Overview

First opened in 1840 as Cardiff Taff Vale, Cardiff Queen Street Railway Station has stood the test of time. One of 20 railway stations in Cardiff, all of which have varying degrees of accessibility, Queen Street Station is one of the more accessible. With pleasant and helpful staff, two accessible toilets (by my count), and step-free access to the platforms, it's not a bad place to begin a journey. It also boasts a shuttle service to and from Cardiff Bay Railway Station every 12 minutes.

Transport & Parking

A rail shuttle service operates between Queen Street and Cardiff Bay every 12 minutes, offering a quick route from the Bay to Queen Street if you're coming from that direction. Directly across the street from the entrance at Station Terrace, you'll find a bus stop. Although I couldn't find a list of services online, the stop further lists 11, 30, 44, 45, 50, 52, 57, 58, and C1 as currently operating services. The station has no dedicated parking and no drop-off zone, which is a little disappointing.

Access

Despite the absence of a drop-off zone, accessibility throughout the station is generally good. The streets leading to the entrance are level, and the entrance has automatic sliding doors. The ticket gates are straightforward, with a low counter window at the ticket office immediately to your right and another on the other side of the gates. An induction loop operates at the window. There is a combination of standard and double-wide ticket gates for those with buggies or mobility devices. The stairs leading up to the platform feature grab rails on either side and in the centre, with the top and bottom steps highlighted in yellow and tactile markings on each level Lifts are available from the subway to the platform level of the station. The lift I used was spacious enough to accommodate two powerchair users and two additional people. It features a grab rail, braille buttons, and an induction loop. There’s no shortage of seating on the platforms, though most are metal seats. Additional seating is available at the café on Platform 3/4. There are tactile markings on some of the platforms and an induction loop operational on all platforms.

Toilets

I encountered two accessible toilets during my visit. The first was beyond the ticket gates at the entrance, and the second was on the platform level. Both require a RADAR key to access, and both doors open outwards. The first was reasonably clean and able to accommodate a powerchair user and an additional person. There's space for a right-side transfer and white rails on both sides of the toilet pan. However, the rails do not contrast with the white tiled wall. There is also a small sink with a lever-style tap and white rails on either side. Unlike the toilet pan, the sink area has a contrasting blue wall. The red cord is on the right of the toilet when seated, but it has been cut short, with only the highest bangle remaining. Hence the lower score. The second toilet has a very different appearance to the first, with grey tiled walls and white rails on either side of the toilet pan and the sink. The red cord hung to the floor but was obstructed by bins, which also limit the left-side transfer space, making it next to useless.

Staff

The staff were pleasant, even going as far as to give me a short tour of the station's accessibility features for this review.

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