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Trip Summary
You can pick from 18 daily train trips between Manchester and St Albans. The average train journey from Manchester to St Albans takes 3 hours, but some Virgin Trains + Connections train trips are as short as 2 hours and 28 minutes.
| Distance | 144 mi (231 km) |
| Fastest train | 2h 28m |
| Lowest price | £33.29 |
| Most frequent service | Virgin Trains + Connections |
| Train lines | 3 |
Which train should you take from Manchester to St Albans?
There are 3 train lines with service from Manchester to St Albans. Virgin Trains + Connections is the most popular choice with travelers, offering scheduled service on 16 trains each day.
| Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Midlands Trains + Connections | 1 | 4h 11m | £79.03 |
| TransPennine Express + Connections | 1 | 3h 53m | £79.03 |
| Virgin Trains + Connections | 16 | 2h 53m | £52.52 |
East Midlands Trains + Connections train tickets from Manchester to St Albans start from £79, and on average cost . Daily there are 1 East Midlands Trains + Connections schedules to St Albans. East Midlands Trains + Connections in Manchester leaves from Manchester Piccadilly . And in St Albans trains arrive at St Albans City Station .
From Manchester to St Albans train travel on East Midlands Trains + Connections takes 4 hours and 11 minutes. If you are looking to get to St Albans faster, East Midlands Trains + Connections offers more express schedule options with a travel time of 2 hours and 28 minutes.
If you are looking to travel to St Albans on a weekend there is typically one East Midlands Trains + Connections scheduled trip per day, which will cost for a one-way weekend reservation from Manchester.
TransPennine Express + Connections train tickets from Manchester to St Albans start from £79, and on average cost . Daily there are 1 TransPennine Express + Connections schedules to St Albans. TransPennine Express + Connections in Manchester leaves from Manchester Piccadilly . And in St Albans trains arrive at St Albans City Station .
From Manchester to St Albans train travel on TransPennine Express + Connections takes 3 hours and 53 minutes. If you are looking to get to St Albans faster, TransPennine Express + Connections offers more express schedule options with a travel time of 2 hours and 28 minutes.
If you are looking to travel to St Albans on a weekend there is typically one TransPennine Express + Connections scheduled trip per day, which will cost for a one-way weekend reservation from Manchester.
Virgin Trains + Connections train tickets from Manchester to St Albans start from £33, and on average cost . Daily there are 16 Virgin Trains + Connections schedules to St Albans. Virgin Trains + Connections in Manchester leaves from Manchester Piccadilly . And in St Albans trains arrive at How Wood Station and one other train station.
From Manchester to St Albans train travel on Virgin Trains + Connections takes 2 hours and 53 minutes. If you are looking to get to St Albans faster, Virgin Trains + Connections offers more express schedule options with a travel time of 2 hours and 28 minutes.
If you're considering a weeked trip, Virgin Trains + Connections offers 16 schedules for you to choose from. You can expect to pay for a one-way train ticket to St Albans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Trains from Manchester to St Albans are the most crowded on Sunday. Tickets also tend to be more expensive then. If you are looking for a great deal on your train tickets or just want extra room to stretch out, consider traveling on Sunday instead, as it tends to be the least crowded day of the week.
The earliest train departs Manchester at 10:00 while the last train of the day leaves at 13:00. To see all scheduled departure times, use the search function on this page to get the full schedule for your specific travel dates.
There are 18 scheduled trains on most days. Unfortunately, none of them are direct connections, so you will need to disembark from your original train and board a connecting train during your journey. Don't forget to bring your carry-on luggage when you switch trains. In some instances, you may also be responsible for transferring your own checked baggage.
You can also take a train for your return trip from St Albans to Manchester.
City Information
Manchester
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Image credit: Unsplash
Most recognizable for its world-famous football team, Manchester is a modern, vibrant city with a diverse range of attractions that will appeal to explorers of all kinds. Often referred to as "The Capital of the North," Manchester is also known for being the birthplace of the industrial revolution. Visitors can relive this booming era by taking a trip to the Science and Industry Museum to see how this previously small town changed the world's ideas of industry and manufacturing forever. These days, Manchester is famous for its music and art scene, with it being the birthplace of bands like The Smiths and Oasis.
Art and music-lovers may want to visit Afflecks, a vast and eclectic emporium of all things indie and grunge, to purchase records, artwork, and memorabilia, among many other things. Manchester is also home to 15 parks and gardens, with Fletcher Moss Park and Botanical Gardens among the most popular. This park provides a beautiful setting for picnics and scenic walks, perfect for when you need an escape from the bustling city.
And if you really are only here for Man U, both Old Trafford and Etihad Stadium are stops on our itinerary to visit every premier league stadium in England.
With three large train stations—Piccadilly, Oxford Road, and Victoria—Manchester is easily accessible via rail. National Express and Megabus coaches also allow access from all over the country. In addition, Manchester Airport houses three large terminals, which provide global entry to the city.
Station Information
Where is the train station in Manchester?
Image credit: Hugh Llewelyn
Link to image attributionMain departure station: Manchester Piccadilly
As the city's main train station, Manchester Piccadilly receives regular trains from London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Liverpool. It has 14 platforms, with platforms 13 and 14 positioned away from the main concourse and accessed via a moving walkway. The mezzanine level contains a variety of shops and food outlets. Travellers can also access Metrolink trams on the Blue, Yellow, and Purple lines by descending into the lower level. The area around the station hosts plenty of parking, several hotels, and a variety of food options.
All train stations in Manchester:
Manchester Piccadilly
Where is the train station in St Albans?
Main arrival station: St Albans Abbey Station
There are more train stations and stops in St Albans than most cities. Most trains from Manchester will stop at one (or more) of the 3 following stations in St Albans:
Train stations in St Albans:
St Albans Abbey Station
St Albans City Station
How Wood Station
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from St Albans to Manchester?
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