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Sat
29 Jan
£89Arriva Trains Wales
£13Flixbus
Sun
30 Jan
£90Arriva Trains Wales
£11Flixbus
Mon
31 Jan
£33Arriva Trains Wales
£9Flixbus
Tue
1 Feb
£48Cross Country
£9Flixbus
Wed
2 Feb
£33Arriva Trains Wales
£9Flixbus
Thu
3 Feb
£33Arriva Trains Wales
£7Flixbus
Fri
4 Feb
£90Arriva Trains Wales
£10Flixbus
Sat
5 Feb
£88Arriva Trains Wales
£14Megabus
Sun
6 Feb
£89Cross Country
£12Flixbus
Mon
7 Feb
£89Arriva Trains Wales
£9Flixbus
Tue
8 Feb
£88Arriva Trains Wales
£9Flixbus
Wed
9 Feb
£48Cross Country
£9Flixbus
Thu
10 Feb
£89Arriva Trains Wales
£7Flixbus
Fri
11 Feb
£89Arriva Trains Wales
£12Flixbus
Sat
12 Feb
£87Arriva Trains Wales
£15National Express
Mon
14 Feb
£89Arriva Trains Wales
£12Flixbus
Tue
15 Feb
£83Cross Country
£14National Express
Wed
16 Feb
£89Arriva Trains Wales
£17National Express
Thu
17 Feb
£48Cross Country
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Overview: Train from Cardiff to Manchester

distanceDistance143 miles (231 km)
durationAverage train duration3 h 17 min
priceAverage train ticket price£59 (€68)
frequencyTrain frequency16 a day
changesDirect trainYes, there are 16 direct trains a day
carriersTrain providersArriva Trains Wales or Cross Country

Trains from Cardiff to Manchester cover the 143 miles (231 km) long journey taking on average 3 h 17 min with our travel partners like Arriva Trains Wales or Cross Country. Normally, there are 16 trains operating per day, including direct services available. While the average ticket price for this route costs around £59, you can find the cheapest train ticket for as low as £33. Travellers depart most frequently from Cardiff Central and arrive in Manchester Piccadilly.

Train providers: CrossCountry trains Cardiff to Manchester

Travel between Cardiff and Manchester from £33 with Omio’s train partners CrossCountry! You can find the best timetables and tickets when comparing and booking the most convenient journey for you.

CrossCountry

CrossCountry is a fast speed train company in the United Kingdom and for your next train from Cardiff to Manchester you can choose between Standard Class and First Class tickets on Omio.

If you’re looking for a smooth and easy train from Cardiff to Manchester, check Omio for CrossCountry trains offering this trip. Whether you are looking for the fastest, earliest or cheapest train to take for this 143 miles (231 km) journey between Cardiff and Manchester, Omio makes it easier than ever to find CrossCountry trains at affordable prices, and you can also quickly book train tickets online. Check the current CrossCountry train timetables for your ideal departure and arrival times, compare the best route from Cardiff to Manchester as well as relevant ticket information (such as luggage policy and amenities offered onboard), and book your CrossCountry train on Omio. If you search for trains to Manchester from Cardiff in the Omio app, you can quickly see if the CrossCountry tickets are mobile tickets, making it convenient for you to go paperless when travelling. With prices for CrossCountry trains between Cardiff and Manchester starting at £48, buy your official CrossCountry tickets with Omio online quickly and easily!

Cardiff to Manchester train information with CrossCountry:

  • Average Duration: 4 h 27 min
  • Average Price: £48
  • CrossCountry frequency: 7 a day

When purchasing your CrossCountry train tickets between Cardiff and Manchester, keep the following coronavirus related policies and recommendations in mind outlined by our travel partner:

  • Refund or voucher policy
  • If you have an Off-Peak or Anytime ticket, you can get a full refund and the £10 admin fee has been waived. Advance tickets are normally non-refundable but you can now also get a full refund if your Advance ticket was booked before 23 March 2020.
  • Cashless payments recommended
  • Online booking and check-in recommended
Learn more about CrossCountry

Trains from Cardiff to Manchester

Trains from Cardiff to Manchester are provided by Arriva and CrossCountry. Arriva services run directly, with a journey time of around three to three and a half hours. CrossCountry services have one change, at Bristol Parkway, and last around three and a half hours. Trains from Cardiff to Manchester start very early in the morning, with services leaving just after 4:30 a.m. and continuing every 30 minutes to 1 hour throughout the day. The last service leaves before 10:00 p.m. Trains depart from Cardiff Central Train Station on Saunders Road, close to all major amenities. They arrive at Manchester Picadilly Station on Fairfield Street, close to the popular shopping area of the Northern Quarter.

Travel Tips: Trains from Cardiff to Manchester

Travel by train to Manchester 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 Manchester.
FAQs

What is the cost of cheap trains between Cardiff and Manchester?

Looking to save money on your journey? Omio customers have found the cheapest train from Cardiff to Manchester for the next 7 days starting from £33  one way.

What is the average cost of a train from Cardiff to Manchester?

In the next 7 days you’ll find that the average cost of a train ticket to Manchester from Cardiff is £59  one way.

How many miles is it from Cardiff to Manchester by train?

When travelling this route you should expect the distance from Cardiff to Manchester via train to be approximately 143 miles (231 km).

What is the average Cardiff to Manchester train duration?

On average the train from Cardiff to Manchester duration is 3 h 17 min  for the 143 miles (231 km) long journey, but the travel time can vary if you depart on weekends and holidays.

Which train station from Cardiff to Manchester do I depart from? Which Manchester train station from Cardiff do I arrive in?

When taking the train from Cardiff to Manchester, you can choose to depart from train stations like Cardiff Central, Cardiff (Queen Street) and Cardiff (Cathays). Your journey can end in train stations such as Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Victoria and Manchester Oxford Road.

Omio customers who travel this route most frequently depart from Cardiff Central   and arrive in Manchester Piccadilly.

Where is the Cardiff train station located? Where is the Manchester train station located?

Passengers board their train most frequently from Cardiff Central and travel around 0.2 miles (425 m) from the city centre to this train station.

Passengers travelling this route most often arrive at Manchester Piccadilly and need to travel approximately 0.4 miles (587 m) from the train station to the city centre in Manchester.

What train providers offer a service between Cardiff and Manchester?

For the trip from Cardiff to Manchester you can take a train with Arriva Trains Wales or Cross Country. Be sure to check out all possible train companies that offer services between Cardiff and Manchester on Omio to compare what amenities they may have.

Is there a direct train between Cardiff and Manchester?

Yes, there are 16 direct trains between Cardiff and Manchester per day with Arriva Trains Wales  on Omio. This is worth paying attention to when you buy your train ticket as direct services tend to offer more convenience and help save you time travelling to your destination.

How many train services per day are there to Manchester from Cardiff?

On average, there are 16 trains a day from Cardiff to Manchester. The train times and services may be different on weekends and holidays compared to weekdays.

What time is the earliest train from Cardiff to Manchester? What time is the last train from Cardiff to Manchester?

The earliest train departing from Cardiff to Manchester leaves at 08: 30. The last train departing from Cardiff to Manchester leaves at 13: 57. You can find the latest Cardiff to Manchester train timetable on Omio and book the best time to leave for your journey on your chosen travel date.

When should I book Cardiff Manchester train tickets to score the best deals?

If you book a train ticket between Cardiff and Manchester within the next 7 days, you can find tickets to cost on average £59 one way. However, we recommend booking your train in advance to get access to the best prices. Train tickets to Manchester from Cardiff are generally on sale a few months before the planned departure date.

Important Stations and Airports for this Journey

Cardiff
Manchester
Cardiff Central is the most popular Cardiff railway station for Omio travellers, but it's not the only one. Read all the information you need to know about the main train stations in Cardiff for your journey to Manchester.
Amenities at station
WifiWifi
LockersLockers
ParkingParking
ATMATM
TaxisTaxis
AccessibilityAccessibility
address
Address
Central Square, Cardiff CF10 1EP, United Kingdom
phone
Phone Number
+44 3457114141
ticketOfficeHours
Ticket Office Hours
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