Fans heading home to Chester queue on Cardiff Central square after both Wales matches. Wales v New Zealand queues start at 3.30pm on Saturday 14 November.

Rugby fans travelling home towards Chester, North Wales or Manchester after Wales play New Zealand on Saturday 14 November and Australia on Saturday 21 November will queue for their trains on the square in front of Cardiff Central station, Transport for Wales has said.

Post-match queues start at 3.30pm after the New Zealand game. For the Australia game TfW’s press release gives 9.30pm, but the station map TfW published alongside it gives 8pm, so check TfW’s Autumn Internationals page on the day. Until the queues start, passengers can use either Cardiff Central or Cardiff Queen Street.

The two matches

Match Date Kick-off Post-match queues from
Wales v New Zealand Saturday 14 November 2.10pm 3.30pm
Wales v Australia Saturday 21 November 8.10pm 9.30pm (release) or 8pm (map)

Both games are at the Principality Stadium. Kick-off times are from TfW’s event page.

TfW and Great Western Railway (GWR) expect continued high demand after the Wales v Japan match, when, according to TfW, more than 50,000 fans travelled in and out of the city. Extra trains and crowd management plans stay in place for the last two fixtures. TfW says more than 90 “service enhancements” have been made across the three autumn games, from retimed trains to extra carriages and additional services on key routes, and that all of them now show in journey planners.

Which station after the match

Once queuing begins, the queues split between the two stations:

  • Cardiff Central square: everything not listed below, including services towards North Wales, Manchester, London, Bristol, West Wales, Cheltenham Spa, Ebbw Vale and Maesteg. This is the queue for anyone going home to Chester.
  • Cardiff Queen Street: Treherbert, Aberdare, Merthyr, Rhymney, Coryton, Cardiff Bay, Penarth and the Vale of Glamorgan.

There is an accessibility queue at both stations. TfW’s map puts Queen Street a 15-minute walk from the stadium.

Transport for Wales map for Wales v New Zealand on Saturday 14 November, showing walking routes from the Principality Stadium gates to Cardiff Central and Cardiff Queen Street, with North Wales and Manchester and Crewe among the Cardiff Central destinations and queues from 15:30.
Where to queue after Wales v New Zealand: North Wales and Manchester and Crewe services leave from Cardiff Central, with queues from 3.30pm. Photo: supplied by Transport for Wales

The 14 November map lists North Wales and “Manchester & Crewe” among the Cardiff Central destinations. The 21 November map lists North Wales and Shrewsbury.

Transport for Wales map for Wales v Australia on Saturday 21 November, showing walking routes from the Principality Stadium to Cardiff Central and Cardiff Queen Street, with North Wales and Shrewsbury among the Cardiff Central destinations and queues from 20:00.
Where to queue after Wales v Australia: North Wales and Shrewsbury services leave from Cardiff Central. Photo: supplied by Transport for Wales

The Valleys and Vale lines moved to Queen Street because the space at the rear of Cardiff Central is no longer available while TfW prepares the site for its Cardiff Central station enhancements project. The arrangement started with Wales v Italy in the Six Nations in March 2026 and has been used for every high-profile event in the city since.

What TfW and GWR say

Georgie Porter, Head of Events Planning and Delivery at Transport for Wales, said: “Following a really successful operation for the Japan game, we’re ready to welcome supporters back to Cardiff for two more weekends of rugby.

“Our main priority is to get everyone to and from Cardiff safely and smoothly. The post-match queuing systems are designed to keep fans moving as quickly as possible, and we encourage everyone to double-check their post-match queue and allow plenty of time for their travel.”

Rachel Geliamassi, GWR’s Customer Services Director, said: “Fans traveling on GWR services into Cardiff Central are strongly advised to reserve their seats in advance to avoid disappointment. Planning ahead and booking early can help you relax and focus on enjoying the rugby.

“We would encourage customers to check journey times and allow sufficient time to board trains safely. Remember that trains will be extremely busy leading up to kick-off and immediately following the match.”

Before you go

  • Buy before you board. TfW says tickets must be bought before getting on the train, and suggests buying a return on the way in. Inspectors will check tickets before and after the game.
  • Arriving at Central: everyone leaves by the front of the station through ticket queues, with dedicated lanes for pay as you go. A one-way system runs around the station.
  • Bus interchange and taxis: Cardiff Bus Interchange closes from 10am to 6.15pm on 14 November and from 4pm on 21 November. The Saunders Road taxi rank closes from 9.45am to midnight on 14 November and from 3.15pm to midnight on 21 November.
  • Parking: the Penarth Road and Riverside car parks at Cardiff Central have closed for good; TfW points drivers to the multi-storey car park at the rear of the station.
  • Alcohol: anyone under the influence who is considered a threat to their own or public safety will be refused travel, as will anyone abusive or threatening to customers or staff.