Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) train with CrossCountry

Sat 05 Sept
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CrossCountry
Transport for Wales
Cross Country
Great Western Railway (GWR)
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CrossCountry
Transport for Wales
Cross Country
Great Western Railway (GWR)
Avanti West Coast
2,000+ travel companies
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The cheapest and fastest trains from Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)

Showing times, prices and bookable tickets for 05 Sept

Cheapest price on 05 Sept

£257

Average ticket price on 05 Sept

£273

Fastest journey on 05 Sept

4 h 1 m

Average journey duration on 05 Sept

4 h 2 m

Trains on 05 Sept

19

Distance

319 km

Cheap tickets

The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Exeter Central (EXC) 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 Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) will cost around £273 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £257.

Fast trains

On Sat 05 Sept, we found 19 trains from Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN), including 2 direct services.

These direct trains cover the 319 km distance in an average of 4 h 2 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 4 h 1 m .

The slowest trains will take 4 h 2 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.

  • Great Western Railway (GWR)
    7:334h26
    Exeter Central (EXC)
    11:59Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)
    £2571One-way
    1 change
  • Cross Country
    10:534h06
    Exeter Central (EXC)
    14:59Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)
    £2621One-way
    0 changes
  • Cross Country
    14:524h07
    Exeter Central (EXC)
    18:59Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)
    £2621One-way
    0 changes
  • Cross Country
    6:274h02
    Exeter Central (EXC)
    10:29Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)
    £2751One-way
    1 change
  • Cross Country
    7:274h02
    Exeter Central (EXC)
    11:29Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)
    £2751One-way
    1 change

Travel Information

Compare train, coach and flight for Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)

Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Exeter Central (EXC) 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 flight, which has an average total journey time of 2h 50m. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £17, while a flight costs an average of £81.

Distance: 319 km

Compare train with

Most popular
Train
Coach
Flight
Driving

£51

Average Price

£17

Average Price

Cheapest

£81

Average Price

£64

Average Price

(fuel + tolls)

4h 57m

Average total duration

4h 27m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

7h 22m

Average total duration

6h 52m

Onboard

+

30m

Additional time*

2h 50m

Average total duration

Fastest

50m

Onboard

+

2h 0m

Additional time*

4h 14m

Average total duration

(door-to-door)

Direct Options

Direct Options

Direct Options

Direct Options

The cheapest way to travel from Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) is a coach with an average price of £17.

This is compared to other travel options from Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN):

A coach is £33 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) costing on average £51.

A coach is £63 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) costing on average £81.

The fastest way to travel from Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) is by flight with an average journey time of 50m.

Other travel options to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) take longer:

Train takes on average 4h 27m.

Coach takes on average 6h 52m.

It's helpful to compare your options as there are 3 ways to travel between Exeter Central (EXC) and Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) including taking a train, coach and flight.
Take the train. It's the cheaper option, and the extra time on board is usually more relaxing than driving it.

Tickets start at around £51 compared to roughly £64 in fuel and tolls — a saving of about £14. The journey takes 4h 27m versus 4h 14m by car, so you'll arrive a bit later, but you can work, read, or sleep along the way rather than spending the time behind the wheel. You'll also save the hassle of parking at the other end.

Direct services run with Cross Country.

Driving is worth it if you're on a tight schedule, travelling as a group, or want to stop somewhere en route.

Live departures

Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) train times

The table below shows live departures for Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) trains for today, Friday 4 September. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.

Last updated at
ProviderDepartsDurationArrivesChanges
Tickets
Cross Country9:27 Exeter Central (EXC)
4h02
13:29 Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)1 change
Cross Country10:27 Exeter Central (EXC)
4h02
14:29 Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)1 change
Cross Country10:56 Exeter Central (EXC)
4h03
14:59 Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)1 change
Cross Country10:56 Exeter Central (EXC)
4h03
14:59 Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)0 changesdirect
Cross Country11:27 Exeter Central (EXC)
4h02
15:29 Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)1 change
Cross Country12:27 Exeter Central (EXC)
4h02
16:29 Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)1 change
Cross Country13:27 Exeter Central (EXC)
4h02
17:29 Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)1 change
Cross Country14:27 Exeter Central (EXC)
4h02
18:29 Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)1 change
Cross Country15:23 Exeter Central (EXC)
4h36
19:59 Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)0 changesdirect
Cross Country15:28 Exeter Central (EXC)
4h31
19:59 Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)1 change
Cross Country16:27 Exeter Central (EXC)
4h02
20:29 Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)1 change
Cross Country17:27 Exeter Central (EXC)
4h02
21:29 Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)1 change
Cross Country18:27 Exeter Central (EXC)
4h03
22:30 Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)1 change
Cross Country19:27 Exeter Central (EXC)
4h46
0:13 Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)1 change
Cross Country21:14 Exeter Central (EXC)
10h15
7:29 Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)1 change
Great Western Railway (GWR)22:43 Exeter Central (EXC)
11h16
9:59 Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)1 change
Saturday 5 September
Cross Country6:27 Exeter Central (EXC)
4h02
10:29 Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)1 change
Cross Country7:27 Exeter Central (EXC)
4h02
11:29 Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)1 change
Great Western Railway (GWR)7:33 Exeter Central (EXC)
4h26
11:59 Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)1 change
Cross Country8:27 Exeter Central (EXC)
4h02
12:29 Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)1 change

Find all the dates and times for this journey

Compare prices and tickets Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) by train, coach or flight

Compare train, coach and flight 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.

Sat
05 Sept
Sun
06 Sept
Mon
07 Sept
Tue
08 Sept
Wed
09 Sept
Thu
10 Sept
Fri
11 Sept

Why should you book Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) trains with Omio?

CrossCountry as well as Transport for Wales, Cross Country, Great Western Railway (GWR) and more offer trains services from Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN).
Omio is an official ticket reseller for all your travel options from Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN).

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 Great Western Railway (GWR) to find the best option for your trip from Exeter Central (EXC) 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, bus and flight to ensure you get the best deal for traveling from Exeter Central (EXC) 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 Great Western Railway (GWR) to find the best option for your trip from Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN).
  • Multiple modes of transport: Omio allows you to compare travel options including train, bus and flight to find the ideal travel option from Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN).

Journey information

Overview: Train from Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)

United KingdomUnited Kingdom
United KingdomUnited Kingdom
Icon of train

Trains from Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) run on average 8 times per day, taking around 4h 27m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £51 but you can travel from only £17 by coach.

The earliest train runs at 09:40, the last at 09:40. The fastest train covers the 319 km distance in 5h 33m.

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 £17
Distance
319 km
Average train duration
4h 27m
Cheapest ticket price
£51
Trains per day
8
Fastest train
5h 33m
First train
9:40
Last train
9:40
Cheapest Month
Apr
Cheapest Day
Wed
High Season
Jul - Sept
Low Season
Apr - Jun
Busiest Day
Mon
Least Busy Day
Tue
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 £17

Train companies: CrossCountry, Transport for Wales, Cross Country, Great Western Railway (GWR) from Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) trainsCrossCountry, Transport for Wales, Cross Country, Great Western Railway (GWR) trains will get you between Exeter Central (EXC) and Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) from £17. With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.

CrossCountry

About
CrossCountry is a fast-speed train operator in the United Kingdom, offering both express and regional services across the country. Express services, such as the CrossCountry Voyager and XC Trains, provide quick and comfortable journeys with amenities like free Wi-Fi, power sockets, and a selection of snacks and drinks. Regional services, including the CrossCountry Regional and Regional Express, make more local stops for a leisurely trip. Ticket options include Standard Class and First Class, as well as Advance, Anytime, and Off-Peak fares to suit different budgets and schedules. Popular routes include London to Birmingham, Manchester to Edinburgh, and Bristol to Reading.
Luggage & cancellation policy
Average CrossCountry Duration
4h 46m
Cheapest CrossCountry Price
£42
CrossCountry frequency
5 a day
Luggage included
2 pieces of luggage included in ticket price
Luggage storage
Overhead racks and luggage storage areas at ends of carriages
Cancellation Policy
Refund policies vary by ticket type
Refund
Full refund provided for canceled services
Amenities on board the train
Wifi
Food sold onboard
Trolley service with drinks and snacks on some routes
Seat reservation
Seat reservations available for additional fee
Toilets
USB plugs
Accessibility
Wheelchair spaces and accessible toilets available
Pets
Small pets in carriers travel free, larger dogs require ticket
Quiet zone

Transport for Wales

About
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.
Luggage & cancellation policy
Average Transport for Wales Duration
5h 33m
Cheapest Transport for Wales Price
£51
Luggage included
2 large items of luggage and 1 small hand luggage included
Luggage storage
Overhead racks, luggage areas at end of carriages, under seats
Cancellation Policy
Refund policy depends on ticket type
Refund
Full refund if service canceled
Amenities on board the train
Wifi
Food sold onboard
Trolley service on most routes with snacks and drinks. Some stations have cafes
Seat reservation
Seat reservations recommended but not mandatory. Free of charge when booking tickets
Toilets
USB plugs
Accessibility
Wheelchair spaces, accessible toilets, ramps for boarding, priority seating, assistance service available
Pets
Small pets in carriers travel free. Dogs allowed with ticket (£5 per day). Guide dogs free
Quiet zone

Cross Country

Luggage & cancellation policy
Average Cross Country Duration
4h 0m
Cheapest Cross Country Price
£262
Cross Country frequency
11 a day

Great Western Railway (GWR)

Luggage & cancellation policy
Average Great Western Railway (GWR) Duration
4h 26m
Cheapest Great Western Railway (GWR) Price
£257
Great Western Railway (GWR) frequency
1 a day

FAQs: Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) train

Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Exeter Central (EXC) 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.

FAQs
The cost of a train ticket from Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) can vary. The cheapest tickets are usually available from £51, while the average price tends to be around £51.
The train journey from Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) covers a distance of 319 km and takes approximately 5h 33m. Trains run 8 per day.
The train distance from Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) is 319 km.
The first train from Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) leaves at 9:40.
The last train from Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) departs at 9:40.
Trains from Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) run approximately 8 times per day.
Currently, there is no high-speed train service from Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN).
Yes, there is a direct train between Exeter Central (EXC) and Manchester Piccadilly (MAN). The service operates 0 times per day, provided by Cross Country.
To get from Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN), you can choose from several travel options including train, coach and flight.
There is no night train service from Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN).
The cheapest way to get from Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) is by coach, costing approximately £17.
Booking trains from Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) in advance is advisable, especially during peak travel seasons or for long journeys, to ensure availability and secure better fares.
The train journey from Exeter Central to Manchester Piccadilly offers scenic views, especially as it traverses the picturesque landscapes of Devon and Somerset, with rolling hills and countryside vistas before moving through more urban areas as it approaches Manchester.
A day trip from Exeter Central to Manchester Piccadilly is not feasible given the journey time of 5h 33m and the distance of 319 km. There are 7 trains per day for this route.
Yes, you can take the train from Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN).

popular train stations

Important Stations and Airports in Exeter Central (EXC) and Manchester Piccadilly (MAN)

Most Exeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) trains use the Exeter St Davids to Manchester Piccadilly station pair. Use this guide to compare Exeter Central (EXC) and Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.

Departure train stations in Exeter
Arrival train stations in Manchester
Exeter CentralExeter Central station, Queen Street, Exeter, Devon, EX4 3SB+44 3451652030WifiShoppingParkingDiningTaxisAccessibilityWCHotelLost and Found OfficeTicket OfficeBike ParkingBike Rental
City-centre transport

Getting to Exeter Central from Exeter city centre

BusH, K, Uni, 4A, 4 · 3m · £2 · every ~27 min

Exeter Central train station facilities and services

Exeter Central has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Shopping, Parking, Dining, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking and Bike Rental.

Food and drink

Food and drink options are available at Exeter Central.

Wi-Fi and ATMs

Wi-Fi is available at Exeter Central.

Tickets and information

Ticket office support is available at Exeter Central.

Luggage and lost property

Lost and found is available at the station.

Parking, taxis and toilets

Available at Exeter Central: Parking, Taxis, WC.

Bike and car services

Available at Exeter Central: Bike Parking, Bike Rental.

Accessibility

Accessibility facilities are available at Exeter Central: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Step free access note: Step free Category A station - Both platforms can be accessed via lifts from the main station entrance, Accessible car park equipment: Wheelchair users can use car park equipment at this station unaided, Accessible taxis: Accessible taxis are available, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: Yes, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: No.

More options for your journey from Exeter Central (EXC) 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 Exeter Central (EXC)

HomeTrainsExeter Central (EXC) to Manchester Piccadilly (MAN) train

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