- Must visit
Tullie
City museum with Roman finds, natural history, fine art and local archaeology. An excellent introduction to Carlisle and Cumbria in one compact visit.
Cheapest price on 23 Sept
£14
Average ticket price on 23 Sept
£15
Fastest journey on 23 Sept
1 h 21 m
Average journey duration on 23 Sept
1 h 21 m
Trains on 23 Sept
2
Distance
151 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Wigan to Carlisle is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Wigan to Carlisle will cost around £15 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £14.
On Wed 23 Sept, we found 2 trains from Wigan to Carlisle, including 2 direct services.
These direct trains cover the 151 km distance in an average of 1 h 21 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 1 h 21 m .
The slowest trains will take 1 h 21 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.




Omio recommends booking the coach as it is the most popular option from Wigan to Carlisle among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the coach, with an average ticket price of £24 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 1h 54m. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a coach costs an average of £24, while a train costs an average of £31.
Distance: 151 km
| Train | Most popular Coach | Driving |
|---|---|---|
£31 Average Price | £24 Average Price Cheapest | £29 Average Price (fuel + tolls) |
1h 54m Average total duration Fastest 1h 24m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 5h 50m Average total duration 5h 20m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 2h 3m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular bus company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Wigan to Carlisle:
A coach is £6 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Wigan to Carlisle costing on average £31.
Other travel options to Carlisle take longer:
Coach takes on average 5h 20m.
You'll arrive about 39m sooner (1h 24m by train vs 2h 3m by car). Tickets start at around £31 compared to roughly £29 in fuel and tolls — so you're paying a bit more, but getting hours of your day back, a city-centre arrival, and the freedom to work or relax instead of drive.
Direct services run with Transpennine Express, Avanti West Coast.
Driving makes more sense if you're travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), want to stop along the way, or need a car once you arrive.
The table below shows live departures for Wigan to Carlisle trains for tomorrow, Wednesday 23 September. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 8:26 Wigan | 1h21 | 9:47 Carlisle | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 9:26 Wigan | 1h21 | 10:47 Carlisle | 0 changesdirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Trains from Wigan to Carlisle run on average 6 times per day, taking around 1h 24m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £14 if you book in advance.
There are 5 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 05:29, the last at 21:51. The fastest train covers the 151 km distance in 1h 21m.
Distance 151 km |
Average train duration 1h 24m |
Cheapest ticket price £14 |
Trains per day 6 |
Direct trains 5 |
Fastest train 1h 21m |
First train 5:29 |
Last train 21:51 |
Cheapest Month May |
Cheapest Day Thu |
High Season Jan - Mar |
Low Season Apr - Jun |
Busiest Day Tue |
Least Busy Day Sun |
Best time to book 1 day |
Discover the best of Carlisle — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Carlisle trip today.
City museum with Roman finds, natural history, fine art and local archaeology. An excellent introduction to Carlisle and Cumbria in one compact visit.
Military museum inside Carlisle Castle covering the regiment's history, campaigns and personal stories. Good for understanding the area's long army connections.
Volunteer-run rail museum with restored locomotives, signals and railway memorabilia at a working station. A local favourite for transport history enthusiasts.
Central pedestrianised shopping street with historic buildings, markets and regular city activity. Useful for orientating yourself and seeing everyday Carlisle life.
Riverside park beside the castle, popular for walks, events and open views across the Eden. A relaxing green space close to Carlisle's main heritage sights.
Broad riverside meadow with paths, sports space and pleasant views near the city centre. A quieter local favourite for walking and stretching your legs.
A traditional Cumberland sausage made with chopped pork and pepper, often coiled. It is a defining local speciality of Cumbria and the Carlisle area.
A rich fruit cake from Cumbria made with currants, spices and often lard or butter. It is closely linked with local baking traditions.
A crumbly oat biscuit from Cumbria, usually baked on a griddle. It is a classic local teatime item in Carlisle and across the county.
Stylish restaurant in the city centre serving modern British dishes, steaks and cocktails in a smart but relaxed setting.
Popular independent café and restaurant for brunch, coffee and seasonal plates in a relaxed central Carlisle setting.
Historic city centre pub known for traditional British meals, cask ales and a classic Carlisle atmosphere.
Moderate by UK standards. Hotels and dining are usually cheaper than in major cities, while local buses and everyday costs remain fairly manageable for visitors.
Tipping is optional. In restaurants, 10-12.5% is common for good service if not already added. Taxi fares are often rounded up. Cafés do not usually expect tips.
Official public transport app
Carlisle Railway Station -> Carlisle Bus Station, Carlisle
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Wigan to Carlisle by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Carlisle, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Wigan to Carlisle trains use the Wigan North Western to Carlisle station pair. Use this guide to compare Wigan and Carlisle train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Wigan North Western is 1 km from Wigan city centre. Public transport options include:
Wigan North Western has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Shopping, Parking, Dining, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking and Information Desk.
Food and drink options are available at Wigan North Western.
Wi-Fi is available at Wigan North Western.
Ticket office support is available at Wigan North Western. Information desks are information available from staff: Yes - from help point,Yes - from information point,Yes - from ticket office, Passenger Information Systems: Departure screens, Announcements.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Wigan North Western: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Wigan North Western: Bike Parking.
Accessibility facilities are available at Wigan North Western: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Step free access note: This station has step-free access to all platforms / the platform, Accessible car park equipment: Wheelchair users may require assistance using car park equipment at this station, Accessible ticket machines: There are no accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: Yes, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: Yes.
Carlisle has practical services for this route, including Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking and Information Desk.
Food and drink options are available at Carlisle.
ATMs are available at Carlisle.
Ticket office support is available at Carlisle. Information desks are information available from staff: Yes - from help point,Yes - from information point,Yes - from ticket office, Passenger Information Systems: Departure screens, Announcements, Arrival screens.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Carlisle: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Carlisle: Bike Parking.
Accessibility facilities are available at Carlisle: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Step free access note: This station has step-free access to all platforms / the platform Lifts available to platforms via subway. Alternatively there is a ramped footbridge. Staff are available to assist on request, Accessible car park equipment: Wheelchair users can use car park equipment at this station unaided, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: Yes, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: Yes.
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