--- OVERVIEW ---
Cardiff the capital of Wales has a population of over 325,000. It is currently experiencing a building boom partly created by the need for more homes, but also by commercial and government investment. This growth therefore attracts a lot of traffic whether from outside the ... Read review
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Advantages: Good existing infrastructure that is slowly improving (although not quickly enough) Disadvantages: Uneven quality of transport services.
...infrequent and overpriced. Queuing and getting your ticket at the city's main station can be long leading to delays. Additionally some services are too crowded and a backlog of trains can occur at the main station leading to additional delays
--- AUTOMOTIVE ---
Cardiff is very much geared to the automobile (like so many other large cities). Buses are one of its main assets with a large fleet and good coverage. There ... ...white front and black body. The car is however the ruler of the city, which leads to much traffic congestion.
-Pro's-
Bus services have a wide catchment area, are one of the cheapest modes of transport in the city and come frequently at most hours. Information at bus stops and on the buses themselves is good with electronic noticeboards clearly displaying running times and bus numbers.
Cardiff the capital of Wales has a population of over 325,000. It is currently experiencing a building boom partly created by the need for more homes, but also by commercial and government investment. This growth therefore attracts a lot of traffic whether from outside the city or internally. Below I have looked at various modes of transportation in the city available giving pro's and con's for each.
--- RAIL ---
Cardiff is served nationally and regionally by a main station (Cardiff Central) and several smaller stations (linking up the suburbs). High-speed Inter-City trains link most cities with Cardiff. The journey time from London Paddington to Cardiff is approximately two hours.
-Pro's-
Train services to the main population centres around Cardiff (Swansea, Newport) and the suburbs are frequent (although night and weekend services are sometimes not provided enough). The inter-city service is one of the best features with newer trains (especially Virgin Trains) and better punctuality. Cheaper than road and air, the driving is also left to someone else.
-Con's-
Regional connections further out of Cardiff (e.g. Pontypridd) are in desperate need of substantial improvement. The trains are outdated, dirty, lack punctuality, infrequent and overpriced. Queuing and getting your ticket at the city's main station can be long leading to delays. Additionally some services are too crowded and a backlog of trains can occur at the main station leading to additional delays
--- AUTOMOTIVE ---
Cardiff is very much geared to the automobile (like so many other large cities). Buses are one of its main assets with a large fleet and good coverage. There is also a large number of Taxi's with there distinctive white front and black body. The car is however the ruler of the city, which leads to much traffic congestion.
-Pro's-
Bus services have a wide catchment area, are one of the cheapest modes of transport in the city and come frequently at most hours. Information at bus stops and on the buses themselves is good with electronic noticeboards clearly displaying running times and bus numbers.
Taxi's are mostly found in the city centre to flag down, but can be called citywide. The main benefit is there large numbers meaning a taxi is almost always available.
The city is principally targeted for car drivers and you can get almost anywhere in your car with motorways (M4) and dual carriage ways linking Cardiff to other large urban areas.
-Con's-
Buses only accept the exact change paid into a dispenser and are quite slow due there size and the number of stops to be made. The main con of Taxi's is that they are one of the most expensive modes of transport in Cardiff (like in many other UK cities).
Cars although used the most have some of the main disadvantages of all the different modes of transport. Traffic is very bad, there is also an acute lack of parking in the city centre and when a space is found the parking charges are very high. In the suburbs parking is better, but the site of so many cars spoils the landscape.
--- SEA/OTHER ---
Cardiff doesn't have a ferry service, but at its bay yachts and some merchant ships can call. The city council have in the last 10-15 years promoted cycling in the city, but have neglected or failed to expand on the existing bike routes in recent years. Going around Cardiff by foot takes a long time, priority is given to vehicles and the pavements in many areas are very damaged. This to me is one of the areas needing most improvement after the train network.
--- AIR ---
Cardiff International Airport is located out of the city and provides a good air network to cities across the UK, Europe and beyond.
-Pro's-
Due to its smaller than average size processing passengers at Cardiff is fairly easy. This reduces delays and allows customers to spend less time waiting at the airport. It also allows Cardiff residents to travel abroad without going to another major city.
-Con's-
While covering many destinations you still have to go to Heathrow, Gatwick or other large airports to go further a field. While this is not unique to Cardiff; the capital city of Wales should be given a larger airport to reflect its capital status.
--- CONCLUSION ---
For visitors to the city centre the inter-city service is adequate, but travel to the outer limits and you may experience problems. Park footpaths are okay, but for the resident many street paths are broken and sometimes dangerous. Buses and taxis probably serve both the tourist and resident best maintaining coverage and quality city-wide. The car will still continue to dominate as long as people use them and the council provides for them. It gives the most freedom, but be aware of traffic jams, charges and traffic wardens.
Creating a sustainable, environmentally friendly system should be the ultimate goal of Cardiff city. As it goes the car still dominates the city, public transport although improved needs much more investment and promotion. Therefore Cardiff follows the trend the rest of the UK is taking. Cardiff needs to focus primarily on its rail network and to improve the cycling and pedestrian routes. The recent creation of the Welsh National Assembly may be able to assist in developing transport in line with its commitment to creating a prosperous capital city.
Unfortunateley even though Cardiff Uni's leaflet claims that Cardiff has 'a good bus service', I'm afraid that's a bit of a faux pas! Cardiff Council have put money into the buses but not into the right areas and the organisation is disgusting. I live in Llanishen and I'm forever late for College because the buses are never there on time. There should be a bus at 8:53 which is always half an hour late and in that time there should have been a 9:11 ... ...sat in Cardiff bus station while the driver has a fag/coffee break! Also they seem to get the rudest people imaginable to drive them, some are O.K but there are many nasty driver who seem to hate people
And talking about Cigarettes that reminds me. Is everyone blind or Something! Well the ones who miss the sign saying 'You can be fined for smoking on buses' and 'No Smoking'. People sit upstairs and smoke whilst the driver is well aware of it! It's ...
ElenCross 28.07.2000
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Review of Getting around in Cardiff
Advantages: less Stress than driving Disadvantages: a little bit on the Expensive side
I Have been using the train services in Cardiff for over seven years now. There is a good service from west wales through sansea to Cardiff They run about every hour. There is also services from all the Cardiff Valleys and a hourly sevice from Maesteg. On arriving in Cardiff Central You can get a service over to Queen street where the main shopping centre is this service runs about every five minutes . Ther are plenty of destinations you can go to ... ...Harbour,Bristol, Manchester, liverpool, Newcastle Birmingham, Tenby, Barry Island, Brighton, Exeter, Holyhead, Warminster, Swindon for the designer outlets. London Waterloo for the Eurostar. Once you get to cardiff central . You can get to anywhere in the counrty Directly or at the most with two changes of train. The train is more relaxing than driving andhas more room to move than coaches or Airplanes. ...
Tracy57 02.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Getting around in Cardiff
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Advantages: Location, swimming pool Disadvantages: chlorine smell, at present building work
the other direction Cardiff Bay is around a 5 minute walk.
Getting there
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Cardiff central train station is close by and could be reached within a 10 minute walk. They are also situated around 15 miles from Cardiff airport if you wanted to arrive by air.
If arriving by car, on the M4 Westbound, leave at Junction 29 and join the A48, following signs for Cardiff Bay. From the Eastbound direction leave the M4 at Junction 33 and join the A4232 and again follow signs for Cardiff Bay. Once in the locality of the hotel there are Novotel signs to direct you. Although we still managed to get lost (more due to the boyfriends map reading than anything else!).
The Hotel
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As you approach the hotel it has a very modern appearance. Built from red brick it has two wings in an L shape joined by a glass atrium ...
Advantages: Close to the Millennium Stadium, and taxis! Disadvantages: Popular so can be busy.
other pubs. That is to say that you get good value for money and good quality with it. There is plenty of competition in and aroundCardiff so Wetherspoons would be hard pushed to get away with anything less.
Being part of the Wetherspoons chain it is renowned for its cheap beer prices and extensive menus. The food is served throughout the day for lunchtime and evening meals. I haven't sampled the food from this Wetherspoons but have always been more than satisfied with the food I've had in the Newcastle ones.
I am informed that along with the draught lager and bitter and bottles such as Smirnoff Ice, they also have real ales which are not my cup of tea but if that's what you like it is worth knowing.
I am also informed that there are often drink deals to be had such as £1 bottles and cheaper prices if you buy a few drinks. Bear in ...
Advantages: Fly from local airports, low fares if booked early, friendly staff Disadvantages: It could be me but the planes seemed old
town will cost you c. £26 rather than £7 from City (Air Wales fly into City)
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My first experience of wanting to fly with BMI was back in December when I needed to get to Glasgow, a forthcoming trip to Lanzarote meant that time was precious, however the flights offered did not suit my needs, getting me into Glasgow about 9 in the evening, way to late to take advantage of the ?eat as much as you can? curry, and not getting me back into Cardiff until around 10 in the evening, far too much hassle when you have to be back in the office the following morning.
Then came the trip to Edinburgh in June ? flight times here were far more sociable ? leaving Cardiff at 5 in the evening and returning around 8pm back into Cardiff the following day ? great what more could I ask for? Well price for one thing ...
sue.51 15.06.2003 (17.06.2003)
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