Watford to Manchester train
4.9
4.6Cheap train tickets from Watford to Manchester
Cheapest
Average
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Watford to Manchester is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
Train timetableWatford to Manchester
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Compare prices and tickets Watford to Manchester by train, flight or coach
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Train times from Watford to Manchester
Fastest Journey
2 h 50 m
Average
3 h 32 m
Trains per day
8
Distance
238 km
To travel from Watford to Manchester you need to make at least one change.
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Overview: Train from Watford to Manchester
 Distance | 148 miles |
|---|---|
 Average train duration | 2 h 17 min |
 Average train ticket price | £91 (€103) |
 Train frequency | 4 a day |
 Direct train | Yes, there is 1 direct train a day |
 Train companies | Avanti West Coast or West Midlands Trains |
Trains from Watford to Manchester cover the 148 miles long journey taking on average 2 h 17 min with our travel partners like Avanti West Coast or West Midlands Trains. Normally, there are 4 trains operating per day, including direct services available. While the average ticket price for this trip costs around £91, you can find the cheapest train ticket for as low as £37. Travellers depart most frequently from Watford Junction and arrive in Manchester Piccadilly.
Train companies: Virgin Trains, CrossCountry and West Midlands Trains trains Watford to Manchester
Virgin Trains, CrossCountry and West Midlands Trains trains will get you from Watford to Manchester from £37. With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.
Cross Country trains are a UK-based train operator that provides services across the country including trains to Manchester from Watford. They offer a range of services, from express services to local services, and have a variety of ticket types to suit different needs. Their express services, such as the CrossCountry Voyager and CrossCountry XC Trains, offer a fast and comfortable journey, with onboard facilities such as free Wi-Fi, power sockets, and a selection of snacks and drinks. Their local services, such as the CrossCountry Regional and CrossCountry Regional Express, provide a more leisurely journey, with stops at smaller stations along the way. They also offer a range of ticket types, such as Advance, Anytime, and Off-Peak tickets, to suit different budgets and travel needs. The most popular routes for Cross Country trains include London to Birmingham, Manchester to Edinburgh, and Bristol to Reading.
Trains from Watford to Manchester
Rail journeys between Watford and Manchester are simple and fast. There are very frequent rail departures every day of the week, including weekends. Departures are as frequent as every quarter of an hour at peak times, with half hourly departures throughout the remainder of the day, including at weekends. Journey times vary from about two hours, for direct trains, to just under three hours on indirect services.
Which train companies travel from Watford to Manchester?
Two rail companies operate services between Watford and Manchester. Virgin Trains operates the only direct service between these two cities, on a daily basis. Virgin also offers indirect services requiring one change. CrossCountry also offers services between Watford and Manchester, with one change required.
How long is the train from Watford to Manchester?
On Virgin Trains' daily direct services, the journey between these two cities takes just under two hours. Most of the services offered by Virgin Trains require a change at Milton Keynes, Crewe or at London Euston. These indirect journeys take about two and a half hours. CrossCountry's indirect services require a change at Birmingham International and take about two and three quarter hours to complete.
How many trains are there from Watford to Manchester?
On weekdays, more than 50 trains leave Watford for Manchester. There's a departure about every half hour, with more at peak morning times. The first train leaves very early in the morning and the last late in the evening. There is, however, generally only one direct service each day. At weekends more than 40 trains depart Watford for Manchester, from early morning until late evening.
What are the departure and arrival stations for trains from Watford to Manchester?
Departure train station: Watford Junction Station, adjacent to the town centre, is the departure point for services to Manchester. There are numerous bus services arriving at the station, with toilets, cafes, shops, cash machines and waiting rooms all available.
Arrival train station: Manchester Piccadilly in Manchester city centre is the arrival point for services from Watford. This modern station has cafes, shops, public wi-fi, toilets and waiting rooms available with buses and trams stopping at the station.
FAQs: Watford to Manchester train
Passengers board the train most frequently from Watford Junction, which is located around 1.1 miles (1.7 km) away from the city centre, and they get off the train at Manchester Piccadilly, located 0.5 miles (767 m) away from the city centre.
Important Stations and Airports in Watford and Manchester
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