Trains from Cardiff to Manchester

Cardiff to Manchester train information

Cardiff Manchester train map

Train duration 3h20m
Arrival Manchester, England
Departure Cardiff, Wales
Distance 144 Miles
Train operators Cross Country
Lowest train price from £33.80
Average train price £56.00
  • The route connecting Cardiff, which is in Wales and Manchester, located in England is well connected by trains. The trains are run by these several operators: Cross Country.
  • On average, it takes approximately 3h20m by train covering a distance of 144 miles to get to Manchester from Cardiff. The duration may change depending if the train is direct or if you need to make a change.
  • Looking at our data, the best price to travel by train in the next 180 days is £33.80. This fare is based on an adult fare and is not including the savings you can make with a discount card.

Best prices for Cardiff to Manchester train tickets

from £33.80 MORE 3h27m
Other modes of transport available
Coach
from £15.99 MORE 5h49m
from £14.20 MORE 7h26m
from £11.48 MORE 11h54m

Cardiff - Manchester prices calendar

Find the cheapest tickets to travel from Cardiff to Manchester by train, bus, ride sharing and plane.

  september november   october
monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday sunday
07
08
09

Megabus£27

Distribusion--

FlixBus£21

omio--

10

Megabus£27

Distribusion--

FlixBus£20

omio--

11
12
13

Megabus--

Distribusion--

FlixBus£16

omio--

14
15

Megabus--

Distribusion--

FlixBus£13

omio--

16

Megabus£16

Distribusion£15

FlixBus£13

omio£38

17

Megabus--

Distribusion--

FlixBus£13

omio--

18
19
20

Megabus£16

Distribusion--

FlixBus£14

omio--

21

Megabus£16

Distribusion--

FlixBus£12

omio--

22

Megabus£16

Distribusion--

FlixBus£13

omio--

23

Megabus£16

Distribusion--

FlixBus£13

omio--

24

Megabus£16

Distribusion--

FlixBus£13

omio£38

25

Megabus£16

Distribusion--

FlixBus£14

omio--

26

Megabus£16

Distribusion--

FlixBus£15

omio--

27

Megabus£16

Distribusion--

FlixBus£16

omio--

28

Megabus£16

Distribusion--

FlixBus£13

omio--

29

Megabus£16

Distribusion--

FlixBus--

omio--

30
31

Megabus£16

Distribusion--

FlixBus£14

omio--

01

Megabus£16

Distribusion--

FlixBus£17

omio--

02

Megabus£16

Distribusion--

FlixBus--

omio--

03

Megabus--

Distribusion--

FlixBus£16

omio--

Ticket prices and availability have been recorded in the last 72 hours from the data provided by our partners.

Cardiff - Manchester: the best time to book cheap trains

Cost of the train when booking in advance or at the last minute

90

£21

60

30

£28

15

£26

7

£28

3

£30

1

£44

Same day

Days before Departure

The table above is based on the best prices found over the last six months depending on how much time in advance the train is bought. Purchasing your train from Cardiff to Manchester in advance should enable you to spend less for your trip.

We found tickets available from £21 when booking your ticket 2 months in advance which is 52% cheaper than the best ticket we found when buying your ticket on the day you're travelling.

Best prices for Cardiff to Manchester trains

We compare train ticket for all major companies to travel between Cardiff and Manchester by train and find the best prices for the coming days. Take a look at the prices of train tickets Manchester to Cardiff and find the best deal for your outbound journey.

From To Price Departure on At Company Searched
Cardiff
Central
Manchester
Piccadilly
£33.80 13/10/2024 17:54 24 days ago
Cardiff
Central
Manchester
Piccadilly
£37.13 24/10/2024 05:54 19 days ago
Cardiff
Central
Manchester
Piccadilly
£37.46 16/10/2024 10:18 3 days ago
Cardiff
Central
Manchester
Piccadilly
£37.46 16/10/2024 09:18 3 days ago
Cardiff
Central
Manchester
Piccadilly
£43.19 16/10/2024 08:45 Cross Country 3 days ago
Cardiff
Central
Manchester
Piccadilly
£44.72 16/10/2024 10:52 3 days ago
Cardiff
Central
Manchester
Piccadilly
£44.89 24/10/2024 05:38 19 days ago
Cardiff
Central
Manchester
Piccadilly
£46.81 16/10/2024 08:17 3 days ago
Cardiff
Central
Manchester
Piccadilly
£50.92 16/10/2024 09:53 3 days ago
Cardiff
Central
Manchester
Piccadilly
£50.92 16/10/2024 08:49 3 days ago

Best prices for the next 180 days.

Cardiff Manchester train

Discount Cardiff - Manchester train tickets

The easiest way to spend less on your Cardiff Manchester train ticket is probably to buy a railcard. While regional railcards are available in some areas, National railcards enable you to spend less on most rail fares across the UK. Everyone is eligible to at least a certain railcard, even non-UK citizens. National railcards available: 16-25 railcard, Senior discount card, Two together railcard, Family and Friends discount card and Disabled persons railcard.

Why should I buy a railcard?

The main benefit of purchasing a railcard is that it only takes a couple of trips to break even.

You will need to buy at least £88 of train tickets in a year for the card to be worthwile. This number corresponds to the cost of the railcard, £30, divided by the discount, 34%. On every ticket that you purchase afterwards, you will spare money.

As an example, train tickets from Cardiff to Manchester cost on average £55.85 (1). When dividing £88 by £55.85 (£88/£55.85 = 1.58), you can see that after only 2 one way journeys from Manchester to Cardiff, the railcard will have paid for itself.

How much do I need to pay for a railcard?

All railcards cost £30 except the Disabled persons railcard that costs £20. Railcards enable you to get 34% off most rail fares, thus you will save 1/3 on most train fares.

(1)Average prices observed over the last 6 months for one way journey

Train Journey Average price without railcard(1) With a railcard 34% off(2) Saving based on a one-way trip Number of return trips to pay off the cost
Cardiff to Manchester train £55.85 £37.23 £18.62 1.58

(1)Average price observed over the last 6 months for one way

(2)Price calculated with an average reduction of 34% on train tickets fare

Other transport solution