Birmingham to Plymouth train with CrossCountry

Trains from Birmingham to Plymouth

If you are looking to travel from Birmingham to Plymouth affordably and quickly, trains are an ideal transit means. If you take a fast train from Birmingham to Plymouth, your travel time can be about 3h 30min. However, some cheap trains take up to an hour more. The Birmingham-Plymouth route has approximately 15 daily departures. On weekends, the number is a tad lower, as almost 13 daily trains make their journeys. Most trains are direct, but you can experience a switch at Gloucester or Bristol Temple Meads.

Birmingham to Plymouth Train Time: Daily Departures

Whether you want to get to Plymouth early in the morning or during nightly hours, you can find a train for your trip. There’s approximately 101 weekly locomotive departures for passengers who travel from Birmingham to Plymouth by train. If you are an early bird, you can catch the first train around 5:30. After boarding this ride, you may arrive in Plymouth at about 10:00, having journeyed for approximately 4h 30min. The last Birmingham-Plymouth departure takes off at roughly 10:00, but the departure times are slightly different if you are travelling over the weekend. The early morning and last trains make their way around 7:00 and 20:00, respectively. In an hour, you might get one or two trains leaving Birmingham for Plymouth.

How long is the journey by train from Birmingham to Plymouth?

Some trains from Birmingham to Plymouth complete their trips after roughly 3h 30min. Mainly, this is a minimum travel duration attained by direct trains. If you board an affordable long-distance ride, your train to Plymouth from Birmingham can travel for about 4h 30min before reaching its destination.

Library and Baskerville House in Birmingham. Source: Shutterstock

What are the departure and arrival stations for trains from Birmingham to Plymouth?

Departure train station: To board the affordable trains from Birmingham to Plymouth, you may have to travel to Birmingham New Street, the departure station for this route. If in Birmingham city centre, you need to cover approximately 0.3 miles (0.4km); on foot will take an estimated 5min. Since you may not find buses to connect central Birmingham and Birmingham New Street, taxis are the available transfer means for passengers with hefty luggage. The cabs take about 10min to arrive at the station. Once you get to the terminal, you can take a seat in the waiting lounge, enjoy free Wi-Fi and read our travel magazine as you wait for your train. You can also grab a snack at the restaurants and shops on site. Some cash points, payphones and toilets are available at the Birmingham New Street station. You can find a waiting area and step-free access specially built for passengers with reduced mobility.

Arrival train station: At Plymouth, your Birmingham to Plymouth train will find an arrival point at Plymouth Railway Station. The terminal has parking spaces for cars and bikes, cash points, a payphone, free Wi-Fi, shops, washrooms, trolleys and a waiting area with seats. The terminal receives travellers with impaired mobility and has trained personnel to guide such passengers through step-free access. If you need to get to Plymouth city centre from the station, consider walking the roughly 10min trip. There are also some cabs at the taxi stand near the terminal’s entrance, which access central Plymouth in roughly 5min. If you would instead take a bus, you can walk to the bus stop near Plymouth Railway Station. Buses can get you to downtown Plymouth in approximately 10-15min.

Which train companies travel from Birmingham to Plymouth?

You can travel via either CrossCountry or Great Western Railway trains from Birmingham to Plymouth. Great Western Railway started operating in 1996, while CrossCountry came into existence around 2002. Both companies provide high-speed trains, whose speeds top approximately 125 mph (200 km/h). While servicing the Birmingham-Plymouth route, most CrossCountry trains offer direct trains, while Great Western Railway requires some changeovers.

Night trains Birmingham

Generally, about two departures travel from Birmingham to Plymouth during the night. The first train is available for boarding at approximately 20:00. The other one has its departure time around 10:00 and reaches Plymouth about 02:30. On weekends, you may find a single night departure that leaves Birmingham at about 20:00.

CrossCountry trains from Birmingham to Plymouth

You will find about 11 CrossCountry trains travelling from Birmingham to Plymouth every day. While almost all the trains offer direct trips, you can board one that has a transfer, at Bristol Temple Meads. If you travel via CrossCountry’s trains, it can take roughly 3h 30min to get to Plymouth from Birmingham.

Great Western Railway trains from Birmingham to Plymouth

Great Western Railway services the Birmingham-Plymouth route with approximately four departures. The trains usually include a changeover, at Bristol Temple Meads or Gloucester. Due to the transfer, Great Western Railway trains can take about 4h 30min before arriving in Plymouth.

Trains from Birmingham to Plymouth: Sustainability travel

Through key performance indicators, CrossCountry monitors how well its systems combat pollutants. The company is working with a network of partners to lower its waste, translating to fewer landfill products. Through environmental management systems, CrossCountry continually cuts energy consumption in its trains. Great Western Railway continues to install new technology in its trains to lower carbon emissions and energy use. The travel firm is on a path to recycling nearly 75% of the waste generated from journeys. Stakeholders can find periodic sustainability reports that shed light on why it is greener to travel via Great Western Railway trains.

Train Birmingham to Plymouth: Services on Board

Whether your priorities are comfy seats or snacks on board, affordable trains from Birmingham to Plymouth have the services you require. The trains feature a cheap standard class and a luxurious first-class cabin. In the standard section, you can charge your phone or laptop. Great Western Railway offers free Wi-Fi, but CrossCountry may require you to pay a small sum for internet access. The seats are moderately spaced and, on Great Western Railway, have a bistro table in front of them. Passengers in the first-class coach don’t have to pay for Wi-Fi and have even more spacious seats. They can also get complimentary foods, drinks and snacks. CrossCountry allows one bag on the train for free, while Great Western Railway can allow two. Also, you can have up to two pets in the cabin without paying more. While the presence of few bicycle spaces calls for pre booking, folding bike spots are more abundant. If one has impaired mobility, it is vital to give the travel company a heads up when booking to get assistance.

How to find cheap train tickets from Birmingham to Plymouth

Tickets for the trains from Birmingham to Plymouth are available a few days before the train leaves. Making an early booking can give a discount on your travel cost. Also, low-speed Birmingham to Plymouth trains don’t charge as much as the high-speed ones. Note that different ticket types are available to passengers travelling to Plymouth from Birmingham; you can buy a flexible one, which gives you a chance to take a cheap train during off-peak hours.

Barbican marina at night in Plymouth. Source: Shutterstock

To Plymouth by train—travel tips

Besides its rich maritime history, Plymouth will astound you with a modern side that features several must-see sites. For a taste of the beach, stroll off to the limestone rise at Plymouth Hoe. Here, you can climb Smeaton’s Tower and observe an endless stretch of ocean. The Plymouth Sound, a harbour showcasing ancient navy weapons, is also nearby, and be sure to tour Barbican. The town has cobblestone pathways lined with restaurants and souvenir selling shops. To hikers, Plymouth presents Devonport Heritage Trail. Walking or riding down the trail will allow you to tour Devonport Naval Heritage Site and Visitor Centre, where a prehistoric but operational naval base exists. Other top-rated Plymouth sites to see include:

• The Royal Citadel
• The National Marine Aquarium
• The Box Plymouth
• Tinside Lido
• The Mayflower Museum and Steps
• Central Park
• The Saltram House
• Plymbridge Woods