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Cardiff to Edinburgh train with Avanti West Coast

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The cheapest and fastest trains from Cardiff to Edinburgh

Showing times and prices for 25 Apr

Cheapest price

£147

Average price

£233

Fastest journey

6 h 25 m

Average duration

6 h 45 m

Trains per day

Distance

497 km

Cheap tickets

The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Cardiff to Edinburgh is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.

The average ticket from Cardiff to Edinburgh will cost around £233 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £147.

Fast trains

Of the 6 trains that leave Cardiff for Edinburgh every day 1 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.

These direct trains cover the 497 km distance in an average of 6 h 45 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 6 h 25 m .

The slowest trains will take 7 h 21 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.

W18187+

C44657

11:536h28

Cardiff Central (CDF)

18:21Edinburgh Waverley (EDB)

£1471One-way

1 change

P11660 · C65947

08:457h21

Cardiff Central (CDF)

16:06Edinburgh Waverley (EDB)

£1561One-way

1 change

W18188+

C50105

09:536h25

Cardiff Central (CDF)

16:18Edinburgh Waverley (EDB)

£1871One-way

1 change

W19090+

C50090+

P13200

10:536h47

Cardiff Central (CDF)

17:40Edinburgh Waverley (EDB)

£2951One-way

2 changes

P11693_C65950

09:457h23

Cardiff Central (CDF)

17:08Edinburgh Waverley (EDB)

£2951One-way

0 changes

Live departures

Cardiff to Edinburgh train times

Showing trains for today, Thursday 24 April

Last updated at 00:52

Provider	Departs	Duration	Arrives	Changes
P11722 · C65957	On time 10:45 Cardiff Central (CDF)	7h19	18:04 Edinburgh Waverley (EDB)	1 change
W18187+C44657	On time 10:53 Cardiff Central (CDF)	6h28	17:21 Edinburgh Waverley (EDB)	1 change
Y22209+C65960	On time 11:50 Cardiff Central (CDF)	7h15	19:05 Edinburgh Waverley (EDB)	1 change
W18185+C50111+P13209	On time 11:53 Cardiff Central (CDF)	6h47	18:40 Edinburgh Waverley (EDB)	2 changes
W19103+C50114	On time 12:53 Cardiff Central (CDF)	6h31	19:24 Edinburgh Waverley (EDB)	1 change
P11787 · C46116+C71580	On time 13:45 Cardiff Central (CDF)	7h23	21:08 Edinburgh Waverley (EDB)	2 changes
This is the last train of the day.

Find all the dates and times for this journey

Compare prices and tickets Cardiff to Edinburgh by coach, train or flight

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How far in advance should I book train tickets from Cardiff to Edinburgh?

The best time to book your train from Cardiff to Edinburgh is 3 days before departure. See how prices for trains change on the Cardiff to Edinburgh route.

Prices are for one-way tickets for one passenger from Cardiff to Edinburgh per month. Insights are sourced from fares found by Omio users in the last 12 months. Current prices may differ as prices vary depending on the time of day, class or how far in advance you book your train from Cardiff to Edinburgh.

Trains

from £187

Coaches

from £22

Flights

from £66

More than 1,000 travel companies trust us to sell their tickets all in one place.

Journey information

Overview: Train from Cardiff to Edinburgh

United Kingdom

Trains from Cardiff to Edinburgh run on average 6 times per day, taking around 6h 59m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £62 but you can travel from only £31 by bus.

Fares are the lowest economy prices found on Omio. Early booking often means lower prices. Prices change daily and are subject to availability. Discount cards, coach trips, and booking fees are not included.

Price information

Cheapest alternative travel mode

Coach from £31

Distance

497 km

Average train duration

6h 59m

Cheapest ticket price

£62

Trains per day

Train providers

Fastest train

6h 5m

First train

04:33

Last train

16:45

Price information

Cheapest alternative travel mode

Coach from £31

Train companies: Virgin Trains, CrossCountry and Transport for Wales trains Cardiff to Edinburgh

Travel to Edinburgh from Cardiff from £76 with Omio’s train partners Virgin Trains, CrossCountry and Transport for Wales! You can find the best timetables and tickets when comparing and booking the most convenient route for you.

Avanti West Coast is a train company based in the United Kingdom. It operates high-speed trains between London and major cities in the UK, including Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and Edinburgh. The company offers a range of ticket types, including Standard, First Class and Advance tickets. Onboard facilities include free Wi-Fi, power sockets, comfortable seating and a range of food and drinks. The most popular routes for Avanti West Coast are London to Birmingham, London to Manchester and London to Glasgow. The company operates a fleet of Pendolino and Super Voyager trains, which offer a smooth and comfortable journey.

Virgin Trains from Cardiff to Edinburgh train information:

Average Duration: 5 h 59 min
Cheapest Price: £92

Cross Country trains are a UK-based train operator that provides services across the country including trains between Cardiff and Edinburgh. They offer a range of services, from express services to local services, and have a variety of ticket types to suit different needs. Their express services, such as the CrossCountry Voyager and CrossCountry XC Trains, offer a fast and comfortable journey, with onboard facilities such as free Wi-Fi, power sockets, and a selection of snacks and drinks. Their local services, such as the CrossCountry Regional and CrossCountry Regional Express, provide a more leisurely journey, with stops at smaller stations along the way. They also offer a range of ticket types, such as Advance, Anytime, and Off-Peak tickets, to suit different budgets and travel needs. The most popular routes for Cross Country trains include London to Birmingham, Manchester to Edinburgh, and Bristol to Reading.

Cardiff to Edinburgh train information with CrossCountry:

Average Duration: 7 h 10 min
Cheapest Price: £108
CrossCountry frequency: 5 a day

Transport for Wales is a public transport provider in Wales, UK. It operates a comprehensive network of trains, buses and ferries across the country. The trains are modern and comfortable, with a range of different types including InterCity Express Trains, Regional Trains, and Metro Trains. Onboard facilities include free Wi-Fi, power sockets, and a range of food and drink options. There are a variety of ticket types available, including single and return tickets, season tickets, and group tickets. The most popular routes include Cardiff to Swansea, Cardiff to Newport, and Cardiff to Manchester.

Transport for Wales from Cardiff to Edinburgh train information:

Average Duration: 6 h 46 min
Cheapest Price: £76

Transpennine Express is a train company based in the United Kingdom. It operates services from Manchester and Liverpool to Scotland, the North East and Yorkshire. It offers a range of services, including express, regional and local trains. Express trains are the fastest, with journey times of up to three hours. Regional trains are slower, but offer more stops and a more relaxed atmosphere. Local trains are the slowest, but offer the most stops. Transpennine Express offers a range of ticket types, including single, return, group and season tickets. Onboard facilities include free Wi-Fi, power sockets, comfortable seating and a range of food and drink options. The most popular routes for Transpennine Express are Manchester to Edinburgh, Liverpool to Leeds and Manchester to York. These routes offer a convenient and comfortable way to travel between the cities.

Train information from Cardiff to Edinburgh with TransPennine Express:

Average Duration: 6 h 48 min
Cheapest Price: £193

Trains from Cardiff to Edinburgh

The train service from Cardiff to Edinburgh is run by several agencies including Virgin West Coast Trains, CrossCountry, First TransPennine Express and Northern rail. Virgin trains have one change along the way at Crewe. The departure station is Cardiff Central while the arrival station is Edinburgh Waverley. They take an estimated six hours and forty-five minutes to complete the journey. First TransPennine Express trains leave Cardiff Central for Edinburgh and have one stop at Manchester Piccadilly. There is an hourly train leaving the departure station and it takes an estimated three hours and fifteen minutes to reach Edinburgh. CrossCountry trains leave Cardiff, Greyfriars Road GG to arrive at Edinburgh eight hours and thirty-five minutes later.

FAQs: Cardiff to Edinburgh train

FAQs: Travel by train from Cardiff to Edinburgh easily. Whether you want fast, cheap or something entirely different, our travel experts have collected everything you need to know so you can find the best option from Cardiff to Edinburgh.

Cheap train tickets from Cardiff to Edinburgh can start from as little as £60 when you book in advance. The average train ticket price for Cardiff to Edinburgh is £168; however, prices vary depending on the time of day and class and they tend to be more expensive on the day.

The train time from Cardiff to Edinburgh is on average 6 h for the 308 mile long journey, but the time it takes to go from Cardiff to Edinburgh by train can vary depending on specific dates or if traveling on weekends and holidays.

The first train from Cardiff to Edinburgh leaves at 01: 22. Plan your trip with the Journey Planner from Omio.

The last train from Cardiff to Edinburgh leaves at 21: 55.

There are 6 trains a day from Cardiff to Edinburgh which require at least one change with Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, Transport for Wales, TransPennine Express or first_great_western. Schedules can vary on holidays or weekends with fewer trains.

For the trip from Cardiff to Edinburgh you can take a train with Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, Transport for Wales, TransPennine Express or first_great_western. Be sure to check out all possible train providers that offer services to Edinburgh from Cardiff on Omio to compare what amenities they may have.

No, there are no night trains, the latest train for this route is 21: 55.

The cheapest month for a train from Cardiff to Edinburgh is November.

You have options as you can travel to Edinburgh from Cardiff 3 different ways: train, coach or flight.

Important Stations and Airports in Cardiff and Edinburgh

Cardiff

Edinburgh

The major train station for departures in Cardiff is Cardiff Central. Find all the information you need to know about services, amenities and connections at Cardiff Central for your trip from Cardiff to Edinburgh.

Cardiff Central Wifi

Amenities at train station

Wifi

Shopping

Parking

Dining

ATM

Taxis

Accessibility

Hotel

Lounge

Lost and Found Office

Ticket Office

Address

Central Square, Cardiff CF10 1EP, United Kingdom

Phone Number

Ticket Office Hours

Mon - Fri: 05:40 - 21:30
Sat: 05:40 - 21:30
Sun: 07:30 - 21:30

Wifi

Free Wi-Fi in the station.

Shopping

Type of shops available: News agent and convenience store

Parking

Car Park: Brewery Car park

Dining

Gourmet Coffee Bar & Kitchen
Pret a Manger
Tesco Express

Taxis

Taxi: Taxi rank is on the right as you exit the main station entrance

Accessibility

There is step-free access in the whole station. There are also ramps for train access and elevators in the station.

Toilets Location: The toilets are located on Platforms 1 to 8. The National Key toilets are located in the East Subway near the lifts and on Platform 8; these toilets are operated by a radar key and are only available during staffing hours.
National key toilets: Yes
National key toilets location: The National Key/Accessible toilets are located in the East Subway near the lifts and on Platform 8; these toilets are operated by a RADAR key and are only available during staffing hours.
Baby changing facilities: Yes

Hotel

Clayton Hotel Cardiff
Cardiff Marriott Hotel
Travelodge Cardiff Central

Lounge

Waiting rooms location: On platforms 1/2, 3/4, 6/7 and 8.

Ticket Office

Mon - Fri: 05:40 - 21:30
Sat: 05:40 - 21:30
Sun: 07:30 - 21:30

Public transport options for Cardiff Central

Commuter rail lines: City Line, Rhondda Line, Rhymney Line, Valley Line, South Wales Main Line
Train lines: Transport for Wales, CrossCountry, Great Western Railway
Location for Rail Replacement Services: At the rear car park (Penarth Road entrance)