How to travel by train from on the direct services from Glasgow to Liverpool

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Glasgow to Liverpool by train

The direct train service Glasgow to Liverpool is currently reduced.
Only one train direct train per day is available until further notice.
It will depart Glasgow at 12:04 on Mon-Fri; 12:05 on Saturday and at 14:05 on Sunday.

Routes you can take to go from Glasgow to Liverpool

When travelling between most cities by train there is only one logical option, though on other journeys there is a choice between different trains or alternative routes. If different options are available you can use the info to decide which is best for you.

Choose one of the following options:

Looking for connections?

Journey guides for travel to Glasgow

Route Information

Station Guides

The main entrance to Glasgow Central station on Gordon Street

Glasgow Central Rail Station Guide

The beautiful frontage of Liverpool Lime Street as constructed in 1879

Liverpool Lime Street Rail Station Guide

Travel Time (approx)

3hr 23min - 3hr 26min

Frequency

Daily

Travel Info

Current timetable:
1 x train per day

Usual timetable (pre-pandemic)
Mon - Sat = 3 x trains per day
Sunday = 1 x train per day

Travel Information

Final Destination: Liverpool

All trains also call at: Penrith - North Lakes and/or Oxenholme - The Lake District and Preston.

The usual timetable

These newly introduced direct trains from Glasgow to Liverpool are usually scheduled to depart from Central station at:

07:45 on Monday to Friday
08:05 on Saturday
11:44 or 12:04 on Monday to Friday
12:05 on Saturday
14:05 on Sunday
16:29 on Monday to Saturday
(Trains in bold are still operating)

If the timings of these direct trains don't suit, the optimum indirect journeys are typically available in even hours, when the trains from Glasgow to London via Birmingham (these trains are currently suspended) have good connections at Preston into trains on to Liverpool.

The trains operated by TransPennine Express from Glasgow to Manchester, don't typically offer good connections at Preston into trains to Liverpool and neither do the other trains from Glasgow to London.
But if the timings of the direct trains don't suit, making these connections is currently the best option.

This is a direct journey

You will be travelling on one of these trains...

TPE Nova 2 (UK) Train Guide

Journey Features

Scenic - YesRestaurantLandscape (Hills / Mountains)

Journey description:

For the majority of this journey the train will travel through a majestic landscape; all of the videos were taken on a train to Glasgow

South of Carstairs the railway follows a route through the beautiful Southern Uplands.
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South of here and north of Lockerbie station, the views as the railway climbs and then descends over Beattock summit, are particularly special, particularly on the left when heading south.

Between Carlisle and Lancaster the railway takes a route between The Lake District to the east and the Pennines to the west; so there are great views to be enjoyed from both sides of the train towards distant mountains.

Though initially south of Penrith the best views are over on the right, facing towards The Lake District.

Approximately 10 minutes north of Oxenholme comes one of the highlights of the journey when the railway travels through the Lune Gorge - though here the best views are from the left (when facing the direction of travel).

A beautiful landmark to look out for on the left, just after the train enters the gorge, is the spectacular sight of Low Gill Viaduct, on a now abandoned railway.

Then to the south of Oxenholme the best of the views remain on the left.

Around five minutes north of Lancaster, the West Coast Main Line, briefly lives up to its name with a fleeting glimpse of Morecambe Bay, the only sea view on the journey. .

The journey has a dramatic beginning over the River Clyde

Approaching the Scottish Uplands south of Carstairs

Passing through the Scottish Uplands

Between Lockerbie and Carlisle

Travelling towards Penrith from Carlisle

Looking from the right towards the Lake District in the distance

Through the Lune Gorge between Penrith and Oxenholme

Approaching Oxenholme station on the left look out for Low Gill viaduct

South of Oxenholme heading towards Carnforth

Through the farm land in Lancashire

Travelling between Lancaster and Preston

Between Carstairs and Lockerbie

The general guide to rail travel in Britain Discover what's good to know about riding the trains, taking popular journeys, using the major stations, booking tickets and travelling with rail passes.

Tickets

Book Early and Save: Yes

Online Bookings Usually Open: from up to 24 weeks ahead of the travel date (usually) - TransPennnine Express (TPE) places its ticket on sale sooner than other UK train operating companies.

Saving money:

If you want to travel at the cheapest possible price, look for the 'Advance tickets', though the four key things worth knowing about booking and using 'Advance' tickets for travel by TPE services are:
(1) The ticket(s) will be valid for the specific departure you select when making a booking.
(2) The ticket(s) cannot either be refunded, if you subsequently change your plans or miss the train due to any circumstances not attributable to the train operator.
(3) They can be exchanged to another departure on this route prior to the departure you have booked - but the price difference with the new ticket will need to be paid (the price will likely have risen since your original booking will need to be paid.
(4) TPE doesn't take Advance tickets off sale until 15 mins prior to departure.

TPE offers a group deal for when groups of 3 - 9 adults are travelling together and Advance tickets are booked online - make sure you see the 'G' symbol which indicates that the discount has been applied.
You can save 33% of the total costs of the tickets and no Railcard is required.

Reservations:

All types of ticket booked at least 15 minutes ahead of travel for TPE trains have complimentary seat reservation.

If you book and Advance ticket(s) you have to travel on the train shown on the reservation - which will be the specific departure you selected when making a booking.
Though on boarding, you won't have to occupy the seat(s) you have been assigned for your ticket to be valid.

If you book Anytime or Off-Peak tickets you will be provided with a reservation(s) on the departure you selected when making a booking, but are able to transfer the reservation to any other valid departure on your travel date.
You can do this by contacting the TPE social media team, or at a station ticket desk.

Travelling on Saturday-Sunday

Tickets are usually available 12 weeks ahead of the travel date, but maintenance work on the route is periodically undertaken at weekends and if it is scheduled on your travel date, it can affect when tickets will be released for sale.

If you're looking up a journey less than 12 weeks ahead and Advance tickets aren't available, it can be a good indication that works will be impacting on your travel date.
It can be worth checking this on the National Rail website - enter TransPennine Express as the operator.

Booking at the station

As TPE doesn't take Advance tickets off sale until 15 mins prior to departure, if you will be booking walk-up tickets at the station try to avoid booking at the last minute.

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