Three more ticket gates are being installed at Cardiff's busiest railway station as it gears up to welcome millions of new customers.
Transport for Wales has pledged to spend millions of pounds upgrading infrastructure in Wales and as part of that three additional ticket barriers are being installed at Cardiff Central railway station.
It's hoped the extra gates will make it easier and quicker for travellers as they come into and leave the railway station.
Transport for Wales customer experience director Colin Lea said: “When you arrive at a station, the last thing you want is to be caught in a lengthy queue to get in or out.
“As our busiest station Cardiff Central sees huge numbers of customers passing through every day. We want to make the station as welcoming and as easy to access as we possibly can."
The work, which is expected to last two weeks, will see the current ticket gate line in the main front concourse upgraded and moved into the main concourse with three additional ticket gates installed. At some points while the work is being carried out there manual ticket checks will be in place.
The investment is part of phase three of the Cardiff Central upgrade work and will also see:
- New ticket machines starting in December, selling a fuller range of tickets.
- Phone chargers in waiting rooms
- Additional cycle storage (hoops) and platform seating
- Refurbishment of the toilets and creation of a dedicated changing place facility in disabled toilets.
- Additional customer information screens around the station
Phase one and two saw additional staff members employed, a deep cleaning programme take place, extra seating installed and brighter lighting and better signs fitted.
Around 23,000 people pass through the main front ticket gates at Cardiff Central daily while the figure can rise to more than 40,000 on a major event day.
Transport for Wales expects to see customer numbers rise from 13m per year currently to 34m annually by 2043.
Next year passenger numbers at the station are predicted to rise by 8.3%.
Network Rail's Wales route director Bill Kelly said: “Cardiff Central is an important gateway to our nation’s capital and at a time when the surrounding area is being transformed by exciting new developments it’s particularly important Wales’ busiest station is looking its best."
