbered. (The signs with the '8' on are all ready in place)

I think renumbering Cardiff Central would add unnecessary confusion for passengers, it would mean in years to come if the old Platform 5 ever came back into part of the station would need to be renumbered again, plus there are very nice numbering signboards in the underpass which are listed and can't be altered (although could be covered up).

On a non rail forum, some people who commenting/moaning that it was typical of Cardiff 'only they could have a Platform 0' until I pointed out a) why it was called 0 and why they couldn't and indeed shouldn't be renumbered.

Platform 5 (to go between Platform 3 and 4 at the West end) is in the signalling scheme plans for the area, so suggests it could be sooner rather than later.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Any info on when the new Platform 8 will be operational? I still fail to see how it's going to make much of a difference to timetabling, unless terminating valleys services can be held there whilst Barry/VOG/Penarth services pass.
It's the same with the extra platform at Barry station - the only benefit of that so far has been it's allowed late running Barry Island trains to turnaround there and not at the Island.

The benefits from Cardiff Central Platform 8 will allow another train to arrive as one is departing. The extra platform at Barry allows similar, especially when the line towards Barry Island from the mainline had such a slow speed. Although it also allows the diversion of one of the Barry Island trains to Bridgend, giving Bridgend trains every half hour via Barry. The platform therefore makes it possible to run a shuttle to Barry in place of the lost train and also run a train every half hour to Cardiff and every half hour to Barry - giving a train every 15 minutes from Barry Island, instead of the current uneven frequency.
 
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EbbwJunction1

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Thanks very much to Paul and Louis for their answers to my questions.

Two comments / questions:
a. They'll have to get on with laying the track for Platform 8 pretty soon, then!

b. I'm interested in the possible reinstatement of Platform 5. What services will use that platform - will they be those from Cardiff to the Vale and Cardiff to Maesteg that don't come down from the Valleys?
 

PHILIPE

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Thanks very much to Paul and Louis for their answers to my questions.

Two comments / questions:
a. They'll have to get on with laying the track for Platform 8 pretty soon, then!

b. I'm interested in the possible reinstatement of Platform 5. What services will use that platform - will they be those from Cardiff to the Vale and Cardiff to Maesteg that don't come down from the Valleys?

Earmarked for additional Maestegs and, as you say, VOG. There is a Swansea local at the present time which turns back..
 
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Thanks very much to Paul and Louis for their answers to my questions.

Two comments / questions:
a. They'll have to get on with laying the track for Platform 8 pretty soon, then!

Part of the track is down, and work was being done yesterday when I passed through.

b. I'm interested in the possible reinstatement of Platform 5. What services will use that platform - will they be those from Cardiff to the Vale and Cardiff to Maesteg that don't come down from the Valleys?

Plans to reopen platform 5 where drawn up alongside the plans for the work which is going on regarding platform 8, and yes the idea was to terminate trains from Maesteg there, the plans where however dropped. I've not seen anything bar a comment on this tread about it reopening anytime soon.
 
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headshot119

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I doubt platform 8 will open by December, they are a long way behind with the resignalling scheme.

Platform 5 is still on the cards to be reopened.
 

Class 170101

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On a non rail forum, some people who commenting/moaning that it was typical of Cardiff 'only they could have a Platform 0' until I pointed out a) why it was called 0 and why they couldn't and indeed shouldn't be renumbered.

Except they aren't the only one these days
Kings Cross has a platform 0 or Zero

And I am sure there are others I just can't think of right now.
 

fgwrich

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Except they aren't the only one these days
Kings Cross has a platform 0 or Zero

And I am sure there are others I just can't think of right now.

Haymarket, Leeds, Stockport, Kings Cross, Cardiff Central and Gravesend.

When I was passing through Central last week (before having the horror/delight of 142076) I noticed that at least half of the sleepers were down, the east end still requiring the sub layer of ballast before sleepers can be placed down - presumably awaiting revisions to the current track layout before the point work can be installed?
 

Envoy

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I don't think that the new south side entrance is going to be big enough as increased flows of customers are likely due to new developments in Callaghan Square & environs.

Checked it out this morning - no racks with timetables or areas for the public to sit whilst waiting to meet those coming off the trains.

A small taxi rank is by the car park but not one taxi present. I suppose that we still have zillions of taxis on the north side? So, why do we not have taxis waiting to transport those heading for the Bay leaving the south side exit? Presumably the drivers can charge more by picking up people from the north side as it is a slightly longer journey?

I note on the new wall facing the car park that it says Caerdydd = Cardiff in Welsh. English only appears on the new building - along with Welsh.
 

gareth950

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I doubt platform 8 will open by December, they are a long way behind with the resignalling scheme.

Platform 5 is still on the cards to be reopened.

I don't have a link for this news piece, as it's in the print edition of October's Modern Railways. But, it looks like we'll be waiting until early 2017 to get a train from platform 8. :|
Taken from Modern Railways October 2015:
The platform (8) will come into use when the main commissioning for the Cardiff Area Signalling Renewal is undertaken over Christmas 2016. Network Rail built the platform and entrance building at the same time to minimise the disruption to passengers.
'The final phase of the project involves the most complicated interlocking we've ever done, with huge signalling complexities', said the spokeswoman. 'The first available time we can do this is Christmas 2016'. Rhodri Clark

As for platform 5, doesn't platform 4a have the functions of 5 already? I know of at least one ex Bridgend via VOG service that uses 4a to turn back (1142 Bridgend --> 1247 CDF), which then forms the 1255 to Barry Island.
 
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PHILIPE

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I don't have a link for this news piece, as it's in the print edition of October's Modern Railways. But, it looks like we'll be waiting until early 2017 to get a train from platform 8. :|


As for platform 5, doesn't platform 4a have the functions of 5 already? I know of at least one ex Bridgend via VOG service that uses 4a to turn back (1142 Bridgend --> 1247 CDF), which then forms the 1255 to Barry Island.

4 can do the function as a Platform 5 would, But capacity is the issue.
 

craigybagel

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You already regularly have trains queueing up to get in to 3 and 4 from the east as it is without turning round services from the west there as well.
 

alb1

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I don't have a link for this news piece, as it's in the print edition of October's Modern Railways. But, it looks like we'll be waiting until early 2017 to get a train from platform 8. :|

I just came across this article which is 7 months old now, but does indeed confirm that Platform 8 isn't expected to be in use for some time and goes some way to explain why.

http://www.railtechnologymagazine.com/Rail-News/cardiff-resignalling-project-completion-delay-to-2017-confirmed

“This was the first available slot of the magnitude we required,” said Irwin. “We can only do phase 5, which includes Cardiff West, over a Christmas/New Year period. That will be taking place for a period of about nine days from Christmas Eve 2016 through to 2 January 2017 – when platform 8 [the new platform at Cardiff Central] will come into operational service.”
 
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