Cheapest
Average
The best way to find a cheap fare is to book your ticket as far in advance as you can and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
This is the last train of the day.
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Fastest Journey
3 h 13 m
Average
3 h 43 m
Trains per day
6
Distance
295 km
Of the 6 trains that leave Glasgow for Manchester every day 1 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
Distance | 183 miles (295 km) | |
Average train duration | 3 h 17 min | |
Average train ticket price | £63 (€71) | |
Train frequency | 10 a day | |
Direct train | Yes, there are 10 direct trains a day | |
Train providers | Transpennine Express, Avanti West Coast, London North Eastern Railway, Scotrail, Northern Rail or Cross Country |
Trains from Glasgow to Manchester cover the 183 miles (295 km) long route taking on average 3 h 17 min with our travel partners like Transpennine Express, Avanti West Coast, London North Eastern Railway, Scotrail, Northern Rail or Cross Country. Normally, there are 10 trains operating per day, including direct services available. While the average ticket price for this trip costs around £63, you can find the cheapest train ticket for as low as £35. Travellers depart most frequently from Glasgow Central and arrive in Manchester Piccadilly.
Travel from Glasgow to Manchester from £35 with Omio’s train partners CrossCountry! You can find the best timetables and tickets when comparing and booking the most convenient trip for you.
CrossCountry is a fast speed train company in the United Kingdom and for your next train to Manchester from Glasgow you can choose between Standard Class and First Class tickets on Omio.
Find cheap tickets for CrossCountry trains from Glasgow to Manchester on Omio. Omio can help you find the best train deals and prices all in one place by showing you the most up-to-date Glasgow to Manchester train timetable from CrossCountry, the latest train ticket offers available and other travel information for the 183 miles (295 km) journey from Glasgow to Manchester, including information on luggage policy and amenities offered onboard depending on the class fare you pick and choose. If you search for trains from Glasgow to Manchester in the Omio app, you can check to see if the CrossCountry trains available are mobile tickets, which makes it even more convenient for you to go paperless when travelling. Check the CrossCountry train timetable for your ideal departure and arrival times, compare the best route available to get to Manchester from Glasgow and then book a cheap train with ease. Sit back and enjoy your upcoming train between Glasgow and Manchester with CrossCountry!
You can easily get trains from Glasgow to Manchester, as a frequent service operates between these two cities. There are up to nine trains daily, depending on the day of the week. The first departure is normally in the early morning, with the last in the early evening. The average journey time is about 3h 15min throughout the week, so it won’t take long before you arrive at your destination. There are both direct and indirect trains, depending on the operator you choose to travel with.
There are about nine Glasgow to Manchester trains on weekdays and Saturdays and around seven on Sundays. The first departure is normally at about 04:30 from Monday to Saturday, with the Sunday one a little later at around 09:15. The last train from Glasgow to Manchester leave at about 19:00 on weekdays, 18:45 on Saturdays and 19:15 on Sundays.
Travelling by train from Glasgow to Manchester tends to take about 3h 15min throughout the week. There is a faster train that takes about 3h 02min and some slower trains that take in the region of 3h 25min. You can take both direct and indirect trains from Glasgow to Manchester.
Trains from Glasgow to Manchester: arch bridge in Glasgow at night. Source: Shutterstock
Departure train station: When you get the Glasgow to Manchester train, you will usually depart from Glasgow Central train station, located in the city centre. You can get to the station from popular tourist sites such as People’s Palace in about 16min on the number 18 bus. At the station, you will find ticket machines, toilets, baby changing areas, showers and cashpoints, as well as places to buy food and drink.
Arrival train station: Trains usually arrive at Manchester Oxford Road, which is about a 7-minute journey to the Manchester Art Gallery on the number 197 bus. You’ll find a range of amenities at the station, such as food and drink stalls, toilets and a post box.
There are two companies that travel from Glasgow to Manchester by train, namely TransPennine Express and Avanti West Coast. You can travel directly with TransPennine Express on one of their roughly 61 trains throughout the week. Avanti West Coast provides an indirect service of about 104 trains weekly. The average journey time on this route is approximately 3 h 15min, so it won’t take long whichever provider you choose.
There are no trains operating through the night on this service. However, there is a range of trains that leave early in the morning. The earliest departure tends to be at about 04:20, arriving at around 08:20. The last train of the day is shortly after 20:00, getting into Manchester at about 23:20.
Avanti West Coast’s Glasgow to Manchester train offers a comprehensive service throughout the week. There tend to be about 16 trains daily between Monday and Friday, about 15 on a Saturday and approximately nine on a Sunday. The first departure is at around 04:25 from Monday to Saturday and at about 09:35 on a Sunday. The final departure is at around 20:00 on weekdays, 18:40 on Saturdays and about 17:35 on Sundays. The average journey duration is in the region of 3h 15min, with some trains completing the trip in about 3h 7min. Trains with this provider are indirect, so you will have to change along the way, most likely at a station such as Lancaster.
TransPennine Express trains also offer frequent and reliable service throughout the week. There are about nine trains each day from Monday to Saturday and about seven on Sundays. The first train to leave on weekdays and Saturdays is at about 04:20, with it being a bit later on Sundays at around 09:15. The final departure on trains from Glasgow to Manchester is at around 19:10 on weekdays, around 18:50 on Saturdays and 19:15 on Sundays. The average journey time is also in the region of 3h 15min, with some trains taking a little less time at about 3h 09min. Most of the TransPennine Express trains are direct, so you won’t need to transfer during your journey.
When you get a train from Glasgow to Manchester, you will be travelling sustainably. Compared to other modes of transport, such as plane, car or bus, travelling by train causes lower carbon emissions per passenger. This is great for your own carbon footprint but also for the environment in general. There is less noise pollution too, which is helpful for the well-being of people and wildlife.
When you get a Glasgow to Manchester train, you will find a range of great facilities. You can choose between First- and Second-Class travel on trains by either operator. On TransPennine trains, the luggage needs to fit into the luggage racks, whilst on Avanti West Coast, the bags must be no larger than 30cm x 70cm x 90cm. You can take along your bicycle, but you should reserve this in advance due to the limited bike spaces available. Pets can be taken on board too, but you need to have them on a lead or in a pet carrier at all times. If you are a passenger travelling with a disability, you can contact the operator ahead of your journey, and assistance will be provided when you get to the station and when you reach your destination.
You can generally get cheap tickets from Glasgow to Manchester if you book your train in advance of your travel as tickets tend to get more expensive the closer you get to the departure date. Flexibility with travel times also helps, as you may find cheaper a few hours either side of your preferred time of travel. For great discounts, you can also use railcards, such as senior or student railcards. For more inspiration on cheap travel locations in the UK, check out the Omio Magazine, Window Seat.
Trains from Glasgow to Manchester: backpacker on a train to Manchester. Source: Shutterstock
When you get a train to Manchester from Glasgow, you will find that there is plenty to see and do. Begin your trip by going to Manchester Cathedral, one of the few remaining parts of medieval Manchester. Then take a trip to see your favourite football team play at The Etihad Stadium or Old Trafford. You can also get tours of the grounds if there is no match on. There are some great museums in the city, such as the Manchester Museum, which looks at the industrial revolution. The Science and Industry Museum is built on the site of what is considered the first railway station. Finally, Manchester Art Gallery, with its range of paintings from a variety of eras, is also a must-see.
There are a few train stations in Glasgow to start your trip from including Glasgow Central, Glasgow Queen Street and Charing Cross (Glasgow). In Manchester you have a few train station options to choose from for your arrival including Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Airport and Manchester Victoria.
Omio customers travelling this route depart most frequently from Glasgow Central and arrive in Manchester Piccadilly.
Passengers board their train most frequently from Glasgow Central and travel around 1.1 miles (1.7 km) from the city centre to this train station.
Passengers travelling this route most often arrive at Manchester Piccadilly and need to travel approximately 0.7 miles (1.2 km) from the train station to the city centre in Manchester.
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