Skip to contentTrainline homepage
RailcardsBusiness

No tickets in your basket.

Why not plan a trip?

My Bookings
Loading...
Loading...

Trains from Cardiff Bay to Manchester Piccadilly

Booking.com

ExternalLinkExternalLink

Open Booking.com in a new tab with places to stay on your trip

Avanti West Coast
CrossCountry

Compare prices from over 270 rail and coach companies in Europe

Icon of trainline-phone-tickets.svg

Buy your tickets with us and easily find them on your phone

Icon of trainline-safe-payments.svg

Safely pay with PayPal, Visa and all international payment cards

  1. Home
  2. Train times
  3. Cardiff Bay to Manchester Piccadilly

Trains to Manchester Piccadilly from Cardiff Bay

First train

05:36

Last train

00:11

Departure stationCardiff Bay
Arrival stationManchester Piccadilly
Journey time

From 3h 36m

Distance

144 miles (232 km)

Frequency

31 trains per day

Changes

1 change

Train operators

Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, Great Western Railway, Transport for Wales

What are the train times from Cardiff Bay to Manchester Piccadilly?

Get from Cardiff Bay to Manchester Piccadilly in as little as 3 hours 36 minutes on the fastest trains, so you can make the most of your time.

The average train journey from Cardiff Bay to Manchester Piccadilly takes around 5 hours 40 minutes. There are around 31 trains that operate on this route daily.

As there are no direct trains between Cardiff Bay and Manchester Piccadilly, you'll need to make 1 change.

Avanti West Coast, Great Western Railway, Transport for Wales and CrossCountry trains run on this route.

Booking in advance often results in cheaper ticket prices.

With our Journey Planner, you can check live train times, compare prices and check routes.

What do people frequently ask about the train journey from Cardiff Bay to Manchester Piccadilly?

Want to know more about your journey from Cardiff Bay to Manchester Piccadilly? 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 Piccadilly from Cardiff Bay?

To travel to Manchester Piccadilly from Cardiff Bay, you can take the train - on average, the journey takes around 5 hours and 40 minutes, though the fastest trains can take 3 hours and 36 minutes. Use our Journey Planner to get more information.

How long is the train ride from Cardiff Bay to Manchester Piccadilly?

Trains from Cardiff Bay to Manchester Piccadilly take an average of 5 hours and 40 minutes, although on the fastest services it can take just 3 hours and 36 minutes. You'll usually find 31 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 Cardiff Bay and Manchester Piccadilly by train?

The quickest journey time between Cardiff Bay and Manchester Piccadilly by train is 3 hours and 36 minutes.

Are there direct trains from Cardiff Bay to Manchester Piccadilly?

No, there are no direct trains running from Cardiff Bay to Manchester Piccadilly, you’ll usually need to make at least 1 change during the journey.

How do I find cheap train tickets from Cardiff Bay to Manchester Piccadilly?

As most UK train companies increase their prices as the departure date approaches, our Trainline team of experts have put together these tips to help you find the cheapest tickets.

1. Sign up to Ticket Alert

If you're planning a trip more than 12 weeks ahead, sign up to our Ticket Alert to get notified when Advance tickets are released for your travel date.

2. Use a Railcard

National Railcards offer a 1/3 off eligible train tickets in the UK and can be a great investment if you travel throughout the year. Buy one with us and you'll be able to store it digitally in our app, so you'll always have it on your travels.

3. Book split tickets

Our handy feature SplitSave will 'split' your train journey into multiple tickets, which can be much cheaper than buying a single ticket. Find out more about split tickets.

4. Travel Off-Peak

If you can be flexible with your travel times, Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak tickets are usually cheaper in the UK. Generally, Off-Peak times are any time at weekends and outside of Monday to Friday morning and evening rush hours.

5. Consider a Season Ticket

Best for commuters, if you catch a train on the same route more than 3 times per week, you could save money with a Season Ticket. With annual, monthly, weekly and flexi options available, find out if a Season Ticket for Cardiff Bay to Manchester Piccadilly is right for you.

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

§Advance adult single fare. Excludes booking fee. Prices seen by Trainline customers in the last 30 days. Availability limited.
† Average savings on advance fares booked at least one week before day of travel vs Anytime fares purchased on day of travel. Subject to availability. Excludes coach.

Looking for more ideas?

Europe’s leading train and coach app

We help customers across Europe make more than 172,000 smarter journeys every day.

Get a link