Cardiff Central bus station

Cardiff Central bus station was the main bus transport interchange in the Cardiff city centre until it closed on 1 August 2015.[3] With 34 stands, it was the largest bus station in Wales. It was located adjacent to Cardiff Central railway station forming a major interchange. Construction of a new bus and transport interchange on the site of the former NCP multi-storey car park in Wood Street, adjacent to the old bus station, is underway with an expected date of completion sometime in late 2023.[1][2]

Cardiff Central bus station

Gorsaf Fysiau Canol Caerdydd
Cardiff Central bus station in April 2009
General information
LocationCardiff Central Bus Station
Central Square
Cardiff
CF10 1EP
Wales
Coordinates51.47643°N 3.17905°W / 51.47643; -3.17905
Owned byCity of Cardiff Council
Bus stands34
Bus operators
ConnectionsCardiff Central railway station
History
Opened1954
OpeningRe-opening sometime in late 2023 (as Cardiff Bus Interchange)[1][2]
Closed1 August 2015

The station used to handle the vast majority of bus and coach services that run in and through the city. Notable exceptions were Megabus services (which called at Kingsway and Cardiff University),[4] Stagecoach South Wales route 122 (which called at Greyfriars Road)[5] and EST route 89 (which used Customhouse Street).[6]

History
The bus station in June 1980
The terminal building from Wood Street in November 2007

The site of Cardiff's bus station had previously been an area of housing and shops known as Temperance Town. However, demolition of Temperance Town commenced in 1937 after the Great Western Railway persuaded the Cardiff Corporation to improve the view from their new railway station.[7] The Central bus station opened in 1954.[8]

Demolition of the bus station began in 2008 with the terminus building being demolished. Before work began, there were eight concourses lettered A-F and W with each concourse having numbered stands.

Redevelopment
Final stages of demolition of the terminal building in August 2008

Redevelopment of the bus station began in 2008.[9] Demolition of the old terminal buildings (between stand A and Wood Street stands) started on 11 January 2008, with buses instead picking up at Castle Street and Westgate Street. On 6 May 2008, Stand A at the bus station closed for demolition of the terminal buildings.[10] As of 4 January 2009, some services reverted to using the bus station, whilst others remained split between the alternative terminal points.[11]

A multimillion-pound modernisation of Cardiff central bus station was announced in December 2010, with three options for public consultation.[12] In December 2011 the council announced that the existing bus station would close in early 2013 and the new bus station would be built on the site of the neighbouring Wood Street Car Park. The new bus station would open in mid-2014, and provide 19 bays and have direct access to Westgate Street and St Mary Street via Saunders Road.[13] A further announcement was made in January 2012, that negotiations were underway to sell off the existing bus station land to two major companies, who would build a 12-storey headquarters on the site. Part of the proceeds from the sale would be put towards redesign and redevelopment of Central Square, which would be renamed Capital Square.[14] These plans were put in doubt after the May 2012 council election.[15]

Proposed new Cardiff Central bus station
The new offices under construction (April 2023)

In October 2014 a new masterplan was revealed for the area, produced by architects Foster + Partners. BBC Cymru Wales earmarked the bus station as the site for its new headquarters.[16] Proposals for a replacement bus station were to be put to the Cardiff Council later in 2014.[17] In June 2015 Foster + Partners were chosen as the preferred architects and images were revealed of the new bus station, which would be completed by mid-2018. The final part of the bus station closed on 1 August 2015.[18][3] Construction of the new Cardiff Central bus station is now due to begin early in 2018, after an agreement was made between Rightacres, the developer of the site, and the Welsh Government.[19] The plans, which were approved by Cardiff Council's cabinet on 20 December 2017, will include both offices and residential apartments built along with the bus station.[19] The plans still need planning approval for some elements of the plan.[19] The new bus station was described as due to open in 2020.[19]

In July 2019, it was announced that contracts had been signed with developer Rightacres and funder Legal & General to re-open a bus station on the new site.[2] Following several delays, the Cardiff Bus Interchange is now expected to be completed by the end of 2023.[1]

Facilities

Eating and drinking facilities such as a Burger King, as well as other shops and bus company offices, faced the stands on Central Square. Taxi ranks were located on both sides of the station.

Astey's Cafe,[20] ticket offices, toilets and a newsagent were located at stand A which was demolished in mid-2008 as part of the redevelopment of the station. However, these services are available in the adjacent Cardiff Central railway station.

Services
Cardiff Bus and Stagecoach South Wales buses at the bus station in April 2007

There were 34 stands at the station, which were located on Central Square, off Wood Street and opposite the Millennium Stadium, in the Cardiff city centre. The operating schedule was:

See also

References
  1. Lewis, Ffion (20 July 2023). "Completion of long-awaited Cardiff bus station delayed again". WalesOnline. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  2. Mosalski, Ruth (30 July 2019). "Cardiff's bus station to finally be built - but won't open for four more years". WalesOnline.
  3. "Cardiff bus station closes for Central Square redevelopment". BBC News. August 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  4. "Megabus.com - Timetables for Cardiff to London". Archived from the original on 6 November 2008. Retrieved 13 December 2008.
  5. http://www.stagecoachbus.com/timetables/122Oct08%5B%5D[2].pdf
  6. "Notfound" (PDF). www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 8 February 2015.
  7. Abandoned Communities website Abandoned Communities ..... Temperance Town (viewed 11 October 2011)
  8. "A short history of cardiff". www.localhistories.org. Retrieved 13 December 2008.
  9. Madeleine Brindley. "WalesOnline - News - Wales News - Relief as bus one-way plan goes on hold". Icwales.icnetwork.co.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  10. "home". cardiff bus. 6 May 2008. Archived from the original on 2 May 2009. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  11. "Request Rejected". Retrieved 15 April 2009.
  12. Alford, Abby (3 December 2010). "Revamp for bus station coming at last - Cardiff news - CardiffOnline". WalesOnline. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
  13. Law, Peter (6 December 2011). "New bus station for Cardiff to open in 2014 at heart of new financial services district". Western Mail (Walesonline). Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  14. Law, Peter (30 January 2012). "'Exciting Times' for Capital". South Wales Echo. pp. 4–5.
  15. Law, Peter (22 May 2012). "'Back to the drawing board' for Cardiff's Central Business District". South Wales Echo. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  16. "BBC Wales HQ at bus station site". BBC News. 10 June 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  17. Sion Barry (30 October 2014). "Cardiff's new Central Square development: An exclusive glimpse at the dramatic overhaul planned for the heart of the capital". Western Mail. pp. 4–5. Archived from the original on 1 November 2014.
  18. "Work begins on new Cardiff bus station" Coach & Bus Week issue 1199 28 July 2015 page 9
  19. "'No more delays' as Cardiff bus station set for 2018 opening". BBC News. 20 December 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  20. Collins, Peter (12 August 2014). "When Asteys in Cardiff city centre was the place to be". Wales Online. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  21. Miller, Claire "Irish coach service to honour city's lost 'Little Ireland' community with plaque" South Wales Echo 6 October 2011, pp. 26-27
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