Manchester to Edinburgh train with TransPennine Express

Train Manchester Edinburgh

Trains from Manchester to Edinburgh are a comfortable and affordable transport between the cities and a popular choice with many visitors. Because both cities are popular, you'll find several daily services available, operated by three different train companies. The most frequent train schedule from Manchester to Edinburgh is between Monday and Friday, with a slight drop in frequency on Saturdays. Generally, no routes operate on Sundays. There are multiple routes to choose from, including direct trains, services with a single stopover in places like Lancaster, Preston or Carlisle, routes with two stopovers in Preston and Carlisle, or routes with three stopovers along the way. There are three departure stations and one arrival station and the average travel time to cover the 280 km (174 miles) between the cities is around 3h 10min, depending on the route.

Manchester to Edinburgh Train Time: Daily Departures

There are various routes in operation every day, starting early in the morning and running until late in the evening. Usually, trains from Manchester to Edinburgh don't run on Sundays. Between Monday and Friday, there are around 22 daily services, which start at about 5:00 a.m. and run a couple of times an hour until 8:30 p.m. The frequency on Saturday drops a little, with only 17 trains running between 5:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. There are multiple providers and multiple routes to choose from. TransPennine Express provides direct services and a single stopover service via Carlisle, Lancaster, or Preston. Avanti West Coast only offers single stopover routes that go via Preston or Lancaster. London North Eastern Railway (LNER) provides services with two or three stopovers en route.

Boarding your train Manchester Edinburgh

The boarding process is similar at Deansgate, Oxford Road and Manchester Piccadilly, except that you'll need to be at Piccadilly at least 30 minutes before your departure time. Deansgate isn't as busy so you only need to be there 10 minutes before. You'll need your mobile or printed ticket handy to show the ticket office or get through ticket barriers. Once you've checked in your luggage, make your way to the waiting room for your train announcement. At Piccadilly, the arrival of your service will be displayed on the notice boards and announced over a loudspeaker. Make your way to the platform mentioned and board the train as quickly as possible. At Deansgate, you'll hear the announcement and get onboard when the service arrives.

Manchester: Aerial view of the city centre. Source: Shutterstock

Where do trains from Manchester to Edinburgh depart and arrive?

Trains from Manchester to Edinburgh depart from one of three stations and arrive at the same station. The three departure stations are Deansgate, Oxford Road, and Manchester Piccadilly Railway Station and the arrival station is Edinburgh Waverley Railway Station. Deansgate is a train and tram stop in Manchester, located about a 10 minute walk away from Manchester Piccadilly Station. There are minimal facilities at Deansgate. Manchester Oxford Road is a station located a little further away from the city centre, along Oxford Road. It's home to basic facilities like toilets, cash machines, ticket offices and a station buffet. Manchester Piccadilly Station is the main station serving the city and operates almost all local and international trains. Located in the heart of the city centre, Manchester Piccadilly is well-connected to the rest of the city via trains, buses and taxis, and offers passengers a wealth of amenities at the station, including restaurants, shops, toilets, baby-changing facilities, charging stations and much more.

Edinburgh Waverley Station will be the arrival station for your train from Manchester to Edinburgh, regardless of the departure station. Edinburgh Waverley is the main terminus in Edinburgh and the second busiest railway station in the country, behind Glasgow Central. This station is a key transport hub located between modern Edinburgh and the Old Town, a short walk away from Edinburgh Castle and Princes Street Gardens. The terminus is connected to the city via buses, trains and taxis and is home to a wide range of amenities such as cafes, convenience stores, shops, bars, restaurants, toilets, among others.

When is the best time to book your train ticket Manchester Edinburgh?

If you're in a rush and need more daily options, the schedule during the work week is more frequent than over the weekend. If you're looking for a fast train from Manchester to Edinburgh, there are more direct options during the week too. Edinburgh is often more fun over the weekend, so you may want to book tickets on a Friday or Saturday to experience the best of the city. Bear in mind, that trains don't operate on a Sunday so don't leave it to the last minute. The price for these services is quite consistent but cheap train ticketsare easier to come by during the week.

What to see between Manchester and Edinburgh

There are several stopover routes between these cities, so you can explore other parts of the country en route and find later trains from your stopover city. Carlisle is the only city in Cumbria, close to the Scottish border, and is often referred to as a border city, simply because of its proximity. Take a trip via here and hop out to explore things like Carlisle Castle, Hadrian's Wall, Carlisle Cathedral and Birdoswald Roman Fort before jumping on another service to Edinburgh. A popular train to Edinburgh from Manchester has a stopover in Lancaster, which is a city in the northwest of England and home to Lancaster Castle and Ashton Memorial. Preston is another of the stopover cities, lying on the banks of the River Ribble and home to the Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Avenham and Miller Parks and the Ribble Steam Railway.

Information on Edinburgh Waverley

Edinburgh Waverley Station is the principal terminus for the city and one of the busiest railway stations in Scotland, second only to Glasgow Central. It's located less than a kilometre from the city centre, between the Old Town and the modern part of the city. This station is well-connected to the city centre through trains, buses and taxis, and provides services for thousands of people every day. You'll find a wealth of amenities at the station including cash machines, restaurants, shops and others. There are standard and accessible toilets, as well as baby-changing facilities. Every train Manchester - Edinburgh will arrive at Edinburgh Waverley Station.

Night trains Manchester Edinburgh

Night trains are becoming increasingly popular with travellers because they're designed with comfort in mind. These sleeper trains are quieter to travel on and offer a chance to sleep in a comfortable bed en route. Unfortunately, no specific night trains operate along this route. There are, however, services running at night, which may have fewer passengers on them. The last train leaves around 8:30 p.m. on weekdays and closer to 6:30 p.m. on Saturdays.

Avanti West Coast Manchester to Edinburgh

Avanti West Coast provide a high-speed train from Manchester to Edinburgh at least six times a day during the work week and around four times on Saturdays. These routes run from Oxford Road to Waverley with a stopover in Lancaster, or from Deansgate to Edinburgh via Preston. The average travel time for an Avanti West Coast service is around 3h 30min.

TransPennine Express Manchester to Edinburgh

TransPennine Express provide the most frequent routes between these cities and offers cheap train tickets from Manchester to Edinburgh daily. There are about 14 trains a day operated by TransPennine Express, with various routes. There are direct trains from Oxford Road, trains with a stopover in Preston from Deansgate, and services with a stopover in Carlisle or Lancaster from Manchester Piccadilly. The fastest direct route takes around 3h 10min, while the longest route takes just over 4h 30min.

London North Eastern Railway (LNER) Manchester to Edinburgh

LNER operates the least frequent options and usually has two trains during the week and one on Saturdays. All LNER services have multiple stopovers along the way, in either Carlisle, Preston, or Lancaster. Because of the number of changeovers en route, the LNER service is also usually the most expensive train from Manchester to Edinburgh.

Trains from Manchester to Edinburgh: Sustainability Travel

If you speak to climate activists about sustainability, many of them will tell you that choosing sustainable means of travel is a good way to reduce your carbon footprint. Trains are one of the most eco-friendly ways to travel, second only to walking and biking, and can reduce your CO2 emissions by up to 70% compared to planes and cars. Trains also only produce around 3% of global transport emissions, and the efficient use of space on them means more people travel at the same time, using fewer resources per person than other means of travel.

Train Manchester to Edinburgh: Services on Board

Trains from Manchester to Edinburgh are operated by three separate companies who all offer similar onboard services.

• All three trains offer First Class or Standard tickets. First Class comes with wider seats, extra legroom and in-seat dining. A Standard ticket holder can purchase food on the train.
• LNER have a limit of one large suitcase, one carry-on bag and one handbag. TransPennine allows a maximum of three pieces of luggage and a carry-on handbag or small bag. Avanti West Coast passengers are limited to two large suitcases and one carry-on item.
• Pet travel is possible on all trains but your animal must be on a leash or in a carrier and cannot disturb other passengers.
• Non-foldable bikes can be transported but must be booked ahead of time and are subject to availability. Non-foldable bikes can be transported, provided they fit into the luggage compartment
• All train companies provide accessible travel options, but you must contact them days in advance to arrange the help you need.
• Seat reservation is available on these services.

When to book your train tickets from Manchester to Edinburgh

There are a couple of ways to get the best Manchester to Edinburgh train price with these operators. Tickets go on sale months in advance and get progressively more expensive, so booking well in advance is the best way to find the cheapest option. Searching with flexible dates in mind is a good way to find different deals on different days. Weekend travel between Manchester and Edinburgh is usually more costly than during the work week. If you have a student card or are a senior citizen, take advantage of the discounts on offer.

To Edinburgh by train — travel tips

Edinburgh is considered by many who visit to be the best place to visit in the UK and once upon a time in the not-so-distant past, it was voted as the best city to visit by The Telegraph. The capital city offers visitors practically everything they could need from an inviting atmosphere to a plethora of historical monuments to exquisite scenery and much more. Thanks to the popularity of the city, it's a popular place for people from all over the world which makes it a diverse, melting pot of cultures and encounters. You can enjoy cuisine from all over the world, spend time soaking up the nightlife and all of the partying and music you can handle or visit monuments that date back thousands of years. Have a look at the Edinburgh Window Seat for some tips and tricks, including things to do like:

• Visit Edinburgh Castle
• Go shopping along Princes Street
• Walk the underground passages of Mary King’s Close
• Admire the scenery at the Royal Botanic Garden
• Gawk at the amazing sight of St Giles’ Cathedral
• Explore the history of the war in Scotland at the National War Museum
• Peruse the art selection at the Scottish National Gallery

Edinburgh: View of the old Edinburgh at sunset. Source: Shutterstock

What are the other cities you can go to from Edinburgh?

Edinburgh is a transport hub in the UK and home to one of the busiest stations in Scotland, Waverley Station, which is connected to several European and UK cities. The most popular destination from Edinburgh is London, which is just over 4h 30min away. Edinburgh to Paris is another sought-after route, and a train ride will have you sipping on French champagne in around 4 hours. An LNER train from Edinburgh to Wales departs multiple times a day and takes less than 5 hours.