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Train Information from Cardiff to Manchester
 | Distance | 143 miles (231 km) |
 | Average train duration | 3 h 17 min |
 | Average train ticket price | £52 (€58) |
 | Train frequency | 16 a day |
 | Direct train | Yes, there are 16 direct trains a day |
 | Train companies | Arriva Trains Wales or Cross Country |
Trains from Cardiff to Manchester cover the 143 miles (231 km) long trip 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. You can get the cheapest train tickets for this journey for as low as £33, but the average price of train tickets is £52. Travellers depart most frequently from Cardiff Central and arrive in Manchester Piccadilly.
Train companies
CrossCountry Cardiff – Manchester
For as little as £33 you can travel by train from Cardiff to Manchester with CrossCountry. Omio will show you the best deals, timetables and tickets available for this trip.
CrossCountry is a fast speed train company in the United Kingdom and for your next train between Cardiff and Manchester you can choose between Standard Class and First Class tickets on Omio.
CrossCountry is one of the best options when travelling by train from Cardiff to Manchester. Omio quickly shows you current CrossCountry train timetables for the Cardiff - Manchester route and makes it easier than ever for you to buy train tickets online for the cheapest, fastest or earliest journey available. The distance from Cardiff to Manchester is around 143 miles (231 km) and the cheapest CrossCountry one-way ticket you can book starts at £48. As you check the latest Cardiff to Manchester train timetable from CrossCountry for your ideal departure and arrival times, you can also review travel information, such as luggage policy and amenities offered onboard, and compare the best route available to arrive to Manchester safely. If you search for CrossCountry tickets in the Omio app, you can also see if they are mobile tickets so that you can travel paperless. Let Omio quickly find you the perfect CrossCountry ticket from Cardiff to Manchester so you can spend more time enjoying the smooth and easy journey!
Train information from Cardiff to Manchester with CrossCountry:
- Average Duration: 4 h 27 min
- Average Price: £48
- CrossCountry frequency: 7 a day
CrossCountry has the following ticket policies due to COVID-19, which you should be aware of when booking and travelling by train from Cardiff to Manchester:
- 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
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
Some of the Cardiff train stations to Manchester you can start your journey from include Cardiff Central, Cardiff (Queen Street) and Cardiff (Cathays). Similarly, some of the arrival train stations in Manchester include Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Victoria and Manchester Oxford Road.
When travelling this route, Omio customers are departing most frequently from Cardiff Central and arriving in Manchester Piccadilly.
Passengers booking this route most frequently board their trains from Cardiff Central and need to travel around 0 mile (s) / 0 km from the city centre to get to this train station.
Passengers arriving in Manchester most often arrive at Manchester Piccadilly and need to travel around 0 mile (s) / 0 km from this train station to the city centre.
Important Stations and Airports for this Journey
Wifi
Lockers
Parking
ATM
Taxi
Train lines: Transport for Wales, CrossCountry, Great Western Railway
Trains from Cardiff to Manchester: related information
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