How much does a train ticket cost from Cardiff to Birmingham?

The cheapest train tickets from Cardiff to Birmingham start from £16. The average price for this train route is around £28. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance for the best chance of getting the lowest possible price.

How long is the train journey from Cardiff to Birmingham?

The average train journey time from Cardiff to Birmingham is 2h, covering a distance of 88 miles. The fastest train gets you there in 1h 56m and is operated by CrossCountry .

Which train operators serve the Cardiff to Birmingham route?

Several major train operators run on this route with 4 trains available per day.

What are the earliest and latest departure times for the train from Cardiff to Birmingham?

The earliest train from Cardiff to Birmingham departs at 07:45. And the latest train departs at 21:45.

Train Cardiff to Birmingham from £15

Next train departures

Next departures from Cardiff to Birmingham on 12 December
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	15:45	Cardiff Central	2h	17:45	Birmingham New Street	Cheapest
Train	07:45	Cardiff Central	2h	09:45	Birmingham New Street	Fastest
Train	08:45	Cardiff Central	2h	10:45	Birmingham New Street	No tags
Train	16:45	Cardiff Central	2h	18:45	Birmingham New Street	No tags

Next departures from Cardiff to Birmingham on 14 December
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	17:45	Cardiff Central	2h	19:45	Birmingham New Street	Cheapest
Train	11:45	Cardiff Central	2h	13:45	Birmingham New Street	Fastest
Train	15:45	Cardiff Central	2h	17:45	Birmingham New Street	No tags

Next departures from Cardiff to Birmingham on 15 December
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	07:45	Cardiff Central	2h	09:45	Birmingham New Street	CheapestFastest
Train	08:45	Cardiff Central	2h	10:45	Birmingham New Street	No tags
Train	15:45	Cardiff Central	2h	17:45	Birmingham New Street	No tags
Train	16:45	Cardiff Central	2h	18:45	Birmingham New Street	No tags

Next departures from Cardiff to Birmingham on 16 December
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	07:45	Cardiff Central	2h	09:45	Birmingham New Street	CheapestFastest
Train	08:45	Cardiff Central	2h	10:45	Birmingham New Street	No tags
Train	15:45	Cardiff Central	2h	17:45	Birmingham New Street	No tags
Train	16:45	Cardiff Central	2h	18:45	Birmingham New Street	No tags

Next departures from Cardiff to Birmingham on 17 December
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	15:45	Cardiff Central	2h	17:45	Birmingham New Street	Cheapest
Train	07:45	Cardiff Central	2h	09:45	Birmingham New Street	Fastest
Train	08:45	Cardiff Central	2h	10:45	Birmingham New Street	No tags
Train	16:45	Cardiff Central	2h	18:45	Birmingham New Street	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Today at 13:05 GMT.

Compare 3 ways to travel from Cardiff to Birmingham

We recommend carpooling

Among the sustainable travel choices, the carpool stands out as a good way to reach Birmingham. The journey takes about 1 hour 50 minutes and with fares starting at just £9, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

1carpool per day

1h 50mAverage duration

89 milesDistance

6kgCO₂ emissions

	Average price	Average duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average price£9 - £60	Average duration4h 5m	CO₂ emissions 3kg CO₂e
Train	Average price£16 - £100	Average duration2h	CO₂ emissions 3kg CO₂e
Carpool	Average price£9 - £16	Average duration1h 50m	CO₂ emissions 6kg CO₂e

Train Companies

CrossCountry

4.5/544 reviews

Staff4.5

Timeliness4.1

Cleanliness4.1

WiFi4.1

Based on 44 reviews, the company was rated 4.3 stars on Busbud. Travellers were especially satisfied with the ticket access and the departure location but often complained with the value for money. CrossCountry ticket prices on this trip start at £16

CrossCountry Cardiff Birmingham recent customer reviews

No adapter for Phone battery in the coach

Ona G.

6 March 2024

GB train companies: Amtrak, Trenitalia, Renfe, VIA Rail Canada, RegioJet, FlixTrain, Amtrak Acela

Frequently asked questions about travelling from Cardiff to Birmingham by train

Please note that timetables, routes, or operator details shown here may be updated or vary at the time of your journey.

How much does a train ticket cost from Cardiff to Birmingham?
The cheapest train tickets from Cardiff to Birmingham start from £16. The average price for this train route is around £28. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance for the best chance of getting the lowest possible price.
How long is the train journey from Cardiff to Birmingham?
The average train journey time from Cardiff to Birmingham is 2h, covering a distance of 88 miles. The fastest train gets you there in 1h 56m and is operated by CrossCountry.
Which train operators serve the Cardiff to Birmingham route?
Several major train operators run on this route with 4 trains available per day.
What are the earliest and latest departure times for the train from Cardiff to Birmingham?
The earliest train from Cardiff to Birmingham departs at 07:45. And the latest train departs at 21:45.

Find cheapest prices for trains

Price is for a one-way ticket for one passenger and based on past searches.

Best price found

09/12

£46

10/12

£31

Today

£31

12/12

£31

13/12

£15

14/12

£36

15/12

£31

16/12

£31

The cheapest trip from Cardiff to Birmingham was searched and found on 13 Dec 2025 with a price of £15

To save money and be sure you have the best seat, it's a good idea to buy your train tickets from Cardiff to Birmingham as early as possible.

You can expect to pay from £15 to £62 for a train ticket from Cardiff to Birmingham based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at £15, which is on 2025-12-13.