Sound of extra trains will be music to Ed Sheeran fans’ ears

Fans leaving the Ed Sheeran concert this week will benefit from 40 extra trains — that’s 20,000 seats — put on by Great Western Railway (GWR).

GWR has said it will be running 15 services from Cardiff Central after 22.45 on both Thursday and Friday night — and an extra 10 on Saturday night.

• GWR community fund calls for applications
• Former Prime Minister joins GWR’s independent advisory board
• GWR proud of its four-year contribution to £3.5m Action for Children charity partnership

Trains are however expected to be very busy, with thousands of concert goers walking the short distance from the Principality Stadium to Cardiff Central station following the gigs.

In a repeat of the queueing system in place for this year’s Six Nations fixtures, people travelling to Newport after the game will be asked to queue on the square in front of Cardiff Central station, rather than from Riverside Car Park.

Customers are advised to keep checking social media for the latest information on queuing times.

On Thursday and Friday, GWR will run six services to Swansea from 22.53, two IET services to Newport at 22.56 and 23.25, plus seven services to either Bristol Temple Meads or Bristol Parkway from 23.13.

On Saturday it will operate four services to Swansea from 23.00, two services to Newport at 22.58 and 23.09, and four services to both Bristol Parkway and Bristol Temple Meads from 23.22.

My Chemical Romance are playing at Sophia Gardens Cricket Ground on Saturday night, increasing demand for services from Cardiff Central.

GWR Customer Service & Operations Director, Richard Rowland, said: “We’re doing all we can to help customers home following these concerts and we are pleased to be able to provide these additional services.

“But Cardiff Central is going to be especially busy after the gigs and we would encourage customers to check journey times and allow sufficient time to queue to board trains safely.”

Transport for Wales Planning and Performance Director, Colin Lea, said: “With more than 50,000 people expected at the Principality Stadium each night, services in and around Cardiff will be very busy, so we kindly ask people plan ahead, check the latest timetables and leave plenty of time for journeys.

“We’ve paused evening improvement works on the Valleys lines to help more customers to get home by train after the event and we are strengthening services where we have trains and crew available.

“Colleagues will be working hard to assist everyone to get home safely and we would advise customers to familiarise themselves with the post-event queuing system and make sure they are prepared for the possibility of extended waiting times.”

For more information, or to check your journey, please visit GWR.com.

Download article