Cardiff Central waiting rooms

[Pat Figg]

I turned up at Cardiff Central at about 0415 on Saturday morning to catch an 0526 train up the valleys. I then headed up to the platforms expecting to be able to have a bit of a sit down and/or sleep before my train arrived. On both platforms that I tried (I'm not sure how many waiting rooms there are at Cardiff Central), the waiting rooms were locked even though it says on the door that they open at 4am.

I then headed downstairs and found two members of staff who told me that they now don't open the waiting rooms until 6.30am. When I asked why, they said because "people are sleeping in them". When I mentioned that I was probably going to fall asleep in there myself, until my train turned up, they changed tack and said "because homeless people are sleeping in them". I then pointed out that this wasn't surprising given the fact that the barriers are unmanned and that anybody can wander in and out of the station at will. They justified this by saying they can't afford to employ any staff to man the barriers from 4am until 6.30 am.

I didn't bother arguing, they're only doing their job after all, but I find this quite hard to believe. Also, why should the travelling public suffer because Cardiff/Wales/the UK has a massive homelessness problem? I should probably add that if I was homeslees in Cardiff I'd head to the waiting rooms myself. They are quite warm and comfy. But I don't see why people with valid tickets shouldn't be allowed to use them, especially at that time of day. Any thoughts?

 

[Ashley Hill]

Myself and friends spent the night sleeping on various platform barrows at Cardiff Central in 1985 as the waiting rooms were locked. We had returned from The Sutherland Highlander railtour and had to wait until Monday morning for a train home.

 

[Tomos y Tanc]

I turned up at Cardiff Central at about 0415 on Saturday morning to catch an 0526 train up the valleys. I then headed up to the platforms expecting to be able to have a bit of a sit down and/or sleep before my train arrived. On both platforms that I tried (I'm not sure how many waiting rooms there are at Cardiff Central), the waiting rooms were locked even though it says on the door that they open at 4am.

I then headed downstairs and found two members of staff who told me that they now don't open the waiting rooms until 6.30am. When I asked why, they said because "people are sleeping in them". When I mentioned that I was probably going to fall asleep in there myself, until my train turned up, they changed tack and said "because homeless people are sleeping in them". I then pointed out that this wasn't surprising given the fact that the barriers are unmanned and that anybody can wander in and out of the station at will. They justified this by saying they can't afford to employ any staff to man the barriers from 4am until 6.30 am.

I didn't bother arguing, they're only doing their job after all, but I find this quite hard to believe. Also, why should the travelling public suffer because Cardiff/Wales/the UK has a massive homelessness problem? I should probably add that if I was homeslees in Cardiff I'd head to the waiting rooms myself. They are quite warm and comfy. But I don't see why people with valid tickets shouldn't be allowed to use them, especially at that time of day. Any thoughts?

It's a thoughtful comment, but i guess TfW and other station managers have to prioritise.

Realisticaly, how many people would be in your situation, and do you really expect waiting rooms to be opened for someone taking a five quid trip to Treherbert or where ever ninety minutes before the first train?

It doesn't appear from you post that you were changing trains, merely that you turned up ridiculously early for a local service. I'm afraid I have very little sympathy.

Obviously though, the opening times advertised on the door should be adhered to. It seems though that you didn't consult the TfW website before travelling and are basing your whole whinge on a couple of ageing signs you saw after embarking on your journey

 

[Horizon22]

Was there any particular reason you turned up 75 minutes early instead of sleeping more at the location you were at before 0415? It may not have been possible, but it isn't explained well in your post and I'd definitely prefer an extra hour in bed at home/hotel/B&B than on a cold station!

 

[TT-ONR-NRN]

It's a thoughtful comment, but i guess TfW and other station managers have to prioritise.

Realisticaly, how many people would be in your situation, and do you really expect waiting rooms to be opened for someone taking a five quid trip to Treherbert or where ever ninety minutes before the first train?

It doesn't appear from you post that you were changing trains, merely that you turned up ridiculously early for a local service. I'm afraid I have very little sympathy.

So, Transport for Wales advertises a service at a certain time, they fail to provide it at that time, and you think it best to turn it on it’s head and blame the OP for wanting to use that service, effectively?

There are many, many poor TOCs in this country, but when it comes to Transport for Wales it’s apologists are honestly like no other.

 

[SouthWalesSam]

Having spoken to one of the staff at Cardiff and was told that new signs are on order however they are looking to get stickers in the short term. I'm sure there's some Cadw rule somewhere due to the listing that has to go through scrutiny! It's unfortunate that the barriers aren't first until last but the rest of the station is open and I think there are heaters downstairs and seats? I think it's a sticking plaster for the issues they were having earlier, I'm sure they received complaints about people sleeping in the waiting rooms maybe and this is the only answer if there's no security or gate staff to prevent access to those with no tickets or those who aren't using the waiting room for it's intended purpose of waiting for a train.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Given that the overwhelming majority of train tickets now include a QR code of some kind or are issued on a smart card, could we not have a QR and smart code reader on the door of waiting facilities, first class lounges etc etc. That would be sufficiently intelligent enough to Grant access to the appropriate user?
Maybe in future as we get smarter still we could extend this to operate access to things like toilets and showers etc also

 

[hexagon789]

National Rail says the waiting rooms open at 0600 not 0400?

 

[Pat Figg]

National Rail says the waiting rooms open at 0600 not 0400?

I got the impression from the staff I spoke to that it's a fairly recent development, though I think they said 0630. They were definitely open at 0400 in the fairly recent past as I've been in them at that time a few times when catching the first train to Shrewsbury, which from memory, I think leaves at about 0435.

Oh well, I'll just have to make sure I don't turn up so early in future.

 

[hexagon789]

I got the impression from the staff I spoke to that it's a fairly recent development, though I think they said 0630. They were definitely open at 0400 in the fairly recent past as I've been in them at that time a few times when catching the first train to Shrewsbury, which from memory, I think leaves at about 0435.

Oh well, I'll just have to make sure I don't turn up so early in future.

I just wondered because of the discrepancy, not that it's unusual for NRE to have times wrong of course.

Equally, I considered that the issues you described have led to a change in opening hours and that appears to be the case.

 

[Lewisham2221]

The new opening times are now displayed on the waiting room doors