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.
The average ticket from Manchester to Edinburgh will cost around £ 72 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only £ 52.
This is the last train of the day.
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Fastest Journey
2 h 56 m
Average
3 h 37 m
Trains per day
6
Distance
282 km
Of the 6 trains that leave Manchester for Edinburgh every day 2 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
These direct trains cover the 282 km distance in an average of 3 h 37 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 2 h 56 m .
The slowest trains will take 4 h 42 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.
Distance | 174 miles (281 km) | |
Average train duration | 3 h 8 min | |
Average train ticket price | £62 (€70) | |
Train frequency | 12 a day | |
Direct train | Yes, there are 12 direct trains a day | |
Train providers | Cross Country, Avanti West Coast, London North Eastern Railway or Transpennine Express |
Trains from Manchester to Edinburgh cover the 174 miles (281 km) long journey taking on average 3 h 8 min with our travel partners like Cross Country, Avanti West Coast, London North Eastern Railway or Transpennine Express. Normally, there are 12 trains operating per day, including direct services available. You can get the cheapest train tickets for this route for as low as £35, but the average price of train tickets is £62. Travellers depart most frequently from Manchester Piccadilly and arrive in Edinburgh Waverley.
For as little as £35 you can travel by train to Edinburgh from Manchester with CrossCountry. Omio will show you the best deals, timetables and tickets available for this route.
CrossCountry is a fast speed train company in the United Kingdom and for your next train from Manchester to Edinburgh you can choose between Standard Class and First Class tickets on Omio.
If you're looking for cheap CrossCountry tickets to Edinburgh from Manchester, check out Omio! With one-way Manchester to Edinburgh train ticket prices starting as low as £134 when you book in advance, we'll help you get to Edinburgh from Manchester by showing you the latest CrossCountry offers, train timetables and tickets for this 174 miles (281 km) route. You can also review relevant ticket information for each class fare available on this trip, such as luggage policy and amenities offered onboard with CrossCountry. If you search for CrossCountry tickets from Manchester to Edinburgh in the Omio app, you can quickly see if they are mobile tickets so that you can go paperless when taking the train. Whether you're looking for the cheapest, fastest or earliest train between Manchester and Edinburgh on offer, Omio makes it easier than ever for you to find that perfect train with CrossCountry so you can enjoy a smooth and comfortable journey.
Please follow the recommendations outlined by CrossCountry when booking your train tickets from Manchester to Edinburgh due to the coronavirus:
You can get trains from Manchester to Edinburgh with ease, with a range of departures throughout the day. There are in the region of 86 trains to Edinburgh from Manchester per week. Trains run from early in the morning to early evening, so there should be a departure time to suit your schedule. Journeys take about 3h 15min on average, but there are faster and slower trains as well.
During the week, there are regular departures for Manchester to Edinburgh trains. Between Monday and Friday, the first train normally leaves Manchester at about 06:00, with the last train at approximately 19:00. On Saturdays, the first departure time is normally at about 06:00, with the final train leaving Manchester just after 18:00. On Sundays, the earliest departure is at around 10:00 and the last about 19:00. There are roughly 13 trains on this route on weekdays, 12 on Saturday and nine on Sundays.
Manchester to Edinburgh trains take an average of 3h 15min between Monday and Saturday, and about 3h30min on Sundays. There are faster trains and slower trains too, though, so it's always worth checking the timetable before you book. The fastest train is about 3h 02min on weekdays and Saturdays and around 3h 12min on Sundays. The slowest is approximately 3h 35min between Monday and Saturday and around 4h 5min on Sundays. There are both direct and indirect trains that operate this route, depending on which operator you travel with.
Trains from Manchester to Edinburgh: City Hall building in Manchester. Source: Shutterstock
Departure train station:Trains depart from either Manchester Oxford Road or Manchester Victoria, both of which are easily accessible from popular tourist areas. You can get to Manchester Oxford Road from places such as Manchester Art Gallery, in about 7min on the 197 bus. Manchester Victoria is about 10min from the gallery on the Green Line tram. Both Manchester Victoria and Manchester Oxford Road offers facilities including refreshment stalls, toilets and also a post box.
Arrival train station: Trains arrive into Edinburgh Waverley train station, only about a 2min walk from popular attractions such as the Scott Monument. At the train station, you can find toilets and baby changing facilities, showers, cash machines and car hire facilities.
There are two train companies operating routes from Manchester to Edinburgh, the TransPennine Express Service and Northern Rail. In general, there are about 13 trains on weekdays, 12 on Saturdays and 9 on Sundays. The average train time is in the region of 3h 15min between Monday and Saturday and about 3h 30min on Sundays. There are both direct and indirect routes which you can choose from when you book your train.
You cannot get a train from Manchester to Edinburgh during the night. The earliest train departs Manchester around 06:00, getting into Edinburgh after09:00, whilst the last train departs after 18:00 and arrives shortly before 22:00.
You can get about seven trains each day, between Monday and Saturday, when travelling on TransPennine Express Service's Manchester to Edinburgh trains. There are around five trains that depart on Sundays. The earliest train departure is at about 06:25 on weekdays and Saturdays, whilst it's a bit later at 10:25 on Sundays. In general, trains take in the region of 3h 15min on average and slightly longer on Sundays. The fastest service from this provider is about 3h 05min. Trains with this company are also direct, so you won't have to change along the way.
A Northern Rail Manchester to Edinburgh train offers a slightly less frequent service. There are about six trains on weekdays, five on Saturdays and approximately four on Sundays. The earliest train to depart is at about 08:45 between Monday and Saturday, with Sunday's first departure being at approximately 10:55. Trains with this provider tend to take about 3h 30min on average most of the week. There is also a requirement to transfer along the way, most likely at Lancaster train station.
Taking a train from Manchester to Edinburgh is a more sustainable mode of transport than completing the same journey by car, bus or plane. Trains emit less CO2 into the atmosphere per passenger than the other methods of travel, making journeys by rail a great option both for the environment and your own carbon footprint. Train travel also produces less noise pollution than other modes of transport, which is great for local wildlife populations.
On trains to Edinburgh from Manchester, you have the choice between First- and Second-Class seating. On Northern Rail, you can bring two items of large luggage and a smaller item. On TransPennine Express services, you can take as much as you need as long as it fits in in the luggage racks. Bicycles can be taken on board, but spaces for them are limited, so it's best to book this well in advance. You can bring two pets free of charge too, but they must be on a lead or in a suitable pet carrier. If you are travelling with disabilities, you can get help by contacting the train operator in advance of your trip. TransPennine Express and Northern Rail will ensure that a member of staff is on hand to help once you arrive at the origin and destination train stations.
You can get cheap tickets from Manchester to Edinburgh if you buy your ticket early, as prices increase the closer you get to your travel date. Be flexible too, as you might find cheaper tickets a few hours either side of your preferred travel time. Another great way to get cheap tickets is to have a railcard, such as a young person's railcard, which offers you discounts on your journeys. You can read about more cheap destinations to travel to in the OmioMagazine.
Trains from Manchester to Edinburgh: cityscape of Edinburgh. Source: Shutterstock
Edinburgh is a city with lots to see and do. Begin your trip by visiting the Royal Yacht Britannia, a museum that was once a yacht belonging to the Royal family. Next up, head over to the National Museum of Scotland, where you can learn all you need to know about this country's fascinating history. Then go and visit Edinburgh Castle overlooking the city. If you go to Calton Hill, you can see the National Monument of Scotland and also get great views across the city. Inchcolm Abbey and Island is another great place to visit, with its history dating back to the 12th century. A trip to Scotland wouldn't be the same without trying some local delicacies, so head to a restaurant and order some haggis.
Some of the Manchester train stations to Edinburgh you can start your journey from include Manchester Piccadilly, Manchester Airport and Manchester Victoria. Similarly, some of the arrival train stations in Edinburgh include Edinburgh Waverley, Edinburgh Gateway and Edinburgh Park.
When travelling this route, Omio customers are departing most frequently from Manchester Piccadilly and arriving in Edinburgh Waverley.
Passengers board the train most frequently from Manchester Piccadilly, which is located around 0.7 miles (1.2 km) away from the city centre, and they get off the train at Edinburgh Waverley, located 0.4 miles (659 m) away from the city centre.
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