Bristol to Cardiff train

Trains from Bristol to Cardiff

Trains depart from Bristol for Cardiff at a high frequency throughout the day, with a journey time of between 35 minutes and one hour.  Trains depart from both the city's main station, Bristol Temple Meads and its second largest, Bristol Parkway. Trains on these routes are operated by Great Western Railway.

Bristol to Cardiff train time: daily departures

Trains from Bristol to Cardiff operate at a high frequency, with around two direct services per hour departing from Bristol Temple Meads, plus at least one direct service per hour departing from Bristol Parkway. The first trains from each station depart early in the morning and the last services, late in the evening.

How long is the journey by train from Bristol to Cardiff?

Trains from Bristol Temple Meads to Cardiff Central take approximately one hour, with the faster services taking just under 50 minutes. Passengers travelling from Bristol Parkway can enjoy an even quicker journey of just over 30 minutes.

What are the departure and arrival stations for trains from Bristol to Cardiff?

Departure train station: there are two departure stations in Bristol for those travelling by train to Cardiff.  The first is the city's main station, Temple Meads, famously designed by Brunel and located just a 10-minute walk from the city centre. It has numerous facilities including toilets, shops and ATMs. Trains also depart from Bristol Parkway, which is located on the northern outskirts of the city, close to the University of the West of England.

Arrival train station: trains from both Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway arrive at Cardiff Central, the city's main rail terminus. Cardiff Central is located just to the south of the city centre, moments from the main shopping area. This large railway station has numerous facilities including toilets, ATMs, waiting areas, cafes and shops.

Which train companies travel from Bristol to Cardiff?

Trains from Bristol to Cardiff are provided by Great Western Railway.  This includes trains that depart from both Bristol Temple Meads and from Bristol Parkway.

Great Western Railway Bristol to Cardiff

Great Western Railway is the primary rail operator in the UK's Southwest region and operates all trains from Bristol to Cardiff. Great Western operates frequent services with up to two direct trains per hour from Britsol Temple Meads to Cardiff Central and at least one direct train per hour from Bristol Parkway to Cardiff Central.

Bristol to Cardiff trains: services on board

Great Western Railway (GWR) offers both standard and first-class seats. First-class passengers can enjoy complimentary drinks and snacks as well as extra legroom, spacious seats and at-seat service. GWR's Passenger Assist service is available to disabled and elderly passengers, you can book this by calling the rail company directly before you travel.

Bicycles can be taken on board provided a space has been reserved. This can be reserved anytime from the point of booking right up until the train arrives. Up to two dogs, cats or other small domestic pets may be taken on board at no extra charge. Dogs must be kept on a lead and all other animals in a secure pet carrier.

Many services offer onboard dining whilst free WiFi is available on all GWR trains.

How to find cheap train tickets from Bristol to Cardiff?

It's easy to secure low cost train travel from Bristol to Cardiff.  The lowest prices are available when you book in advance and may be even more affordable if you are fleixble about the time and date you travel on.  Sometimes journeys that involve a change or trains which are a bit slower are considerably lower in price too. Compare a range of times, dates and journey speeds to find the best possible price.