Find trains to Manchester

Reaching Manchester Central Business District (CBD) in the city centre is straightforward from any of the three main train stations in the city. Manchester Piccadilly Railway Station, the principal terminal for trains to Manchester, is a short drive by taxi, car hire or rideshare services such as Uber. Optionally, you can take Tram 1, which, including walk time, doesn't take long to get you to the CBD. It is close enough for a comfortable bike ride or a leisurely walk, especially if you're travelling with minimal luggage. Manchester trains arriving at Manchester Oxford Road Railway Station (the second busiest) leaves you even closer to the Central Business District than Manchester Piccadilly so that you can anticipate a reduced time on the road between the two locations. Bus lines 102 from Piccadilly Gardens and 197 from Great Bridgewater Street take a few minutes to the city centre. Most routes by car will serve you well if you prefer this to a bike ride, and there's a route via Rochdale Canal Tow Path, which is best for walking. If your cheap train tickets to Manchester take you via Manchester Victoria Railway Station, there are convenient vehicular routes to get you there in a few minutes. Free Bus 2 or the Green Line metro to St. Peter's Square are speedy options, and so is cycling, but walking will take you on a slightly longer journey.

When you want to enjoy the rail to Manchester for a day trip or discover nearby attractions for a few hours before your scheduled departure, luggage facilities come in handy to allow you to move around without your baggage. You can also use this facility for pre-booking heavy cases or travel bags when you purchase advance train tickets to Manchester, although not all of the city's rail stations are equipped with luggage storage lockers. For Manchester trains arriving at Piccadilly station, the luggage storage is located between Platforms 10 and 11 and stays open from early morning until late at night. Unfortunately, taking the train to Manchester Oxford Road or Manchester Victoria stations, you won't find any luggage storage lockers at these stations at this time.

All of the major railway stations in Manchester are equipped with plenty of amenities and services. You will find ticket offices, taxi stand, Metrolink access, refreshment stands, toilets, ramps for wheelchair users to board trains from platforms and induction loops for the hearing impaired. At Manchester Piccadilly station, you can enjoy a long list of extra/superior facilities, including long-term parking, ticket vending machines as well as information points and a reception desk. Avanti West Coast train company provides a first-class passenger lounge in the main concourse, while the upper concourse offers a departure lounge and photo booth. The station is also stair-free, with wheelchairs available upon request for use around the station. Manchester Piccadilly station is open around the clock. At Manchester Oxford Road station, the office is usually open before dawn until just before midnight from Monday to Saturday, opening a little later on Sundays. Manchester Victoria station is also open from pre-dawn hours daily but closes after midnight.

If you are a UK citizen or permanent resident, a passport is not required for travel by train to Manchester from anywhere in the UK. You should, however, carry some form of photographic ID such as a driving licence, a valid EU national identity card or a proof of age card for minors in case of inspections by train or station staff. All other foreign nationals should consider travelling with their valid passport as proof of ID if and when required in Manchester trains.

Users have found that prices vary from their starting point. If you’re catching a train from Edinburgh for instance, prices usually start from around £157, while leaving from Liverpool, a low price would be £485.

Manchester is best served by Stockton-on-Tees. There you’ll find a number of trains that can get you to your destination. Major cities accessible by train from Stockton-on-Tees are Edinburgh and Liverpool.

Some of the options we’ve found for trains to Manchester are AccesRail, Avanti West Coast, and Cross Country. Typically, your options for trains to Manchester will be determined by the route you take.

£48 is the average one-way price to Manchester this week. We don’t expect any changes in price for the next 3 months. We recommend booking when you can to ensure you have your desired date secured.

If you are travelling from Stockton-on-Tees station, Manchester Clifton station or Manchester Radcliffe station to the centre of Manchester, then the most direct route is 92.5 mi, 11.8 mi and 14.5 mi, respectively.

Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester’s most popular landmark, is 83.9 mi from Stockton-on-Tees. St. Peter's Square, the city’s second most popular place to visit, is 84.2 mi from Stockton-on-Tees. The third most popular attraction in Manchester is Etihad Stadium, which is 83.1 mi from Stockton-on-Tees.