4.9
4.6The cheapest and fastest trains from Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)
Cheapest price on 18 Sept
£59
Average ticket price on 18 Sept
£86
Fastest journey on 18 Sept
3 h 31 m
Average journey duration on 18 Sept
3 h 45 m
Trains on 18 Sept
6
Distance
231 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) will cost around £86 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £59.
To travel from Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) you need to make at least one change.
Y61890 · G389678:423h31Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ)12:13Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)£591One-way1 change- W44109 · G3897510:423h31Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ)14:13Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)£661One-way1 change
- Y62244+
G00854+
G150418:043h55Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ)11:59Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)£891One-way2 changes - G38222+G66730+W354329:073h52Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ)12:59Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)£891One-way2 changes
- G00865+G15045+Y6220911:043h55Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ)14:59Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)£1081One-way2 changes
- Y61890 · G389678:423h31Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ)12:13Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)£591One-way1 change
- W44109 · G3897510:423h31Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ)14:13Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)£661One-way1 change
- G38222+G66730+W354329:073h52Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ)12:59Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)£891One-way2 changes
- Y62244+G00854+G150418:043h55Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ)11:59Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)£891One-way2 changes
- G00865+G15045+Y6220911:043h55Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ)14:59Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)£1081One-way2 changes
Travel Information
Compare train and coach for Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the coach, with an average ticket price of £17 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 3h 59m. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £17, while a train costs an average of £38.
Distance: 231 km
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Coach | Driving |
|---|---|---|
£38 Average Price | £17 Average Price Cheapest | £46 Average Price (fuel + tolls) |
3h 59m Average total duration Fastest 3h 29m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 50m Average total duration 5h 20m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 42m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
Most popular train company |  Most popular bus company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN):
A coach is £22 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) costing on average £38.
Other travel options to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) take longer:
Coach takes on average 5h 20m.
The journey is about 13m faster (3h 29m by train vs 3h 42m by car) and roughly £8 cheaper once you factor in fuel and tolls (£38 vs £46). You'll also arrive in the city centre rather than hunting for parking, and you can work, read, or watch the landscape go by instead of concentrating on the road.
Direct services run with Transport for Wales.
Driving is still worth considering if you want to stop along the way or need a car once you arrive.
Live departures
Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) train times
The table below shows live departures for Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) trains for today, Thursday 17 September. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 18:23 Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) | 3h21 | 21:44 Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) | 1 change | |
 | 18:45 Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) | 3h45 | 22:30 Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) | 1 change | |
| 18:53 Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) | 3h26 | 22:19 Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) | 0 changesdirect | |
| 19:50 Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) | 3h40 | 23:30 Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) | 1 change | |
| 20:10 Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) | 3h25 | 23:35 Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) | 0 changesdirect | |
| 21:35 Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) | 3h51 | 1:26 Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) | 1 change | |
| 21:45 Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) | 9h44 | 7:29 Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) | 1 change | |
| 22:21 Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) | 8h19 | 6:40 Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) | 1 change | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare prices and tickets Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) by train or coach
Compare train and coach prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
18 Sept
19 Sept
20 Sept
21 Sept
22 Sept
23 Sept
24 Sept
Why should you book Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) trains with Omio?
Why book with Omio vs CrossCountry?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can not only buy tickets for CrossCountry, but also compare tickets for the likes of Transport for Wales, Cross Country or Transport for Wales to find the best option for your trip from Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN).
- Designed for International Travelers: Omio is in your language including 24/7 customer service and offers multiple payment options, including PayPal, credit cards, and bank transfer, in your preferred currency.
- Compare all your options: Omio allows you to compare CrossCountry with all available travel options, which are train and bus to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN).
Why book with Omio over Wanderu?
- Compare with other providers: On Omio, you can also compare tickets for the likes of Transport for Wales, Cross Country or Transport for Wales to find the best option for your trip from Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN).
- Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including train and bus to find the ideal travel option from Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN).
Journey information
Overview: Train from Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)
United KingdomUnited Kingdom
Trains from Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) run on average 6 times per day, taking around 3h 29m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £38 but you can travel from only £16 by coach.
The earliest train runs at 07:42, the last at 07:42. The fastest train covers the 231 km distance in 3h 31m.
Distance 231 km |
Average train duration 3h 29m |
Cheapest ticket price £38 |
Trains per day 6 |
Fastest train 3h 31m |
First train 7:42 |
Last train 7:42 |
Cheapest Month May |
Cheapest Day Mon |
High Season Jan - Mar |
Low Season Oct - Dec |
Busiest Day Sun |
Least Busy Day Sat |
Train companies: CrossCountry, Transport for Wales, Cross Country from Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) trainsCrossCountry, Transport for Wales, Cross Country trains will get you between Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) and Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) from £16. With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.
CrossCountry
Transport for Wales
Cross Country
FAQs: Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) train
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Manchester Piccadilly (MAN), this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.
popular train stations
Important Stations and Airports in Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) and Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)
Most Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) trains use the Cardiff Central to Manchester Piccadilly station pair. Use this guide to compare Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) and Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Getting to Cardiff Queen Street from Cardiff city centre
Cardiff Queen Street train station facilities and services
Cardiff Queen Street has practical services for this route, including Parking, Dining, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental and Information Desk.
Food and drink
Food and drink options are available at Cardiff Queen Street.
Tickets and information
Ticket office support is available at Cardiff Queen Street. Information desks are information available from staff: Yes - from ticket office, Helpline Contact: 03333 211202, Passenger Information Systems: Departure screens, Announcements, Arrival screens.
Luggage and lost property
Lost and found is available at the station.
Parking, taxis and toilets
Available at Cardiff Queen Street: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Bike and car services
Available at Cardiff Queen Street: Bike Parking, Bike Rental.
Accessibility
Accessibility facilities are available at Cardiff Queen Street: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible ticket machines note: The ticket machines are near the main entrance and take cash and major debit and credit cards, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: No, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: No.
Shops, hotels and contact
Nearby hotels include Travelodge.
Getting to Manchester Piccadilly from Manchester city centre
Manchester Piccadilly train station facilities and services
Manchester Piccadilly has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental and Information Desk.
Food and drink
Food options include: Burger King, Caffè Nero, Carluccio’s, Hotel Chocolat, Starbucks, The Pasty Shop, Costa Coffee, Pret a Manger, Upper Crust, McDonald's, & more
Wi-Fi and ATMs
Pay as you go Wi-Fi is available through BT Wi-Fi. ATMs are there are ATM machines on the main concourse, Platform 10 and on the mezzanine level.
Tickets and information
The ticket office is open Mon - Sat: 04:30 - 22:30, Sun: 07:00 - 22:30. Information desks are located near the Fairfield Street entrance on the mezzanine level.
Luggage and lost property
Luggage storage is operated by Excess Baggage Co. Llocated between Platforms 10 and 11 and open daily from 08:00 to 21:00.
Parking, taxis and toilets
Available at Manchester Piccadilly: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Bike and car services
Available at Manchester Piccadilly: Bike Parking, Bike Rental, Car Rental.
Accessibility
Accessibility facilities are available at Manchester Piccadilly: There is step-free access throughout the station. Ramps for train access and wheelchairs are also available.
Shops, hotels and contact
Nearby hotels include DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Manchester - Piccadilly, Premier Inn Manchester City, Staycity Aparthotels - Manchester Piccadilly.
Most popular train connections from Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ)
More options for your journey from Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need
Most popular trains to and from Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) and Cardiff Queen Street (CDQ)
Most popular train connections to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)
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