Rugby fans coming to Cardiff for Wales' highly anticipated match against New Zealand on Saturday will be able to travel to and from the city via coaches as rail strike is expected to cause chaos. Transport for Wales alongside WRU and the Big Green Coach are working together in order to provide alternative transport for rugby supporters unable to travel to the Welsh capital by train due to the impact of national industrial action.
On Saturday November 5, Wayne Pivac's men will take on the All Blacks in the first match of the Autumn International. As always, thousands of supporters are expected to travel to Cardiff to watch the game.
But during the same weekend, the RMT, TSSA and Unite trade unions have announced further industrial action over pay dispute. Industrial action is set to take place on Saturday (November 5), Monday (November 7) and Wednesday (November 9).
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Disruption is expected on either side of strike days, with transport services Great Western Railway services affected by the train services. Despite the fact that Transport for Wales staff will not be striking, the industrial action resulting from the dispute between the RMT and Network Rail means it will be unable to operate rail services on Network Rail infrastructure.
As a result, there is a severely reduced rail service from the south Wales Valleys and Newport before the match and no rail service from Cardiff after the game, and therefore people should not travel by train. In response therefore, TfW is providing services from Abercynon Railway Station car park and Pontypridd Railway Station at 11am and 11.30am on Saturday, with return coaches available at 6pm and 6.30pm after the match.
Coaches will drop off and depart from the Civic Centre (Cardiff King Edward VII Avenue) in Cardiff city centre, which is a short walk from the Principality Stadium. According to Cardiff Council, return coach tickets must be booked in advance, while existing rail tickets are not valid for coach travel.
Capacity will be limited and tickets will be issued on first come, first served basis. To find out more about the coach tickets and further information, click here.
As well as this, the WRU has partnered with Big Green Coach, the largest events travel company in the UK, to put on special coach services for supporters travelling from 15 locations across Wales and major cities in England.
More information and tickets can be purchased online here.
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