Birmingham to Manchester by train

Prices explained

Prices explained

At Rail Europe we believe in price transparency. We use real data from Rail Europe searches to estimate the cheapest fares you should be able to find for your journey.

The cheapest price is the lowest fare we've ever found for this journey. These prices can usually be found by searching when booking opens but they vary due to availability, which depends on factors like the day of the week or time of year.

More popular journeys include 30 day advance and 7 day advance prices. These are updated every two weeks using prices we've found by searching exactly 7 or 30 days from the most recent Thursday (we picked Thursday because this is when average prices are usually found).

30 day and 7 day prices fluctuate based on demand and availability at the time of search. For example, the 7-day price in summer is likely to be more expensive than the same journey in winter.

Prices are sourced in GBP and converted to other currencies using the daily market exchange rate.

We're always seeking to improve how price-checking works, and we welcome feedback on how we can make it better.

More advice about how to find the cheapest tickets can be found in our infographic.

  1. Cheapest Price $27.61
  2. 30 day advance $27.61
Trustpilot logo 89% based on 52,371 reviews
  • First train
    05:57
  • Last train
    22:31
  • Avg changes
    0
  • Fastest journey
    1hr 27m
  • Distance
    113 kilometres
  • Trains per day
    34
  • Avg. journey time
    1hr 34m
  • Train operators

Travelling from Birmingham to Manchester by train

Fast trains from Birmingham to Manchester take around 1 hour and 27 minutes, covering a distance of approximately 113 kilometres. There are frequent services on the rail route between Birmingham and Manchester.

1. Are there direct trains from Birmingham to Manchester?

Direct trains from Birmingham to Manchester have been found.

We usually find around 35 direct trains on the route from Birmingham to Manchester every weekday.

There are typically fewer departures at weekends, when we found around 33 departures.

2. How long is the train journey from Birmingham to Manchester?

The Birmingham to Manchester train travel time is normally about 1 hour and 27 minutes, whatever time you make the journey.

3. What are the Birmingham to Manchester train times and schedule?

On weekdays the earliest direct train to Manchester is usually scheduled to depart Birmingham around 05:57 and the last train is around 22:30. At weekends the first train of the day leaves Birmingham around 05:57, and the last at 22:31.

What's the Birmingham to Manchester train price?

The cheapest tickets we've found for trains from Birmingham to Manchester are $27.61, and there isn't much difference in price depending on when you book.

Trains departing 30 days in advance will cost around $27, and when booking 7 days in advance the price is usually the same. Booking on the day of travel may be more expensive.

When to book Birmingham to Manchester train tickets?

Trains in the UK usually open for booking around 3 months in advance. If booking is not yet open for your dates then you can set a booking alert to receive an email on the day that the cheapest tickets are released for your journey from Birmingham to Manchester by train.

Help with booking alerts

Which train companies operate between Birmingham and Manchester?

More than one train company operates on the route from Birmingham to Manchester, so you’ll be travelling with one or more of the following rail operators:

  • Arriva Trains Wales
  • Avanti West Coast
  • CrossCountry
  • Transport For Wales
  • Virgin Trains

You can check which train you’ll be travelling on by looking for the train name in search results.

Manchester to Birmingham by train

Other journeys to Manchester View all journeys to Manchester

Buy train and bus tickets for UK and Europe - the easy way

  • Easy, fast and cheap
  • Pay in EUR, GBP, USD or CAD
  • Cheaper UK tickets with Pricehack

Blog posts featuring Birmingham or Manchester

Booking fees on hold

Booking fees put on hold at Rail Europe until end of year

Christmas traditions in the UK

Head to the UK this festive season for a Christmas full of tradition and quirky charm.

Things to do in October & February half term holidays in the UK

Half-term comes around so quickly after the holidays, whether it is spring our autumn. You don’t have to travel far for fun however. Here are some of our favourite UK half-term breaks by train.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Subscribe to receive top tips, train news and travel inspiration straight to your inbox

By continuing to browse this website, you agree to the use of cookies from Rail Europe and third parties to provide you with products and services suited to your interests. To learn more and customise cookie settings, see our cookie policy.

Child and youth passengers

The definition of "Child" and "Youth" varies by country and operator. This is why we ask for the age of young passengers.

Sometimes children below a certain age can travel without a seat for free. If you want to guarantee a seat for child passengers, enter '6' as the age of the child.

Read more about child and youth passenger ages. See also youth discounts and railcards.