Search another station

Spotter

What's running through Cardiff Central today?

Explore booked passenger trains and freight at Cardiff Central today. Timetable entries show what is expected, not a record of trains observed. 17 October 2026

GoodInterest Score 6.9 / 10

6 unusual movements expected today, including Diesel-hauled.

899 trains619 passenger29 freight10 classes4 operators

The selected timetable contains 899 movements at Cardiff Central on 17 October 2026. Each entry is a booked call or pass at this railway location. The same service can appear on other location pages. Train types are inferred from planning data and can change on the day.

What's worth watching

899 booked timetable movements at this location on Saturday 17 October

At a glance

Most trains

19:15–20:1556 trains

37 passenger3 freight16 other8 types

19:15arr2F58
TREHERBERT → CARDIFF CENTRAL
Transport for Wales · Class 150, 153, 155 or 156 DMU
Passenger
19:16arr2C54
PENARTH → CORYTON
Transport for Wales · Class 150, 153, 155 or 156 DMU
Passenger
19:18arr1V97
HOLYHEAD → CARDIFF CENTRAL
Transport for Wales · Class 197 DMU
Passenger
19:20arr0B00
BRIDGEND → CARDIFF CENTRAL
Transport for Wales
Other
19:21arr2F62
BARRY ISLAND → CARDIFF CENTRAL
Transport for Wales · Class 150, 153, 155 or 156 DMU
Passenger
19:22arr2U26
EXETER ST DAVIDS → CARDIFF CENTRAL
Great Western Railway · Class 802 DMU
Passenger
19:23pass6R73
NEWPORT DOCKS → MARGAM HEOLKEY-Y-DELIAD
GB Railfreight · Class 66 diesel locomotive
Freight
19:24arr1M56
ABERDARE → MERTHYR TYDFIL
Transport for Wales · Class 150, 153, 155 or 156 DMU
Passenger
19:25dep5F62
CARDIFF CENTRAL → CSD
Transport for Wales · Class 150, 153, 155 or 156 DMU
Other
19:26dep2T52
CARDIFF CENTRAL → TREHERBERT
Transport for Wales · Class 150, 153, 155 or 156 DMU
Passenger
19:27arr2F64
BARGOED → CARDIFF CENTRAL
Transport for Wales · Class 150, 153, 155 or 156 DMU
Passenger
19:30dep0B00
CARDIFF CENTRAL → BRIDGEND
Transport for Wales
Other
19:30dep1F31
CARDIFF CENTRAL → SALISBURY
Great Western Railway · Class 158, 168, 170 or 175 DMU
Passenger
19:30dep5F64
CARDIFF CENTRAL → CSD
Transport for Wales · Class 150, 153, 155 or 156 DMU
Other
19:32pass6C21
LECKWITH NORTH JN → BR DOWN YARD
GB Railfreight · Class 66 diesel locomotive
Other
19:33arr2P06
CORYTON → PENARTH
Transport for Wales · Class 150, 153, 155 or 156 DMU
Passenger
19:33arr5W08
CSD → CARDIFF CENTRAL
Transport for Wales · Class 197 DMU
Other
19:37arr1B52
SWANSEA → CARDIFF CENTRAL
Transport for Wales · Class 197 DMU
Passenger
19:37arr2E56
RHYMNEY → CARDIFF CENTRAL
Transport for Wales · Class 150, 153, 155 or 156 DMU
Passenger
19:38arr1B27
PADDINGTON LONDON → SWANSEA
Great Western Railway · Class 802 EMU
Passenger
19:38dep1W98
CARDIFF CENTRAL → LLANDUDNO JUNCTION
Transport for Wales · Class 197 DMU
Passenger
19:40arr0B00
BRIDGEND → CARDIFF CENTRAL
Transport for Wales
Other
19:40dep5W26
CARDIFF CENTRAL → CARDIFF CENTRAL
Transport for Wales · Class 197 DMU
Other
19:41arr1A56
MERTHYR TYDFIL → ABERDARE
Transport for Wales · Class 150, 153, 155 or 156 DMU
Passenger
19:41dep2R52
CARDIFF CENTRAL → RHYMNEY
Transport for Wales · Class 150, 153, 155 or 156 DMU
Passenger
19:43pass6H29
MARGAM HEOLKEY-Y-DELIAD → LLANWERN EXCHANGE SIDINGS
GB Railfreight · Class 66 diesel locomotive
Freight
19:45arr2F66
TREHERBERT → CARDIFF CENTRAL
Transport for Wales · Class 150, 153, 155 or 156 DMU
Passenger
19:46arr1V50
MANCHESTER PICCADILLY → CARDIFF CENTRAL
Transport for Wales · Class 67 diesel locomotive
Passenger
19:46arr2C56
PENARTH → CORYTON
Transport for Wales · Class 150, 153, 155 or 156 DMU
Passenger
19:46dep5B52
CARDIFF CENTRAL → CSD
Transport for Wales · Class 197 DMU
Other
19:50arr1F26
SALISBURY → CARDIFF CENTRAL
Great Western Railway · Class 158, 168, 170 or 175 DMU
Passenger
19:50dep5V50
CARDIFF CENTRAL → CSD
Transport for Wales · Class 67 diesel locomotive
Other
19:51arr2F68
BARRY ISLAND → CARDIFF CENTRAL
Transport for Wales · Class 150, 153, 155 or 156 DMU
Passenger
19:54arr1M58
ABERDARE → MERTHYR TYDFIL
Transport for Wales · Class 150, 153, 155 or 156 DMU
Passenger
19:54dep2C91
CARDIFF CENTRAL → BRISTOL TEMPLE MEADS
Great Western Railway · Class 802 EMU
Passenger
19:55dep2T54
CARDIFF CENTRAL → TREHERBERT
Transport for Wales · Class 150, 153, 155 or 156 DMU
Passenger
19:57arr2Y82
BARGOED → BARRY ISLAND
Transport for Wales · Class 150, 153, 155 or 156 DMU
Passenger
19:58arr2G69
GLOUCESTER → CARDIFF CENTRAL
Transport for Wales · Class 197 DMU
Passenger
19:58dep5F68
CARDIFF CENTRAL → CSD
Transport for Wales · Class 150, 153, 155 or 156 DMU
Other
19:59arr2O76
EBBW VALE → CARDIFF CENTRAL
Transport for Wales · Class 150, 153, 155 or 156 DMU
Passenger
20:00arr5N04
CSD → CARDIFF CENTRAL
Transport for Wales · Class 197 DMU
Other
20:00pass6V07
ROUND OAK RAIL TERMINAL → MARGAM HEOLKEY-Y-DELIAD
GB Railfreight · Class 66 diesel locomotive
Freight
20:01dep5F33
CARDIFF CENTRAL → CARDIFF CENTRAL
Great Western Railway · Class 158, 168, 170 or 175 DMU
Other
20:02arr2P08
CORYTON → PENARTH
Transport for Wales · Class 150, 153, 155 or 156 DMU
Passenger
20:04dep2N04
CARDIFF CENTRAL → EBBW VALE
Transport for Wales · Class 197 DMU
Passenger
20:04arr3R07
BRISTOL HIGH LEVEL SIDING → CSD
Transport for Wales · Class 158, 168, 170 or 175 DMU
Other
20:05arr2F03
BRIDGEND → CARDIFF CENTRAL
Transport for Wales · Class 150, 153, 155 or 156 DMU
Passenger
20:06dep5O76
CARDIFF CENTRAL → CSD
Transport for Wales · Class 150, 153, 155 or 156 DMU
Other
20:07arr2F70
RHYMNEY → CARDIFF CENTRAL
Transport for Wales · Class 150, 153, 155 or 156 DMU
Passenger
20:10dep1W26
CARDIFF CENTRAL → MANCHESTER PICCADILLY
Transport for Wales · Class 197 DMU
Passenger
20:10dep5G69
CARDIFF CENTRAL → CSD
Transport for Wales · Class 197 DMU
Other
20:11arr1A58
MERTHYR TYDFIL → ABERDARE
Transport for Wales · Class 150, 153, 155 or 156 DMU
Passenger
20:11dep2R54
CARDIFF CENTRAL → RHYMNEY
Transport for Wales · Class 150, 153, 155 or 156 DMU
Passenger
20:14arr1L34
SWANSEA → PADDINGTON LONDON
Great Western Railway · Class 802 DMU
Passenger
20:14dep2E82
CARDIFF CENTRAL → BRIDGEND
Transport for Wales · Class 150, 153, 155 or 156 DMU
Passenger
20:14arr2F87
EBBW VALE → CARDIFF CENTRAL
Transport for Wales · Class 150, 153, 155 or 156 DMU
Passenger

Other windows

12:45–13:4552 trains

36 passenger2 freight14 other8 types

09:00–10:0051 trains

37 passenger2 freight12 other8 types

The week ahead

Best day overallWednesday08:45–09:45

Best for freightTuesday08:45–09:45

Best for varietyMonday08:45–09:45

Most unusualMonday08:45–09:45

The weekend is quieter — around 29% fewer trains than a weekday here.

Passenger
Freight
Other

Day	Score	Trains	Freight	Best hour
Saturday 17	6.9	899	29	19:15–20:15
Sunday 18	6.6	531	28	18:30–19:30
Monday 19	7.6	999	71	08:45–09:45
Tuesday 20	7.6	1015	76	08:45–09:45
Wednesday 21	7.7	1011	74	08:45–09:45

Scored from the booked timetable for each upcoming date. Short-notice changes (VSTP, engineering work) added closer to the day aren't reflected yet, so a date further out is a rougher guide than tomorrow.

The week ahead

What tends to happen here

899 trains are booked here today — 6% fewer than a typical Saturday (959).

Trains a day1,042typical weekday

Freight7%74 movements

Busiest hour09:00on a weekday

Best dayTuesdaySaturday at weekends

Around 43.4 trains an hour on a typical weekday. The most dependable hours are 09:00, 17:00, 19:00 — something is booked then on virtually every day sampled.

Trains booked by day of week

Monday1,027 on average
Tuesday1,042 on average
Wednesday1,038 on average
Thursday1,038 on average
Friday1,037 on average
Saturday944 on average
Sunday543 on average

Passenger
Freight
Other

Weekday (Mon–Fri)

Averaged over 28 dates. Averaged across real dates resolved from the booked timetable, including short-term overlays and cancellations. These are trains BOOKED to run, not observed movements — these profiles use timetable samples rather than the short window of retained station sightings.

What tends to happen here

What runs here

Represented by only one or two permanent schedule records; check the selected date before planning a visit.

What runs here

Recent booked movements

Booked timetable entries from the previous 7 days, independent of the selected date above. These are not observations of trains that actually ran.

17 Oct3S62
—
GB Railfreight · Diesel-hauled
17 Oct6B13
—
DB Cargo · Class 66 diesel locomotive
17 Oct0O12
—
GB Railfreight · Diesel-hauled
17 Oct1B14
—
Great Western Railway · Class 387 EMU
17 Oct5Q23
—
Great Western Railway · Class 387 EMU
17 Oct1L23
—
Great Western Railway · Class 387 EMU
16 Oct6H60
—
Freightliner · Class 66 diesel locomotive
16 Oct1B04
—
Great Western Railway · Class 387 EMU
16 Oct6B13
—
DB Cargo · Class 66 diesel locomotive
16 Oct5Q13
—
Great Western Railway · Class 387 EMU
16 Oct1V03
—
CrossCountry · Class 220 or 221 DMU
16 Oct1S43
—
CrossCountry · Class 220 or 221 DMU
16 Oct1L13
—
Great Western Railway · Class 387 EMU
16 Oct6B41
—
DB Cargo · Class 66 diesel locomotive
16 Oct1V64
—
CrossCountry · Class 220 or 221 DMU

Based on the booked national timetable (CIF) per date, not a live/actually-happened feed — a late change or cancellation on one of these dates won't be reflected here.

Recent booked movements

Nearby places to spot trains

CARDIFF QUEEN STREET

CDQ

0.9 km, straight line

CARDIFF BAY

CDB

1.2 km, straight line

CSD

XCC

1.3 km, straight lineOn this line

GRANGETOWN (SOUTH GLAMORGAN)

GTN

1.3 km, straight line

CARDIFF CATHAYS

CYS

1.6 km, straight line

NINIAN PARK

NNP

1.6 km, straight line

COGAN

CGN

3.4 km, straight line

WAUNGRON PARK <FAIRWATER>

WNG

3.6 km, straight line

Nearby places to spot trains

The Lineside Ink e-paper display on a wooden desk beside a wristwatch, showing the next train approaching a chosen location.

Keep a favourite railway in view.

Enjoy following the railway? Lineside Ink brings approaching passenger and freight trains to a display in your home. Choose a supported location and glance over as the day unfolds.

Expected price: £149, including VAT and delivery to the UK and Isle of Man.Orders are currently paused. We’ll email you when ordering opens.No subscription required.

Meet the display Check supported locations

Search another stationExplore another station and see the trains expected there.Gifts for trainspottersA different kind of gift for someone who watches the line.Check supported locationsSee whether Lineside Ink's live display covers a chosen station.

Hour	Weekday	of which freight	Weekend	of which freight
00:00	22	5	18	2
01:00	8	2	3	1
02:00	3	3	0	0
03:00	5	3	2	2
04:00	13	2	7	1
05:00	34	5	15	1
06:00	50	1	23	0
07:00	55	3	28	1
08:00	53	2	38	1
09:00	61	5	40	2
10:00	52	1	43	1
11:00	55	2	42	1
12:00	51	4	41	1
13:00	56	4	45	2
14:00	54	3	44	3
15:00	57	3	44	1
16:00	58	4	42	1
17:00	60	5	42	2
18:00	55	4	42	2
19:00	58	5	47	3
20:00	54	2	43	1
21:00	50	2	38	0
22:00	44	1	35	1
23:00	34	3	23	2

What's running through Cardiff Central today?

What's worth watching

At a glance

Most trains

Other windows

The week ahead

The week ahead

What tends to happen here

Trains booked by day of week

What tends to happen here

What runs here

Most common train types

Planned operators

Uncommon in the timetable

What runs here

Recent booked movements

Recent booked movements

Nearby places to spot trains

Nearby places to spot trains

Keep a favourite railway in view.

Keep exploring

The week ahead

What tends to happen here

Trains booked by day of week

What runs here

Most common train types

Planned operators

Uncommon in the timetable

Recent booked movements

Nearby places to spot trains