Manchester to Birmingham train

Trains from Manchester to Birmingham

There are over 40 trains from Manchester to Birmingham running every weekday and at the weekend, with trains leaving at least every 30 minutes throughout the day. The journey is also quick, with services usually taking around one hour 30 minutes. 

Manchester to Birmingham train times: daily departures

There are dozens of regular trains between Manchester and Birmingham each day, with several providers. The first train of the day leaves from Manchester after 5:00 a.m. and the last train of the day departs at around 11:30 p.m.

How long is the journey by train from Manchester to Birmingham?

Direct services on this route usually have a journey time of around one hour and 30 minutes. If there are one or two changes, the journey time can jump up to almost two hours. 

What are the departure and arrival stations for trains from Manchester to Birmingham?

Departure train station: trains to Birmingham depart from Manchester's Piccadilly Station, in the south-east of the city. It is easy to get to, with a taxi rank, tram stop, and bus station, as well as cycle storage inside the station. It is 0.7 miles from Oxford Road Station and a 20-minute walk from Manchester University.

Arrival train station: trains from Manchester arrive at Birmingham's New Street Station. The busiest and largest station in Birmingham, it is only a couple of minutes' walk from a large bus terminal. It is also 0.3 miles from Snow Hill Station and next to many of the city's popular shops and restaurants.

Which train companies travel from Manchester to Birmingham?

Trains between Manchester and Birmingham are provided by CrossCountry, West Midlands Railway, Virgin, and Arriva Trains Wales.

CrossCountry Manchester to Birmingham

Direct CrossCountry trains leave Manchester for Birmingham approximately every 30 minutes throughout the day, with a journey time of around one hour 30 minutes.

West Midlands Manchester to Birmingham 

West Midlands runs dozens of services a day, usually with a slightly longer journey time of around one hour 50 minutes, with one change in Stoke-On-Trent or Crewe. 

Virgin Manchester to Birmingham

Virgin runs around four services a day, mostly in the morning. Journeys last approximately one hour 40 minutes, and services may have one, two, or no changes.

Arriva Trains Wales Manchester to Birmingham

Arriva Trains Wales generally provides two trains between Manchester and Birmingham each day, leaving late at night. With a travel time of 6-7 hours, they usually change in Stockport or Crewe.

Manchester to Birmingham trains: services on board

CrossCountry, Virgin, West Midlands, and Arriva Trains Wales all offer first-class travel, and policies for pet owners are similar across all providers - you can generally take two pets per person, as long as they are on a lead or in a basket. All of the providers offer wheelchair-accessible trains and you can book assistance on and off the train with services like Journey Care. Bike and luggage policies vary depending on the provider and the route, but generally, as long as you book in advance you should be allowed to bring one bike per person. Luggage restrictions apply, with most companies recommending that you bring only one suitcase and that any buggies or prams need to be foldable due to the limited space onboard.

How to find cheap train tickets from Manchester to Birmingham?

If you're looking to save money on your train tickets, you may find that longer journeys with one or more changes are a lot cheaper. If you book in advance and you're flexible on your travel times, you're also likely to get a much better deal.