Gabalfa

Gabalfa is a district of the city of Cardiff, Wales. It is characterised by an enormous fly over road (the Gabalfa Interchange) which crosses the A48 road in a north-south direction. The area is also the site of the All Nations Centre.

The name is derived from the Welsh 'Ceubalfa', which is literally translated as 'place of the boat'. It was formerly the site of a ferry crossing across the River Taff, upon which a school is now built. [cite web | url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southeast/sites/streetsofcardiff/gabalfa.shtml | title=BBC - South East Wales Streets of Cardiff - Gabalfa | accessdate=2008-01-16]

The electoral ward of Gabalfa lies within the parliamentary constituency of Cardiff North. Gabalfa is currently served by two Liberal Democrats councillors - Ed Bridges, who was elected in the 2004 council elections, and Cathy Pearcy, who was elected in a 2002 by-election following the death of an incumbent Welsh Labour Party councillor.

It is bounded by Heath to the north, Cathays and Riverside to the south, and Llandaff North to the northwest.

Transport

The area is known for the Gabalfa Interchange (also known as the Gabalfa flyover) where the A48 Eastern Avenue, A470 North Road, and the A469 Whitchurch Road (south)/Caerphilly Road (north) meet.

Cardiff Bus' service 35 bus circles the area before heading to Cardiff Bay via Cathays and Central station. Services 1/2 "Bay Circle" run along Western Avenue towards Heath or Llandaff. Additionally, the following services stop at the Gabalfa Interchange:
*8 (University Hospital of Wales) or (Cathays-Roath-Central Station-Grangetown-Cardiff Bay)
*21 (Rhiwbina-Coryton-Whitchurch) or (Central Stn)
*23 (Whitchurch-Coryton-Rhiwbina) or (Central Stn)
*24 (Whitchurch-Llandaff North-Pontcanna-Llandaff)
*25 (Central Stn)
*27 (Heath-Birchgrove-Thornhill) or (Central Stn)
*35 (Gabalfa) or (Cathays-Central Stn-Cardiff Bay)

There are currently no railway stations located within Gabalfa, although a new railway station serving the ward has been proposed as part of the county council's local transport plan. [cite web | url=http://www.cardiff.gov.uk/ObjView.asp?Object_ID=3384 | title=Cardiff County Council - Local Transport Plan 2000-2016 | format=PDF | date=2000-08-01 | accessdate=2008-01-17 | publisher=Cardiff County Council] Llandaf railway station is in reasonable distance of western parts of Gabalfa, with services northbound to either Treherbert, Merthyr Tydfil or Aberdare via Pontypridd or southbound to Cardiff Central via Cathays and Cardiff Queen Street.

References

External links

* [http://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=2774288 www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Gabalfa and surrounding area]