Thousands are expected in the capital on Sunday for the Cardiff Half Marathon and the Wales vs Denmark football match
A queuing system will be in place at the capital’s largest station with thousands of people expected in the city on Sunday(Image: Shared with Reach PLC)
Changes to rail services in and around Cardiff this weekend have been confirmed with thousands expected to descend on the city for two major sporting events. The capital’s streets will be filled with runners and spectators in the morning for the Cardiff Half Marathon on Sunday morning, October 4, before football fans take over the city hoping to witness Wales’ first win in 2026 as Cymru take on Denmark.
Transport for Wales (TfW) said it is putting on extra train services and increasing capacity on key rail routes into Cardiff for the two major events.
Over 27,500 runners and thousands of supporters are expected in the city for the Cardiff Half Marathon which kicks off on Castle Street at 10am. Find out everything you need to know about the event, including times, road closures and where you can watch, here.
TfW said it has worked in partnership with Run 4 Wales to build on the feedback from last year’s event. The rail operator said it has put on additional services and extra capacity on key routes into Cardiff to make sure runners get to the start line in time.
There will also be extra Great Western Railway services operating. Passengers are advised to check journey times and additional services via the TfW app or website and to allow extra time, as Cardiff city centre will be significantly busier than usual.
There will also be more services throughout the day including a direct service post-match to north Wales from Cardiff following the Wales v Denmark fixture at Cardiff City Stadium.
To keep passengers moving safely, a queuing system will be in place at Cardiff Central, while Cardiff Queen Street will remain open throughout the day.
To ensure platform safety, Cathays station will close from 11am, remaining open for accessible access only. Never miss a Cardiff story by signing up to our daily newsletter here
Georgie Porter, head of events planning and delivery at Transport for Wales, said: “We’ve listened to feedback from last year and put extra services, extra capacity and extra staff in place to help everyone get to Cardiff on time.
“For those running the Cardiff Half Marathon, we wish you all a big pob lwc! If you’re coming into the city as a spectator, consider travelling a little later in the morning to help ease early demand for runners. The city centre is expected to be busy, and we encourage everyone to plan ahead and check before they travel.”
Matt Newman, chief executive at Run 4 Wales, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Transport for Wales to make it easier for participants and supporters to travel to this year’s Cardiff Half Marathon by public transport.
“Extra train services on race day is a fantastic offering and will help so many runners travel to Cardiff with ease, while also encouraging more sustainable journeys.
“The Cardiff Half brings tens of thousands of people together in the heart of the city, so helping people leave the car at home and travel by train is an important part of our commitment to creating a more accessible and environmentally responsible event.
“We’re really pleased to see this partnership with Transport for Wales continue to develop and look forward to exploring more ways we can work together in the future to make our events more connected and sustainable.”
TfW colleagues will also have a stand at the runners village near Cardiff City Hall throughout the day to offer travel advice, engage with runners and spectators, and support the event atmosphere.
