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Fort William to Manchester by train

First train

11:40 am

Last train

7:50 pm

Departure station

Fort William

Arrival station

Manchester

Journey time

From 10h 21m

Distance

257 miles (413 km)

Frequency

7 trains per day

Changes

1 change

Train operators

TransPennine Express, ScotRail, Caledonian Sleeper

Taking the train from Fort William to Manchester in 10 hours 21 minutes

Thinking about taking the train from Fort William to Manchester? We've got you covered.

It usually takes around 11 hours 32 minutes to travel the 413 km from Fort William to Manchester by train, although you can get there in as little as 10 hours 21 minutes on the fastest services. You'll normally find around 7 trains per day running on this route. You'll need to make 1 change along the way as there aren't any direct services on this line.

Train tickets from Fort William to Manchester are usually cheaper when you book in advance compared to buying them on the day. Start a search in our Journey Planner to check out the latest prices.

Keen to book your train tickets to Manchester? No need to wait, start a search with us today! If you want to find out a bit more about the journey first, you can find our train schedule below, tips on booking cheap tickets and our FAQs, including first and last train times.

FAQs about the train journey from Fort William to Manchester

Want to know more about your journey from Fort William to Manchester? We've compiled some of the most frequently asked questions by our customers to help you plan your journey.

How do you get to Manchester from Fort William?

To travel to Manchester from Fort William, you can take the train - on average, the journey takes around 11 hours and 32 minutes, though the fastest trains can take 10 hours and 21 minutes. Use our Journey Planner to get more information on routes and timetables.

How long is the train ride from Fort William to Manchester?

Trains from Fort William to Manchester take an average of 11 hours and 32 minutes, although on the fastest services it can take just 10 hours and 21 minutes. You'll usually find 7 trains per day on this route, so use our Journey Planner to check specific dates as times may vary.

What is the quickest journey time between Fort William and Manchester by train?

The quickest journey time between Fort William and Manchester by train is 10 hours and 21 minutes.

Are there direct trains from Fort William to Manchester?

No there are no direct trains running from Fort William to Manchester, you’ll usually need to make around 1 change during the journey.

Cheap train tickets from Fort William to Manchester

Book in advance

Look out for Advance tickets – they usually come out up to 12 weeks before the departure date and can be cheaper than buying on the day. If you’re here a tad early, sign up for our Advance ticket alert today to get notified when your tickets are released.

Consider a Season Ticket

If you catch this train more than 3 times per week, you could save money with a Season Ticket. With annual, monthly and weekly options available, find out if a season ticket for Fort William to Manchester is right for you.

Use your Railcard

National Railcards offer a 1/3 off eligible train tickets in the UK and can be a great investment if you travel a few times or more in a year. Find out how you can save with a National Railcard here.

Split your tickets

Download our app to find split tickets — courtesy of SplitSave, our handy feature which 'splits' your train tickets where possible to find you a better deal. Learn more about the clever tech behind split tickets, and how to spot SplitSave discounts in our app.

For more money-saving tips on UK and European train travel, read our cheap train tickets guide.

What are my ticket options for this journey?

If you're like us, you've probably seen the sheer number of ticket types available in the UK and wondered "Why are there so many?!" To help, we've put together a handy guide to the main UK ticket types, simply tap the one you’re interested in to find out more.

* Based on European average monthly visitors to Trainline’s app and website from 1.1.2023 to 10.31.2023 vs other independent retailers.

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