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How to get from Manchester to Darlington

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What is the best way to travel from Manchester to Darlington?

Looking for a trip? Compare all the available Trains and Buses for the journey to Darlington from Manchester. Check between different modes of transportation, look for the cheapest tickets, fastest rides and most popular stations, and see all 2 available companies to find your perfect trip!
Bus is the cheapest, while Train is the fastest way on this route
Transport type
Travel time
Cheapest price
Average price
Daily departures
Train
2h 21m
£18
£32
3
Bus
3h 0m
£9
£9
2

What is the cheapest way to reach Darlington from Manchester?

You can get to Darlington with just £9 by taking a Bus from megabus, but you can find many more cheap offers: we have selected the best ones for next few days here for you.

today
tomorrow
from £35
Friday
Saturday
from £18
Sunday
from £9
Monday
Tuesday
from £20

    Cheapest Trains tomorrow

  • TransPennine Express
    4h 4m
    0
    02:44
    Manchester
    Piccadilly Station
    06:48
    Darlington
    Central Station
    0
    TransPennine Express
    Economy
    from £35
  • TransPennine Express
    2h 31m
    0
    04:22
    Manchester
    Piccadilly Station
    06:53
    Darlington
    Central Station
    0
    TransPennine Express
    Economy
    from £36
  • TransPennine Express
    3h 8m
    0
    04:22
    Manchester
    Piccadilly Station
    07:30
    Darlington
    Dinsdale Train Station
    0
    TransPennine Express
    Economy
    from £38

    Cheapest Trains Saturday

  • TransPennine Express
    4h 5m
    0
    02:42
    Manchester
    Piccadilly Station
    06:47
    Darlington
    Central Station
    0
    TransPennine Express
    Economy
    from £18
  • TransPennine Express
    2h 21m
    0
    04:37
    Manchester
    Piccadilly Station
    06:58
    Darlington
    Central Station
    0
    TransPennine Express
    Economy
    from £41
  • TransPennine Express
    2h 53m
    0
    04:37
    Manchester
    Piccadilly Station
    07:30
    Darlington
    Dinsdale Train Station
    0
    TransPennine Express
    Economy
    from £41

    Cheapest Buses Sunday

  • megabus
    3h 0m
    0
    09:30
    Manchester
    Shudehill Interchange
    12:30
    Darlington
    Town Hall
    0
    megabus
    Economy
    £9
  • megabus
    3h 0m
    0
    13:30
    Manchester
    Shudehill Interchange
    16:30
    Darlington
    Town Hall
    0
    megabus
    Economy
    £9

    Cheapest Trains Tuesday

  • TransPennine Express
    2h 31m
    0
    04:22
    Manchester
    Piccadilly Station
    06:53
    Darlington
    Central Station
    0
    TransPennine Express
    Economy
    from £20
  • TransPennine Express
    2h 40m
    0
    05:58
    Manchester
    Piccadilly Station
    08:38
    Darlington
    Central Station
    0
    TransPennine Express
    Economy
    from £27

What are the fastest trips from Manchester to Darlington?

You can get to Darlington from Manchester in just 2h 21m with a Train from TransPennine Express. This is not the only option, and you can click on any of the offers below to compare it with the other modes of transportations.

today
tomorrow
from 2h 31m
Friday
Saturday
from 2h 21m
Sunday
from 3h 0m
Monday
Tuesday
from 2h 31m

    Fastest Trains tomorrow

  • TransPennine Express
    2h 31m
    0
    04:22
    Manchester
    Piccadilly Station
    06:53
    Darlington
    Central Station
    0
    TransPennine Express
    Economy
    from £36
  • TransPennine Express
    3h 8m
    0
    04:22
    Manchester
    Piccadilly Station
    07:30
    Darlington
    Dinsdale Train Station
    0
    TransPennine Express
    Economy
    from £38
  • TransPennine Express
    4h 4m
    0
    02:44
    Manchester
    Piccadilly Station
    06:48
    Darlington
    Central Station
    0
    TransPennine Express
    Economy
    from £35

    Fastest Trains Saturday

  • TransPennine Express
    2h 21m
    0
    04:37
    Manchester
    Piccadilly Station
    06:58
    Darlington
    Central Station
    0
    TransPennine Express
    Economy
    from £41
  • TransPennine Express
    2h 53m
    0
    04:37
    Manchester
    Piccadilly Station
    07:30
    Darlington
    Dinsdale Train Station
    0
    TransPennine Express
    Economy
    from £41
  • TransPennine Express
    4h 5m
    0
    02:42
    Manchester
    Piccadilly Station
    06:47
    Darlington
    Central Station
    0
    TransPennine Express
    Economy
    from £18

    Fastest Buses Sunday

  • megabus
    3h 0m
    0
    09:30
    Manchester
    Shudehill Interchange
    12:30
    Darlington
    Town Hall
    0
    megabus
    Economy
    £9
  • megabus
    3h 0m
    0
    13:30
    Manchester
    Shudehill Interchange
    16:30
    Darlington
    Town Hall
    0
    megabus
    Economy
    £9

    Fastest Trains Tuesday

  • TransPennine Express
    2h 31m
    0
    04:22
    Manchester
    Piccadilly Station
    06:53
    Darlington
    Central Station
    0
    TransPennine Express
    Economy
    from £20
  • TransPennine Express
    2h 40m
    0
    05:58
    Manchester
    Piccadilly Station
    08:38
    Darlington
    Central Station
    0
    TransPennine Express
    Economy
    from £27
Here you will find all operators and timetables for a Bus from Manchester to Darlington

What are the most popular stations in Manchester and Darlington?

In Manchester, you will usually depart from Piccadilly Station, Victoria Station or Shudehill Interchange, while in Darlington you will be arriving at Central Station, Dinsdale Train Station or Central Bus Station, but there are many more stops to explore in both locations.

How do I decide? Some tips and tricks from our experience

Are you having trouble deciding on how to get to Darlington from Manchester? With 2 connections between 2 Train and Bus operators, it can be difficult to find the one ride that will make you happy. But we have some tips that can help you make the best informed decision. First of all, the best trip is always the one that meets all your needs, so make a list of all the things that you want from this journey and look for something that will satisfy all of them. Here we will go through some of the factors mostly commonly taken into consideration.

Look for the lowest price

Ticket price is usually the main concern: even if you can afford to pay more, why do it if there are cheaper options? Saving on the trip means that you can spend more on the vacation itself! Between Manchester and Darlington, you can pay as low as £9 with a Bus from megabus.

Travel duration

Time is also an important factor. An earlier departure may allow you to see a beautiful sunset or relax before an important event. And remember, time is money, so paying more for a shorter trip may be well worth it. For longer distances, flights are without doubt the best options, but be mindful of airport times and possible delays: a high-speed train may end up cheaper and faster! Here the quicker option is definitely the Train from TransPennine Express: you will get to Darlington in just 2h 21m.

Comfort makes all the difference

You should always take into account what your personal travelling preferences are. Is one hand luggage enough, or are you trasporting more? Would you like to have a snack during the journey? Can you relax in a busy compartment, or do you need space for yourself? Even among the same mode of transportation, different companies will offer you varying levels of comfort and amenities. The main operators connecting Manchester and Darlington are TransPennine Express and megabus, but be sure to check what they have to offer!

Save money with deals, and always compare

One last tip? Even if you live in Manchester and Darlington is your only destination, it may be wise to check the offers from and to nearby cities or, if you are flyng, nearby airports. Check the trips from Salford or to Durham Tees Valley Airport, and look at flights from Liverpool Airport, and landing at Durham Tees Valley Airport. Comparing different routes may allow you to find deals or promotions you were not aware of. Consider also signing up to CheckMyBus to see even more exclusive promotions!

Which companies offer a trip from Manchester to Darlington?

The most popular companies between Manchester and Darlington, are TransPennine Express and megabus. Be sure to check their seat class offers and the amenities that they provide.

Bus companies: megabus

Train companies: TransPennine Express

All you need to know when you travel from Manchester to Darlington

Check all information on comfort and services on all modes of transports from Manchester to Darlington. See which seat classes are available, and what amenities are other advantages offered by the operators on your journey.

FAQs about the trip from Manchester to Darlington

How can I reach Darlington from Manchester?

Every day, there are on average 2 connections between Train and Bus, with which you can get to Darlington from Manchester.

How far is Darlington from Manchester?

The distance between Manchester and Darlington is 124.2 km.

What is the most ecofriendly mode of transport between Manchester and Darlington?

Trains and buses are by far the greenest options, with trains surpassing buses on longer routes. Planes will always be the worst polluters, especially in shorter flights, were the emissions from the takeoff and landing are less offset by the distance. On this particular route, a bus will emit, per person, a total of 3 kgs of CO2, a train 4 kgs, a car 21 kgs, and a flight 31 kgs.

What is the cheapest mode of transport from Manchester to Darlington?

You can get to Darlington with just £9 by taking a Bus from megabus.

What is the fastest way to get from Manchester to Darlington?

While a plane is travelling fastest boarding and transfer to airport consumes a lot of time. Usually, high speed trains are better than flights if pure train travel time is below 4 hours. For this particular route, you can get to Darlington in just 2h 21m with a Train from TransPennine Express.

More routes to Manchester and to Darlington

Looking for more options? Here you can see the most popular routes to Manchester and to Darlington. Simply click on a connection, and you’ll find all the details about the route!

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