Trains on matchdays

last few seasons been a nightmare at Grangetown station, the Rhymney valley train along with other trains have been lucky to have between 2 and 4 coaches on. Problem is what happens now when our ground is being extended and we are going to get higher attendances. The trains have been so full that when it gets to central station the doors cant open, so people at central station and queen street cant get on.

We are expected to catch the train now that car parking is virtually non existant around the ground unless you travel minimum of 3 hours b4 a game to park up. Im sure the club, council and train company should be doing more for us supporters on match days especially as you cant catch the ninian park train just after the game.

We are a premiership team with a very sub standard/ third rate transport system for a major city.

I agree and it is something the club needs to take on board urgently

Totally understand busy trains are not a very pleasurable experience, but some feedback which hopefully may be of help:

As a rule train companies don't have spare trains sets worth millions of pounds sitting around waiting just to be used on match days. Just about all routes in Wales lose money and rely on subsidies from the assembly. So you can imagine the need for trains to be used as efficiently as possible.

That said when Rugby is on you can 70,000 in the stadium and 1000's more in the city centre all rail customers get a train home (providing they arrived in time).

Yes you have to wait, and yes it is busy, but unfortunately this is a result of 1000's of people wanting to go to the game. The train sets aren't avilable to deal with the extra capacity requirements just for one day, it wouldn't be cost effective tickets already expensive enough as it is! And likewise, the stations weren't built for dealing with the extra capacity.

It's no secret that the network has been under-funded over the years, especially in comparison to other countries in europe, but different governments have different priorities at any given time. The problems here are more than likely experienced in all cities across the uk. And as for a third rate system - if you mean as in third-world - then I would take a look at the videos on you tube from India and see what you think of that hehe

Ending on a positive there is work currently going on at Cardiff Central and at Queen Street. Cardiff Central will get an extra platform and Queen Street will get an extra two. So not all doom and gloom. Not sure how much impact this will have directly on match days but in general this should go a long way to easing congestion around Valleys and Cardiff.

Hope info is useful - not trying to be argumentative just passing on a different view. And fully empathise with points you raised. Anyway - Hope you have a decent journey whatever path you take! Cheers

Ninian Park station is big enough for 6/7 car trains but arriva won't run them

Why don't you get a train to Cardiff Central and walk to the ground from there?

We travel on the 10:20 service from Aberdare every home game. Drink in town. and Taxi to the ground 30 mins before kick-off. I know this isn't everyone's idea, but saves time if there are a few. Then after the game, it is a walk to Grangetown station for the 17:30 service to Radyr and a 5 min wait for the connection back to Aberdare. Fp, Arriva are always on time and it always turns into a cracking day out,£10.

We travel on the 10:20 service from Aberdare every home game. Drink in town. and Taxi to the ground 30 mins before kick-off. I know this isn't everyone's idea, but saves time if there are a few. Then after the game, it is a walk to Grangetown station for the 17:30 service to Radyr and a 5 min wait for the connection back to Aberdare. Fp, Arriva are always on time and it always turns into a cracking day out,£10.

Didnt think of Radyr.
Nice one

they've stopped trains stopping at Ninian after games due to conjestion on trains, yet the the Treherbert train passes through there anyway! that doesn't make sense to me tbh

they've stopped trains stopping at Ninian after games due to conjestion on trains, yet the the Treherbert train passes through there anyway! that doesn't make sense to me tbh

It doe's if you have a two car DMU, with about two thousand people trying to get on it!

Another problem you got is that Arriva Trains Wales (ATW) don't run a service between Ninian Park - Radyr via the City Line (Waungron Park, Fairwarter, & Danescourt) on a Sunday anyway.

Totally understand busy trains are not a very pleasurable experience, but some feedback which hopefully may be of help:

As a rule train companies don't have spare trains sets worth millions of pounds sitting around waiting just to be used on match days. Just about all routes in Wales lose money and rely on subsidies from the assembly. So you can imagine the need for trains to be used as efficiently as possible.

That said when Rugby is on you can 70,000 in the stadium and 1000's more in the city centre all rail customers get a train home (providing they arrived in time).

Yes you have to wait, and yes it is busy, but unfortunately this is a result of 1000's of people wanting to go to the game. The train sets aren't avilable to deal with the extra capacity requirements just for one day, it wouldn't be cost effective tickets already expensive enough as it is! And likewise, the stations weren't built for dealing with the extra capacity.

It's no secret that the network has been under-funded over the years, especially in comparison to other countries in europe, but different governments have different priorities at any given time. The problems here are more than likely experienced in all cities across the uk. And as for a third rate system - if you mean as in third-world - then I would take a look at the videos on you tube from India and see what you think of that hehe

Ending on a positive there is work currently going on at Cardiff Central and at Queen Street. Cardiff Central will get an extra platform and Queen Street will get an extra two. So not all doom and gloom. Not sure how much impact this will have directly on match days but in general this should go a long way to easing congestion around Valleys and Cardiff.

Hope info is useful - not trying to be argumentative just passing on a different view. And fully empathise with points you raised. Anyway - Hope you have a decent journey whatever path you take! Cheers

You raise some valid points BUT, the rail franchise structure in this country is criminally inept, the government now puts in twice as much investment into the railways as it did when they owned it through British Rail. Where does a lot of that money go? Shareholders pockets instead of improving the infrastructure, rolling stock and value for money tickets.
Other countries in Europe with far superior railways pay less for their railways, they even manage to make enough profit to take over private companies that operate in this country. For example Arriva is part owned by Deutsch Bahn, which is owned by the German taxpayer. DB has also now bought EWS (England,Wales,Scotland) Freight and have renamed it. The list of examples go on, and shows that the way the railway is operated in this country is ridiculously flawed and aimed more at company profits that the taxpayer and the commuter.
Also under BR there were football specials which helped solve overcrowding problems on matchdays, old trains kept for specifically for this purpose although can't see that being re-introduced under the current system.

Some good points there lads It happened last year where the train was so full the train doors couldn't open from the train arriving from grangetown and many fans being left behind or crushed in the mayhem to board the train it may be easier taking the car but that's getting harder and harder to park up. I honestly believe our transport system is rubbish for a premiership club. What happens when we increase to 38000 perhaps we can use the park and ride facility from the liberty stadium

ATW only have 2 car DMU train sets available for stops like Ninian Park and Grangetown. For me it's the FGW to Central and walk. Either that or the vale train from Bridgend, takes an hour but its never ever packed when I try to get on it during a match day

Never had any trouble with trains being full.