Cardiff Central bus station

{{Infobox station

| name = Cardiff Central bus station {{rint|gb|bus}}

| native_name = Gorsaf Fysiau Canol Caerdydd {{rint|gb|bus}}

| native_name_lang = cy

| symbol_location =

| symbol =

| type =

| image = Cardiff Central bus station, Cardiff.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Cardiff Central bus station in March 2013

| other_name =

| address = Cardiff Central Bus Station
Central Square
Cardiff
CF10 1EP

| borough =

| country = Wales

| iso_region =

| coordinates = {{Coord|51.47643|-3.17905|region:GB_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

| owned = City of Cardiff Council

| operator =

| bus_stands = 34

| bus_operators = {{Flatlist|

}}

| bus_routes =

| connections = Cardiff Central railway station

| structure =

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| opened = 1954

| closed = 1 August 2015

| rebuilt = 2020–2024 (as Cardiff Bus Interchange){{Cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/cardiffs-bus-station-finally-going-16662395|title=Cardiff's bus station to finally be built - but won't open for four more years|first=Ruth|last=Mosalski|date=30 July 2019|website=WalesOnline}}

| passengers =

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}}

Cardiff Central bus station was the main bus transport interchange in the Cardiff city centre until it closed on 1 August 2015. 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, began in 2020 and was completed in spring 2024.

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),{{cite web |url=http://www.megabus.com/uk/timetables/cardiff_london_bus.php |title=Megabus.com - Timetables for Cardiff to London |access-date=2008-12-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081106021831/http://www.megabus.com/uk/timetables/cardiff_london_bus.php |archive-date=6 November 2008 }} Stagecoach South Wales route 122 (which called at Greyfriars Road)http://www.stagecoachbus.com/timetables/122Oct08{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}[2].pdf and EST route 89 (which used Customhouse Street).{{Cite web|url=https://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/errors/notfound.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208155856/http://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk/files/Living/Transport/Timetables/89.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 February 2015|website=www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk|title=Notfound }}

History

File:Cardiff Bus Station - geograph.org.uk - 1528147.jpg

File:Cardiff Central Bus Station 2007.jpg

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.Abandoned Communities website [http://www.abandonedcommunities.co.uk/temperancetown3.html Abandoned Communities ..... Temperance Town] (viewed 11 October 2011) The Central bus station opened in 1954.{{cite web |url= http://www.localhistories.org/Cardiff.html |publisher= www.localhistories.org |title= A short history of cardiff |access-date= 2008-12-13 |archive-date= 11 December 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121211062541/http://www.localhistories.org/Cardiff.html |url-status= dead }}

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

File:Demolition of Cardiff Bus Station.jpg

Redevelopment of the bus station began in 2008.{{cite web|author=Madeleine Brindley |url=http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/news/wales-news/2007/11/15/relief-as-bus-one-way-plan-goes-on-hold-91466-20108766/ |title=WalesOnline - News - Wales News - Relief as bus one-way plan goes on hold |publisher=Icwales.icnetwork.co.uk |access-date=25 February 2011}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiffbus.com/news/popup_news02.shtml |title=home |publisher=cardiff bus |date=6 May 2008 |access-date=25 February 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502160149/http://www.cardiffbus.com/news/popup_news02.shtml |archive-date=2 May 2009 }} As of 4 January 2009, some services reverted to using the bus station, whilst others remained split between the alternative terminal points.{{cite web |url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/content.asp?nav%3D2870%2C4048%2C4187%26parent_directory_id%3D2865%26id%3D6892 |access-date=2009-04-15 |title= }}

A multimillion-pound modernisation of Cardiff central bus station was announced in December 2010, with three options for public consultation.{{cite web|last=Alford |first=Abby |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/cardiffonline/cardiff-news/2010/12/03/revamp-for-bus-station-coming-at-last-91466-27759451/#ixzz1742GzxWZ |title=Revamp for bus station coming at last - Cardiff news - CardiffOnline |publisher=WalesOnline |date=3 December 2010 |access-date=25 February 2011}} 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.{{cite news|last=Law|first=Peter|title=New bus station for Cardiff to open in 2014 at heart of new financial services district|work=Western Mail (Walesonline)|date=6 December 2011|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/12/06/new-bus-station-for-cardiff-to-open-in-2014-at-heart-of-new-financial-services-district-91466-29900996/|access-date=10 December 2011}} 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.{{cite news|last=Law|first=Peter|title='Exciting Times' for Capital|work=South Wales Echo|date=30 January 2012|pages=4–5}} These plans were put in doubt after the May 2012 council election.{{cite news|last=Law|first=Peter|title='Back to the drawing board' for Cardiff's Central Business District|work=South Wales Echo|date=22 May 2012|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/cardiffonline/cardiff-news/2012/05/22/back-to-the-drawing-board-for-cardiff-s-central-business-district-91466-31015443/|access-date=22 May 2012}}

File:Interchange's offices in April 2023.jpg

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.{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-27781784|title= BBC Wales HQ at bus station site|work= BBC News|date= 10 June 2014|access-date=2017-12-30}} Proposals for a replacement bus station were to be put to the Cardiff Council later in 2014.{{cite news |author=Sion Barry |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business/business-news/cardiffs-new-central-square-development-8018417 |title=Cardiff's new Central Square development: An exclusive glimpse at the dramatic overhaul planned for the heart of the capital |work=Western Mail |date=30 October 2014 |pages=4–5 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101194939/http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business/business-news/cardiffs-new-central-square-development-8018417 |archive-date=1 November 2014 }} 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."Work begins on new Cardiff bus station" Coach & Bus Week issue 1199 28 July 2015 page 9{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-33736981|title= Cardiff bus station closes for Central Square redevelopment|work= BBC News|date= August 2015|access-date=2017-12-30}} Construction of the new Cardiff Central bus station began early in 2018, after an agreement was made between Rightacres, the developer of the site, and the Welsh Government.{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-42431730|title= 'No more delays' as Cardiff bus station set for 2018 opening|work= BBC News|date= 20 December 2017|access-date=2017-12-30}} The plans, which were approved by Cardiff Council's cabinet on 20 December 2017, include both offices and residential apartments built along with the bus station. The new bus station was described as due to open in 2020.

In July 2019, contracts were signed with developer Rightacres and funder Legal & General to re-open a bus station on the new site. Several delays pushed completion of the Cardiff Bus Interchange to the spring of 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/completion-cardiff-bus-station-delayed-27364086|title=Completion of long-awaited Cardiff bus station delayed again|first=Ffion|last=Lewis|date=20 July 2023|website=WalesOnline|access-date=5 August 2023}} Scheduled bus services at the new interchange began on 30 June 2024.

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,{{cite news|last=Collins |first=Peter |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/nostalgia/asteys-cardiff-city-centre-place-7597018 |title=When Asteys in Cardiff city centre was the place to be |work=Wales Online |date=12 August 2014 |access-date=31 October 2020 }} 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

File:Cardiff Bus and Stagecoach buses in Cardiff Bus Station 14 April 2007.jpg 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: