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Cardiff Central to Manchester Train prices and times

Looking to travel from Cardiff Central to Manchester? You can buy train tickets with Trip.com for as low as $26.82, with average prices for this route around $32.68.

To get the best deals, we recommend buying in advance and researching alternatives such as split tickets.

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Fri, Jul 11
From $26.89
Sat, Jul 12
From $29.40
Sun, Jul 13
From $29.40
Mon, Jul 14
From $26.82
Tue, Jul 15
From $28.58
Wed, Jul 16
From $29.40
Thu, Jul 17
From $29.40

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Departure	Arrival	Duration	Find Tickets
04:32 Cardiff Central	08:13 Manchester Piccadilly	3h 41m, Direct	Find Tickets
05:49 Cardiff Central	09:13 Manchester Piccadilly	3h 24m, Direct	Find Tickets
06:24 Cardiff Central	09:59 Manchester Piccadilly	3h 35m, Changes required	Find Tickets
06:40 Cardiff Central	10:29 Manchester Piccadilly	3h 49m, Changes required	Find Tickets
06:46 Cardiff Central	10:13 Manchester Piccadilly	3h 27m, Direct	Find Tickets
07:23 Cardiff Central	10:59 Paris	3h 36m, Changes required	Find Tickets View More Trains

Cardiff Central to Manchester Train Route Details

First train

04:32

Last train

23:44

Departure station

Cardiff Central

Arrival station

Manchester

Journey time

3h 20m

Distance

145 miles

Price

$26.82*

Train operators

Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, Great Western Railway

How to book cheap train tickets from Cardiff Central to Manchester

Traveling in off-peak train times

Taking advantage of Off-Peak train tickets is another effective way to save on your train journey from Cardiff Central to Manchester. These tickets are generally cheaper and can be used during quieter periods, typically outside of morning (6:30 AM–9:30 AM) and evening (4:00 PM–7:00 PM) rush hours on weekdays.

Get 1/3 off with a Railcard

You can choose a Railcard to help you save up to 1/3 on fares from Cardiff Central to Manchester for various reasons, such as your age (including the 16–25 Railcard or Senior Railcard) or options geared towards group travel (Family & Friends Railcard and Two Together Railcard). Discover more here.

Split tickets to save an average extra 30%

Splitting tickets is a perfectly legal practice that involves purchasing separate, cheaper tickets for different segments of your journey on the same train instead of a single ticket for the entire trip. For example, if you are travelling from Cardiff Central to Manchester, you might discover that buying a ticket from A to C, and then another ticket from C to B, is more economical than a direct ticket.

Book in advance to save an average of 61%

Advance Tickets are typically released up to 12 weeks before the travel date and can offer significant savings compared to tickets purchased closer to departure. By planning your trip from Cardiff Central to Manchester ahead of time and booking your tickets early, you can potentially save up to 61% on your travel expenses.

Travel in a group to save 1/3

If you are traveling in a group of three to nine people, take advantage of group travel discounts, offered by most train companies, for a discount of up to 1/3 on standard fares. This can make traveling from Cardiff Central to Manchester more affordable for families, friends, or colleagues planning a trip together.

Cardiff Central to Manchester Train Ticket Types

Here are different ticket types available for this route, each with their own benefits and restrictions. Here are the options to consider:

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Why Book Train Tickets With Trip.com?

Best Price Promise
If you find trains for a cheaper price elsewhere, let us know and we'll refund the difference*
Split Tickets
Save an average of 30% on train fares by splitting your Cardiff Central to Manchester journey
National Rail Partners
Official train ticket sellers with 5-star customer support
No Booking Fees on the App
Only pay for your train travel – no hidden fees

*After comparing the full year of 2023 for SplitTickets and full-price tickets on Trip.com, the average savings rate for SplitTickets is 30%.

Trains from Cardiff Central to Manchester from $26.82

Save an average of 30%* with SplitTickets

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Cardiff Central to Manchester Train prices and times

Cardiff Central to Manchester Train Route Details