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

The cheapest train tickets from Manchester to Cardiff start from £34. The average price for this train route is around £66. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance for the best chance of getting the lowest possible price.

How long is the train journey from Manchester to Cardiff?

The average train journey time from Manchester to Cardiff is 3h 30m, covering a distance of 144 miles. The fastest train gets you there in 3h 5m and is operated by Transport for Wales .

Which train operators serve the Manchester to Cardiff route?

Several major train operators run on this route with 17 trains available per day, including services from Transport for Wales , CrossCountry .

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

The earliest train from Manchester to Cardiff departs at 07:30. And the latest train departs at 23:42.

Which is the best train operator from Manchester to Cardiff?

According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated train operator on this route is CrossCountry , with an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars based on 44 reviews.

Which train operator has the best Wi-Fi from Manchester to Cardiff?

According to reviews on Busbud, the train operator Transport for Wales has the highest Wi-Fi rating with a score of 5.0.

Which train operator has the most punctual service from Manchester to Cardiff?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most punctual train operator on this route is Transport for Wales , with a punctuality rating of 5.0 out of 5 stars.

Which train operator has the cleanest trains from Manchester to Cardiff?

According to Busbud traveller reviews, the train operator with the cleanest trains on this route is Transport for Wales , with a cleanliness rating of 5.0 out of 5 stars.

Train Manchester to Cardiff from £38

Next train departures

Next departures from Manchester to Cardiff on 12 December
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	21:30	Manchester Piccadilly	8h 13m	05:43	Heath High Level	Cheapest
Train	08:30	Manchester Piccadilly	3h 7m	11:37	Cardiff Central	Fastest
Train	07:30	Manchester Piccadilly	3h 50m	11:20	Heath High Level	No tags
Train	08:30	Manchester Piccadilly	3h 27m	11:57	Heath Low Level	No tags
Train	09:30	Manchester Piccadilly	3h 30m	13:00	Heath High Level	No tags

Next departures from Manchester to Cardiff on 13 December
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	07:30	Manchester Piccadilly	3h 17m	10:47	Cardiff Central	Cheapest
Train	08:30	Manchester Piccadilly	3h 5m	11:35	Cardiff Central	Fastest
Train	07:30	Manchester Piccadilly	3h 50m	11:20	Heath High Level	No tags
Train	08:30	Manchester Piccadilly	3h 27m	11:57	Heath Low Level	No tags
Train	09:30	Manchester Piccadilly	3h 30m	13:00	Heath High Level	No tags

Next departures from Manchester to Cardiff on 14 December
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	17:30	Manchester Piccadilly	3h 17m	20:47	Cardiff Central	Cheapest
Train	16:30	Manchester Piccadilly	3h 13m	19:43	Cardiff Central	Fastest
Train	09:30	Manchester Piccadilly	4h 27m	13:57	Heath Low Level	No tags
Train	09:27	Manchester Piccadilly	3h 38m	13:05	Cardiff Central	No tags
Train	10:30	Manchester Piccadilly	4h	14:30	Heath High Level	No tags

Next departures from Manchester to Cardiff on 15 December
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	19:30	Manchester Piccadilly	3h 57m	23:27	Cardiff Central	Cheapest
Train	08:30	Manchester Piccadilly	3h 8m	11:38	Cardiff Central	Fastest
Train	07:30	Manchester Piccadilly	3h 42m	11:12	Heath High Level	No tags
Train	08:30	Manchester Piccadilly	3h 27m	11:57	Heath Low Level	No tags
Train	09:30	Manchester Piccadilly	3h 30m	13:00	Heath High Level	No tags

Next departures from Manchester to Cardiff on 16 December
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	21:30	Manchester Piccadilly	8h 12m	05:42	Heath High Level	Cheapest
Train	08:30	Manchester Piccadilly	3h 8m	11:38	Cardiff Central	Fastest
Train	07:30	Manchester Piccadilly	3h 42m	11:12	Heath High Level	No tags
Train	08:30	Manchester Piccadilly	3h 27m	11:57	Heath Low Level	No tags
Train	09:30	Manchester Piccadilly	3h 30m	13:00	Heath High Level	No tags

Next departures from Manchester to Cardiff on 17 December
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	07:30	Manchester Piccadilly	3h 19m	10:49	Cardiff Central	Cheapest
Train	08:30	Manchester Piccadilly	3h 8m	11:38	Cardiff Central	Fastest
Train	07:30	Manchester Piccadilly	3h 42m	11:12	Heath High Level	No tags
Train	08:30	Manchester Piccadilly	3h 27m	11:57	Heath Low Level	No tags
Train	09:30	Manchester Piccadilly	3h 30m	13:00	Heath High Level	No tags

Next departures from Manchester to Cardiff on 18 December
Vehicle type	Departure time	Departure location	Trip duration	Arrival time	Arrival location	Recommended
Train	21:30	Manchester Piccadilly	8h 12m	05:42	Heath High Level	Cheapest
Train	08:30	Manchester Piccadilly	3h 8m	11:38	Cardiff Central	Fastest
Train	07:30	Manchester Piccadilly	3h 42m	11:12	Heath High Level	No tags
Train	08:30	Manchester Piccadilly	3h 27m	11:57	Heath Low Level	No tags
Train	09:30	Manchester Piccadilly	3h 30m	13:00	Heath High Level	No tags

Last refresh of the prices: Today at 17:35 GMT.

Compare 3 ways to travel from Manchester to Cardiff

We recommend carpooling

Among the sustainable travel choices, the carpool stands out as a good way to reach Cardiff. The journey takes about 2 hours 50 minutes and with fares starting at just £18, it presents an excellent value for a comfortable ride.

1carpool per day

2h 50mAverage duration

144 milesDistance

10kgCO₂ emissions

	Average price	Average duration	CO₂ emissions
Bus	Average price£13 - £105	Average duration7h 15m	CO₂ emissions 6kg CO₂e
Train	Average price£34 - £165	Average duration3h 30m	CO₂ emissions 6kg CO₂e
Carpool	Average price£18 - £26	Average duration2h 50m	CO₂ emissions 10kg CO₂e

Where are the popular train stations and stops in Manchester and Cardiff?

Manchester

A
Shudehill
Shudehill Interchange, Stand G, Manchester M60
Visit page

Cardiff

A
Cardiff Central
Cardiff Central, UK
Visit page

Train Companies

Transport for Wales

3.5/58 reviews

Staff5

Timeliness5

Cleanliness5

WiFi5

CrossCountry

4.5/544 reviews

Staff4.5

Timeliness4.1

Cleanliness4.1

WiFi4.1

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

Frequently asked questions about travelling from Manchester to Cardiff 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 Manchester to Cardiff?
The cheapest train tickets from Manchester to Cardiff start from £34. The average price for this train route is around £66. Busbud recommends booking your tickets in advance for the best chance of getting the lowest possible price.
How long is the train journey from Manchester to Cardiff?
The average train journey time from Manchester to Cardiff is 3h 30m, covering a distance of 144 miles. The fastest train gets you there in 3h 5m and is operated by Transport for Wales.
Which train operators serve the Manchester to Cardiff route?
Several major train operators run on this route with 17 trains available per day, including services from Transport for Wales, CrossCountry.
What are the earliest and latest departure times for the train from Manchester to Cardiff?
The earliest train from Manchester to Cardiff departs at 07:30. And the latest train departs at 23:42.
Which is the best train operator from Manchester to Cardiff?
According to Busbud customers, the highest-rated train operator on this route is CrossCountry, with an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars based on 44 reviews.
Which train operator has the best Wi-Fi from Manchester to Cardiff?
According to reviews on Busbud, the train operator Transport for Wales has the highest Wi-Fi rating with a score of 5.0.
Which train operator has the most punctual service from Manchester to Cardiff?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the most punctual train operator on this route is Transport for Wales, with a punctuality rating of 5.0 out of 5 stars.
Which train operator has the cleanest trains from Manchester to Cardiff?
According to Busbud traveller reviews, the train operator with the cleanest trains on this route is Transport for Wales, with a cleanliness rating of 5.0 out of 5 stars.

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

£64

Today

£64

12/12

£64

13/12

£58

14/12

£58

15/12

£57

16/12

£51

The cheapest trip from Manchester to Cardiff was searched and found on 9 Dec 2025 with a price of £46

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

You can expect to pay from £46 to £159 for a train ticket from Manchester to Cardiff based on the last 2 days. You can expect to find the cheapest price for the trip at £51, which is on 2025-12-16.