Milton Keynes to Manchester train

Trains from Milton Keynes to Manchester

There are plenty of trains from Milton Keynes to Manchester to choose from, and they tend to depart regularly throughout the day. All of the trains depart from the same station in Milton Keynes, Milton Keynes Central Station, and arrive at Manchester Piccadilly Station, in Manchester. There are both direct and one-stop trains on this route, but the time it takes is not too different between them. Most trains that stop tend to changeover in Crewe. On average, the train will take about 1h 37min in total, while there are some slower ones. The trains operate every day of the week, but may be affected by holiday schedules.

Milton Keynes to Manchester Train Time: Daily Departures

There are plenty of trains to choose from when travelling from Milton Keynes to Manchester. The first train of the day departs from Milton Keynes Central Station at about 06:20, and it requires one change, in Crewe. The last train of the day departs at around 20:50 and arrives after a couple of hours. It also requires one change, in Crewe. The trains tend to depart roughly every 20min throughout the morning and then hourly from midday onwards. There are trains from Milton Keynes to Manchester every day of the week, but some may be affected by holidays.

How long is the journey by train from Milton Keynes to Manchester?

On average, the journey time from Milton Keynes to Manchester is not too long, but it will still give you time to check out our online magazine. The fastest trains that run on this route take about 1h 37min. There are both direct and non-direct options for this train, and this is the average travel time for the trains on this route. They are mostly operated by Avanti West Coast trains. There are some slower trains available as well, including the journey with West Midlands Trains that takes about 2h 30min to arrive. It also stops in Crewe.

Trains from Milton Keynes to Manchester: woman and chil on a train from Milton Keynes. Source: Shutterstock

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

Departure train station: There is only one departure station for the Milton Keynes to Manchester train, and it is Milton Keynes Central Station. It is a modern train station maintained by National Rail. It has wifi, cash points and ticket machines. There’s a post box and a coffee shop, as well as a convenience shop, where you can buy snacks or magazines. There are public toilets and baby-changing facilities, and if you require assistance due to disability or reduced mobility, then you can contact their assistance team and use their ramps to board trains and get around the station. The station is about a mile from the city centre, and if you don’t fancy walking, you can find plenty of taxis to take you there.

Arrival train station: There is only one arrival station for the train from Milton Keynes to Manchester, and it is Manchester Piccadilly Station. It has a ticket office, public toilets and baby-changing facilities, should you need them. There is free wifi and a lost-property section. You can find water fountains and car hire desks should you need to travel onwards in a car. There are ramps to help you get around the station, if you have a disability or reduced mobility, and should you require more assistance, you can ask at the information desks. There are shops where you can get snacks as well. The station is about a mile from the city centre, with plenty of taxis to take you there quickly if you don’t want to walk.

Which train companies travel from Milton Keynes to Manchester?

There are currently two train companies that operate trains to Manchester from Milton Keynes: Avanti West Coast and West Midlands Trains. West Midlands Trains only operates a couple of trains per day, so the majority of the trains on offer will be operated by Avanti. They tend to take a similar amount of time to complete the journey, but the price can vary. West Midlands Trains require a stop on the journey, while Avanti offers both direct and non-direct trains to Manchester from Milton Keynes.

Night trains Milton Keynes

There are currently no night trains available from Milton Keynes to Manchester. The last train that runs on this route leaves at roughly 21:39 and stops over in Crewe before arriving at Manchester Piccadilly station. It usually arrives just after midnight, at about 0:05, and it is operated by Avanti West Coast.

Avanti West Coast trains from Milton Keynes to Manchester

Avanti offers regular trains throughout the day from Milton Keynes to Manchester, including direct and non-direct trains. In general, they are faster and cheaper than the West Midlands Trains that operate on the same route, and they have more options available throughout the day.

West Midlands Trains trains from Milton Keynes to Manchester

West Midlands Trains only tend to offer one train per day, and it is usually around 20:20. It takes about 2h 20min to arrive and requires a stop in Crewe. The West Midlands Trains service is generally cheaper and slower than that provided by Avanti.

Train Milton Keynes to Manchester: Services on Board

Both Avanti and West Midlands Trains provide plenty of services on board their trains. West Midlands Trains has a limit of three items of luggage on board, while Avanti does not state a limit but asks that all luggage can be stored away safely. Both providers offer wifi and accept up to two pets on board the train. They both strive to offer assistance with ramps for boarding and disembarking the train. Avanti trains have onboard entertainment, and food and drink is available. You can reserve a space for your bike on Avanti, but you cannot reserve it on West Midlands Trains. There is usually only room for two trains on West Midlands Trains. Avanti offers first-class tickets, while West Midlands does not.

Travelling by train: Sustainability travel

Travelling by train is one of the cleanest means of transport, as it produces fewer greenhouse gases than travelling in individual vehicles. Trains also produce less sound pollution in comparison to cars and other vehicles, and they have been proven to produce less space pollution, too, as they’re more efficiently planned. Both Avanti and West Midlands Trains are committed to providing a cleaner way to travel and producing a more eco-friendly means of public transport.

How to find cheap train tickets from Milton Keynes to Manchester

If you are trying to find cheap train tickets from Milton Keynes to Manchester, then we recommend you book your tickets in advance, as they tend to be cheaper this way rather than buying your tickets on the day. Also, if possible, try to be flexible with your travel times and dates, as this will give you more options to consider for cheap tickets. Finally, consider using train routes that take a little longer or require a change, as they tend to be cheaper than the faster, more direct routes.

Trains from Milton Keynes to Manchester: Manchester library on a summer day. Source: Shutterstock

To Manchester by train—travel tips

Manchester is a wonderful city to visit, with plenty to offer, especially if you are interested in sport, science, history or shopping. For sports fans, we recommend visiting either Old Trafford or the Etihad Stadium, where you can get a tour around the home stadiums of two of the biggest football clubs in the world. Or if you would prefer to go to a museum, you can always visit the National Football Museum, or the Manchester Industry Museum. The Manchester Art Gallery attracts plenty of tourists throughout the year and is well worth a visit. If you would like to go shopping, then we recommend you stop by the high street, where you can browse the shops and grab a drink with friends or colleagues. Similarly, you may want to visit the Manchester Arndale shopping centre.

• Manchester Jewish Museum
• The Printworks
• Visit Ancoats for dining
• Castlefield Gallery
• Treetop Adventure Golf