RailcardsBusiness

No tickets in your basket.

Why not plan a trip?

My Bookings
Loading...
Loading...
East Midlands Railway
Southeastern

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

Trains to Manchester from Dartford

First train

12:46

Last train

22:16

Departure stationDartford
Arrival stationManchester
Journey time

From 4h 23m

Distance

175 miles (281 km)

Frequency

2 trains per day

Changes

2 changes

Train operators

East Midlands Railway, Southeastern, Thameslink, TransPennine Express

How to travel from Dartford to Manchester by train

Want to find out more about taking the train from Dartford to Manchester? Look no further.

You'll usually find 2 trains per day running between Dartford and Manchester, which usually take 7 hours 12 minutes to complete the 175 miles (281 km) journey. It can take as little as 4 hours 23 minutes on the fastest services though, if you want to get there as quickly as possible. Although there aren't any direct services on this line, it's still easy to travel to Manchester by train, you'll just need to make 2 changes along the way. East Midlands Railway, Southeastern or Thameslink are the main rail operators on this route, all of which offer modern trains with plenty of space for luggage and comfortable seating.

Use our Journey Planner at the top of the page to search for cheap ticket prices – we'll show you how much you can save on train tickets from Dartford to Manchester if you book in advance. Travelling Off-Peak or using a Railcard can also help you save.

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 timetable with live train times above, and tips on booking cheap tickets and our FAQs further down the page.

What do people frequently ask about the train journey from Dartford to Manchester?

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

How do I travel from Dartford to Manchester?

You can get from Dartford to Manchester by train in 7 hours and 12 minutes on average, with the fastest journeys taking just 4 hours and 23 minutes. Check out our Journey Planner for more details.

How long does the train from Dartford to Manchester take?

The average journey time by train between Dartford and Manchester is 7 hours and 12 minutes, with around 2 trains per day running on this route. The journey time may be longer on weekends and holidays, so use our Journey Planner on this page to search for a specific travel date.

What's the fastest journey time between Dartford and Manchester by train?

The fastest journey time by train from Dartford to Manchester is 4 hours and 23 minutes.

Can you take a train directly from Dartford to Manchester?

No, there are no direct train services from Dartford to Manchester. Travelling from Dartford to Manchester by train will require a minimum of 2 changes.

How do I find cheap train tickets from Dartford to Manchester?

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. Book in advance

Train tickets from Dartford to Manchester start at § one way for a Standard Class ticket if you book in advance. UK train companies usually release Advance tickets up to 12 weeks ahead of time, and these can be cheaper than tickets bought on the day of travel.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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 Dartford to Manchester 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.

Europe’s leading train and coach app

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