Doncaster to Manchester train with TransPennine Express

Sat 29 Nov
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TransPennine Express
East Midlands Trains
Northern Rail (3)
first_transpennine_express
Cross Country
1,000+ travel companies
TransPennine Express
East Midlands Trains
Northern Rail (3)
first_transpennine_express
Cross Country
1,000+ travel companies
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The cheapest and fastest trains from Doncaster to Manchester

Showing times and prices for 02 Dec

Cheapest price

£14

Average price

£19

Fastest journey

1 h 21 m

Average duration

1 h 23 m

Trains per day

5

Distance

73 km

Cheap tickets

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

The average ticket from Doncaster to Manchester will cost around £19 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £14.

Fast trains

Of the 5 trains that leave Doncaster for Manchester every day 5 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.

These direct trains cover the 73 km distance in an average of 1 h 23 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 1 h 21 m .

The slowest trains will take 1 h 29 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.

TransPennine Express
04:361h29
Doncaster
06:05Manchester
£141One-way
0 changes
TransPennine Express
10:431h22
Doncaster
12:05Manchester
£181One-way
0 changes
TransPennine Express
07:441h21
Doncaster
09:05Manchester
£201One-way
0 changes
TransPennine Express
13:431h22
Doncaster
15:05Manchester
£211One-way
0 changes
TransPennine Express
08:421h23
Doncaster
10:05Manchester
£211One-way
0 changes

Travel Information

Compare train and coach for Doncaster to Manchester

Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Doncaster to Manchester among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the train with prices starting from £8. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 1h 32m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.0 - 0.1kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a train costs an average of £8, and a coach costs an average of £20.

Distance: 73 km

Compare train with

Most popular
Train
Coach

£20

Average Price

Cheapest

£30

Average Price

2h 2m

Average total duration

Fastest

1h 32m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

3h 28m

Average total duration

2h 58m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

0.0 - 0.1kg

CO2 emissions

Lowest

0.1 - 0.2kg

CO2 emissions

TransPennine Express

Most popular train company

National Express

Most popular bus company

Direct Options

Direct Options

Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.

Live departures

Doncaster to Manchester train times

The table below shows live departures for Doncaster to Manchester trains for today, Monday 1 December. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.

Last updated at 02:10
ProviderDepartsDurationArrivesChanges
Tickets
transpennine_express06:41 Doncaster
1h24
08:05 Manchester0 changesdirect
transpennine_express07:44 Doncaster
1h21
09:05 Manchester0 changesdirect
transpennine_express08:42 Doncaster
1h23
10:05 Manchester0 changesdirect
transpennine_express10:43 Doncaster
1h22
12:05 Manchester0 changesdirect
transpennine_express22:37 Doncaster
3h57
02:34 Manchester0 changesdirect

Find all the dates and times for this journey

Compare prices and tickets Doncaster to Manchester 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.

Tue
02 Dec
Wed
03 Dec
Thu
04 Dec
Fri
05 Dec
Sat
06 Dec
Sun
07 Dec
Mon
08 Dec

How far in advance should I book train tickets from Doncaster to Manchester?

The best time to book your train from Doncaster to Manchester is 56 days before departure. See how prices for trains change on the Doncaster to Manchester route.
Prices are for one-way tickets for one passenger from Doncaster to Manchester 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 Doncaster to Manchester.

Journey information

Overview: Train from Doncaster to Manchester

United KingdomUnited Kingdom
United KingdomUnited Kingdom
Icon of train

Trains from Doncaster to Manchester run on average 6 times per day, taking around 1h 32m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £8 if you book in advance.

There are 3 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 00:04, the last at 23:57. The fastest train covers the 73 km distance in 1h 18m.

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
Distance
73 km
Average train duration
1h 32m
Cheapest ticket price
£8
Trains per day
6
Direct trains
3
Fastest train
1h 18m
First train
00:04
Last train
23:57
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

Train companies: TransPennine Express, East Midlands Trains, Northern Rail (3), first_transpennine_express, Cross Country from Doncaster to Manchester trainsTransPennine Express, East Midlands Trains, Northern Rail (3), first_transpennine_express, Cross Country trains will get you between Doncaster and Manchester from £8. With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.

TransPennine Express

About
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.
Luggage & cancellation policy
Average Duration
1h 21m
Cheapest Price
£11
TransPennine Express frequency
5 a day
Luggage included
2 large items and 1 small hand luggage included
Luggage storage
Overhead racks, luggage areas at the end of carriages, and under seats
Cancellation Policy
Refund policies apply as per ticket type
Refund
Full refund if service is cancelled
Amenities on board the train
Wifi
Food sold onboard
Trolley service with drinks and snacks, plus a small selection of hot and cold food items
Seat reservation
Seat reservations are free of charge and recommended for busy routes
Toilets
USB plugs
Accessibility
Wheelchair spaces, accessible toilets, ramps for boarding, priority seating, assistance booking service
Pets
Small pets travel free. Dogs must be on a lead. Maximum two dogs per passenger
Quiet zone

East Midlands Trains

About
East Midlands Trains is a train company based in the United Kingdom. It operates services from London to the East Midlands, Yorkshire, and the North West. East Midlands Trains operates a fleet of Class 158, Class 156, Class 170, Class 222 and Class 180 diesel multiple units, as well as Class 222 Meridian electric multiple units. East Midlands Trains also offers a range of ticket types, including Advance, Anytime, and Off-Peak tickets. Onboard facilities include free Wi-Fi, power sockets, and a range of food and drink options. The most popular routes for East Midlands Trains are London to Nottingham, Sheffield, and Leeds.
Luggage & cancellation policy
Average Duration
1h 22m
Cheapest Price
£31
East Midlands Trains frequency
1 a day
Luggage included
2 pieces of luggage and 1 piece of hand luggage included
Luggage storage
Overhead racks, luggage areas at the end of carriages, under seats
Cancellation Policy
Refund policies apply as per ticket type
Refund
Full refund if train is cancelled
Amenities on board the train
Wifi
Food sold onboard
Trolley service with drinks and snacks on some routes
Seat reservation
Seat reservations available for a fee. Free for Advance ticket holders
Toilets
USB plugs
Accessibility
Wheelchair spaces, accessible toilets, ramps for boarding, priority seating
Pets
Small pets in carriers travel free. Dogs must be on lead and require a ticket (£6 for day ticket)
Quiet zone

Northern Rail (3)

About
Northern Trains is a publicly owned train operating company in the United Kingdom, headquartered in York. It runs local and commuter services across the north of England, connecting regions including the North East, North West, East Midlands, Staffordshire, Yorkshire, and the Humber coastline. As part of the National Rail network, Northern operates under a coordinated fare and ticketing system alongside other UK train companies.Ticket types include Advance, Off-Peak, Anytime Day, single, return, and season tickets, with only one class option available: Standard. Onboard amenities may include comfortable seating, free Wi-Fi, and refreshments on select services. Popular routes include connections between major northern cities such as Manchester, Liverpool, and Leeds.
Luggage & cancellation policy
Average Duration
2h 1m
Cheapest Price
£29
Northern Rail (3) frequency
2 a day
Luggage included
2 large items of luggage and 1 small hand luggage
Luggage storage
Overhead racks, luggage areas at end of carriages, under seats
Cancellation Policy
See refund policy for ticket types
Refund
Full refund if service canceled
Amenities on board the train
Wifi
Food sold onboard
Trolley service on most services with drinks and snacks. Some stations have cafes and shops
Seat reservation
Seat reservations available but not mandatory. Free of charge when booking advance tickets
Toilets
USB plugs
Accessibility
Wheelchair spaces, accessible toilets, ramps for boarding, passenger assistance service available
Pets
Small pets travel free. Dogs must be on a lead. Maximum two dogs per passenger
Quiet zone

first_transpennine_express

Luggage & cancellation policy
Average Duration
1h 21m
Cheapest Price
£32
first_transpennine_express frequency
18 a day

Cross Country

Luggage & cancellation policy
Average Duration
1h 35m
Cheapest Price
£51
Cross Country frequency
5 a day

Trains from Doncaster to Manchester

There are plenty of trains from Doncaster to Manchester throughout the week on this quick, well-served route where journeys can take as little as one hour 20 minutes. Passengers can travel to Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Oxford Road or Manchester Victoria depending on the operator and personal preference. All of the city stations are within walking distance of each other and are located in the city centre for easy transfers.

Which train companies travel from Doncaster to Manchester?

Services between Doncaster and Manchester are operated by First Transpennine Express and East Midlands Trains. Each of the train companies has around one service on this busy route per hour and sometimes more than one an hour at particularly busy times.

How long is the train from Doncaster to Manchester?

The fastest service is operated by First Transpennine Express and takes just one hour and 20 minutes without any changes. It's also the cheapest service and runs several times during the day. Some services have a change at Leeds or Sheffield but few take longer than two hours in total.

How many trains are there from Doncaster to Manchester?

This is a well-served route and trains operate from around 6:00 a.m. until after 10:00 p.m. on weekdays. At weekends, they start at around 8:00 a.m. Passengers will find at least two trains every hour and sometimes up to four between the two operators. The majority of services are concentrated around commuter hours. The final service of the day tends to leave just after 11:00 p.m. but takes around four hours.

What are the departure and arrival stations for trains from Doncaster to Manchester?

Departure train station: Doncaster Railway Station is located on Station Street in Doncaster. Onward travel is made easy with taxi ranks, buses and airport shuttles available directly outside the station.  Inside, travellers will find a lounge, ticket facilities, ATMs, retail and food outlets, a newsagent, coffee bar, seating areas, information screens and trolleys. WiFi is available and there are also public telephones.

Arrival train station: Trains to Manchester arrive at either Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Victoria or Manchester Oxford Road, depending on the service and the operator. These stations are all located in the city centre and are ideal for transfers. Each has ticketing facilities, coffee kiosks, retail outlets, ATMs, accessible toilets, seating areas and more.

FAQs: Doncaster to Manchester train

Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Doncaster to Manchester 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, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

FAQs
A stay of 2 to 4 days in Manchester is generally sufficient to explore its main attractions, including museums, historical sites, and vibrant neighbourhoods.
Yes, you can do a day trip from Doncaster to Manchester. The travel time is 1h 18m, with a distance of 73 km, and the frequency is 6 times per day for trains.
Booking trains from Doncaster to Manchester in advance is advisable, especially during peak travel seasons or for long journeys, to ensure availability and secure better fares.
The train journey from Doncaster to Manchester offers a scenic experience, particularly as it traverses the picturesque landscapes of the Pennines, with rolling hills and lush greenery visible along parts of the route.
In Manchester, you can explore Old Trafford, the iconic stadium of Manchester United, and the Northern Quarter, known for its independent shops and street art. Enjoy performances at the Manchester Opera House and experience the vibrant nightlife at Deansgate Locks. Relax at Heaton Park, one of Europe's largest municipal parks. Visit the Manchester Art Gallery and the Science and Industry Museum. Admire Manchester Cathedral's Gothic architecture and the John Rylands Library's rare collections. Stroll through Castlefield, with its Roman ruins and picturesque canals.
The cost of a train ticket from Doncaster to Manchester can vary. The cheapest tickets are usually available from £8, while the average price tends to be around £20.
The train journey from Doncaster to Manchester covers a distance of 73 km and takes approximately 1h 18m. Trains run 6 per day.
The cheapest way to get from Doncaster to Manchester is by train, costing approximately £8.
The train distance from Doncaster to Manchester is 73 km.
The train station in Doncaster that goes to Manchester is Doncaster station (DON), and it arrives at Manchester Airport (MIA).
The last train from Doncaster to Manchester departs at 23:57.
Yes, there is a direct train between Doncaster and Manchester. The service operates 3 times per day, provided by TransPennine Express, first_transpennine_express.
There is no night train service from Doncaster to Manchester.
The first train from Doncaster to Manchester leaves at 0:04.
Trains from Doncaster to Manchester run approximately 6 times per day.
Yes, there is a high-speed train service from Doncaster to Manchester.
Yes, you can take the train from Doncaster to Manchester.
To get from Doncaster to Manchester, you can choose from several travel options including train and coach.

popular train stations

Important Stations and Airports in Doncaster and Manchester

Doncaster
Manchester
The major train station for departures in Doncaster is Doncaster. Find all the information you need to know about services, amenities and connections at Doncaster for your trip from Doncaster to Manchester.
Amenities at train station
WifiWifi
ShoppingShopping
ParkingParking
DiningDining
ATMATM
AccessibilityAccessibility
WCWC
HotelHotel
LoungeLounge
Lost and Found OfficeLost and Found Office
Ticket OfficeTicket Office
Bike ParkingBike Parking
Car RentalCar Rental
information
ticketOfficeHours
Ticket Office Hours
  • Opening hours: Monday - Friday 05:45 - 20:00 Saturday 06:00 - 19:00 Sunday 08:00 - 18:00
Accessibility
Accessibility
  • Staff help available: Yes
  • Step free access coverage: Yes
  • Accessible car park equipment: Wheelchair users can use car park equipment at this station unaided
  • Accessible public telephones: Phones are low level but not text
  • Accessible taxis: Advance booking not required
  • Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station
  • Accessible ticket machines note: .
  • Accessible toilets: Yes
  • Ramp for train access: Yes
  • Wheelchairs available: Yes
  • Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: Yes
WC
WC
  • Toilets Location: The toilets are adjacent to Platforms 3 and 4. The National key toilets are located on Platforms 3a and 8; these toilets are operated by a RADAR key. A RADAR key is available from the Customer Information Points on Platforms 4 and 8.
  • National key toilets: Yes
  • National key toilets location: The National key toilets are located on Platforms 3a and 8; these toilets are operated by a radar key. A radar key is available from the Customer Information Points on Platforms 4 and 8.
  • Baby changing facilities: Yes
Lounge
Lounge
  • Waiting rooms location: This station has heated waiting rooms available. Seating is available at an accessible height in the waiting room and on platforms Platform 3 opening hours - 05:00 - 22:30 Platform 4 North Waiting Room opening hours - 05:00 - 01:30 Platform 4 South Waiting Room opening hours - 05:00 - 22:30
Bike Parking
Bike Parking
  • Storage sheltered: Yes
  • Storage location: Within car park
  • Storage CCTV: Yes
Public transport options for Doncaster
  • Location for Rail Replacement Services: Pick Up / Drop Off outside the front of the station and park in the station overflow car park.

More options for your journey from Doncaster to Manchester

Here are some other resources that might have the information you need

HomeTrainsTrain Times to Manchester Doncaster to Manchester train

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