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Car Hire at Cardiff Train Station - Gateway to the Welsh Capital

Located in the heart of Cardiff city centre, Cardiff Train Station is one of the main stations on the South Wales Main Line. It is one of twenty railway stations in the Welsh capital and one of two in a central location, along with Cardiff Queen Street Train Station. Trains run from Cardiff Train Station (written Caerdydd Canolog in Welsh) to many other large towns and cities in Wales and across England. It is the only station in the Welsh capital used by the long-distance train services and handles over thirteen million passengers every year.

Although Cardiff Train Station (also often referred to as Cardiff Central) was originally built in the middle of the 19th century, the station operating today was constructed in the 1930s as part of an extensive redesign project by Great Western Railway, whose name can still be seen carved into the façade of the building itself. Improvements made at that time brought about the station's magnificent grand hall complete with all the art deco light fittings which offer today's passengers a taste of the golden age of railway travel.

A hub of culture and entertainment, Cardiff is a city of impressive architecture with many fine buildings located in and around its vibrant centre. Most first-time visitors head straight for Cardiff Castle where an excellent display portrays more than 2,000 years of the city's history. Other key attractions include the National Museum (an extensive art and natural history complex in the centre of Cardiff) and Techniquest, an interactive science centre close to the waterfront in Cardiff Bay. Another must is the Museum of Cardiff (also known as the Cardiff Story Museum) for a fascinating overview of the city's immense heritage.

Besides visiting the city, there's so much you can with a car hire from Cardiff Train Station, with the whole of Wales at your disposal for an exhilarating road-trip around one of the lesser-known parts of the UK. A visit to the Brecon Beacons (less than an hour's drive north of Cardiff) is one of the best day-trips for travellers looking to escape the city and enjoy some of the most picturesque countryside inWales, including the Black Mountains. Another good option is a drive along the beautiful Pembrokeshire coast, with a stop-off at the lovely seaside town of Carmarthen.

Auto Europe is a long-established travel company with over 70 years of experience right in the heart of the international car rental industry. We offer more than 28,000 convenient pick-up and drop-off locations in over 190 popular destinations worldwide, including Cardiff. Our rates are the lowest on the market and our service is second to none.

You can book your cheap car rental at Cardiff Train Station online now or reach out to our rental specialists and they will be happy to find you the best deal. Because we work with all the world's most prestigious car hire suppliers, we are also able to offer our customers the widest selection of vehicles available. Check out the user ratings and comments posted by some of Auto Europe's previous customers on our Cardiff car hire reviews page for extra peace of mind.

Station Information

The original Cardiff Train Station was inaugurated in 1850 with through services to London Paddington beginning two years later when the Chepstow Railway Bridge was opened. It was fully reconstructed between 1931 and 1934 to become the UK's finest example of an Art-Deco style railway station, evidence of which can still be seen in its stunning entrance hall on the north side of the station facing the city centre. Platforms 1 to 8 are located in the main part of the station building, while Platform 0 (located in a different part of the station) is used by some of the Great Western Railway (GWR) and Transport For Wales (TFW) services to destinations around the UK.

Where to pick up my car hire at Cardiff Train Station

Many top international companies offer car hire at Cardiff Train Station, including Avis, Budget, Enterprise, etc. Their offices and pick-up points are in close proximity to the station building. Make sure you have all your documents ready before arriving to collect your vehicle, such as passport, driving licence, credit card and car hire voucher.

	Avis at Cardiff Train Station 14-22 Tudor Street Cardiff, Wales CF11 6AF +44 3445446047	Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-6pm (Sat & Sun 8am-1pm)
	Budget at Cardiff Train Station 14-22 Tudor Street Cardiff, Wales CF11 6AF +44 3445448478	Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-6pm (Sat & Sun 8am-1pm)
	Enterprise at Cardiff Train Station 45 Penarth Road Cardiff, Wales CF10 5DJ +44 29 2038 9222	Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-5pm, Sat 9am-2pm and Sun 11am-3pm Sat-Sun 8am-10pm

Station facilities

A busy railway hub since the middle of the 19th century, Cardiff Train Station offers its passengers a wide range of on-site facilities and services, with toilets and baby-changing facilities in and around the main concourse and several ATMs dotted around the station. For travellers looking for provisions or something to eat before boarding their train, there's a station buffet, numerous shops, Wi-Fi, a sumptuous first-class lounge, newsagent and a well-stocked convenience store. The station is also fully adapted for passengers with reduced mobility with step-free access available throughout the premises.

How to get to and from Cardiff Train Station

Cardiff Train Station is located right in the heart of the city centre and close to main of the main attractions such as the world-famous Principality Stadium where the Welsh rugby internationals take place. Visitors who arrive at Cardiff Airport but are picking up their car rental at Cardiff Train Station just need to hop on the train from Rhoose Cardiff International Airport station after catching the shuttle bus service from outside the terminal. Another option is the T9 Airport Express coach service which arrives at the bus stop at the rear of the railway station. Cardiff city centre is a short walk away from the station along St Mary Street, which takes an easy five minutes. For taxis, there's a rank on the right as you exit the main station entrance.

Parking tips

Generally speaking, and being a large capital city, there are plenty of parking spaces available in and around Cardiff city centre. Furthermore, there's a choice of low-cost Park and Ride (P&R) car parks that serve the west, east and south of the city, which are connected to the city's excellent bus services. There are also five council-run pay and display car parks in the city, as well as pay and display on-street parking spaces in the city centre, Butetown and Cardiff Bay. Parking spaces may be more difficult to find on days when events are taking place, such as a concert or international rugby match at the Principality Stadium. The good news for people who rent a car at Cardiff Train Station is that there's a 24-hour car park right next to the station with around 400 parking spaces, including some spaces for drivers of reduced mobility. Overall, there are three large car parks in close proximity to the railway station in Riverside, Penarth Road and Saunders Road. All three are operated by National Car Parks Ltd and are open 24 hours a day with CCTV coverage..

Useful links

Cardiff Tourist Info