GWR train delays after Cardiff Central police incident halts services

Rail passengers have been advised of disruption after armed police brought trains to a halt at Cardiff Central. There are widespread delays this afternoon (Sunday, July 23) including to GWR services travelling via Bristol Temple Meads^[1] and Bristol Parkway.

One commuter told WalesOnline^[2] they were on a London-bound train (which goes via Bristol) due to leave at 11.20am, which left 40 minutes late after armed police entered the carriage. They were then stopped again due to another emergency with an alarm going off at the Severn Tunnel, the passenger said, with a broadcast message for all trains to stop.

National Rail's website states: "Following the emergency services are dealing with an incident at Cardiff Central, all lines have reopened. Trains may still be delayed by up to 30 minutes. This is expected until 1.30pm.

"[This affects] CrossCountry between Cardiff Central and Birmingham New Street / Nottingham; Great Western Railway between Cardiff Central and Bristol Temple Meads / Portsmouth Harbour / Penzance, and also between Carmarthen / Swansea and London Paddington; Transport for Wales between Barry Island and Aberdare / Merthyr Tydfil, and between Swansea and Manchester Piccadilly, and between Caerphilly / Cheltenham Spa and Cardiff Central."

According to commuters who got in contact with WalesOnline^[4], all trains at Cardiff were brought to a halt as police dealt with an incident near a platform at the station. Photos also show armed police officers in a train carriage, though the nature of the incident is currently unclear.

Cardiff Central's live departure board show that several trains were delayed leaving the station. They included the 12.20pm service to London Paddington, which goes via Bristol Parkway and left the station about 15 minutes behind schedule.

The arrivals board^[5] also shows about a dozen trains delayed or cancelled, including an Exeter train that came via Bristol Temple Meads and Patchway and is running more than half an hour late.

References

1. ^{^} Temple Meads (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
2. ^{^} WalesOnline (www.walesonline.co.uk)
3. ^{^} Rhodes holiday chaos as airlines cancel flights due to fire (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
4. ^{^} WalesOnline (www.walesonline.co.uk)
5. ^{^} arrivals board (ojp.nationalrail.co.uk)