How to travel by train from Glasgow to Birmingham by train

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Glasgow to Birmingham by train

Hourly connections are available, and in most hours only change of train is required to complete the journey (in Wigan or Warrington).
Though what's a tad odd, is that most of the end-to-end journeys currently being sold by Avanti West Coast show an additional connection in Wolverhampton, but the train shown to Wolverhampton will be continuing on to Birmingham.

Routes you can take to go from Glasgow to Birmingham

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 main entrance to Birmingham New Street station off Smallbrook Queensway

Birmingham New Street Rail Station Guide

Travel Time (approx)

4hr 4min - 4hr 12min

Frequency

Daily

Travel Info

Mon - Fri = 4 x trains per day
Saturday and Sunday = 5 x trains per day

Is this journey from Glasgow to Birmingham direct?
Yes.
But many additional indirect journey options are available daily.

Is the journey scenic?
Yes, the train will travel across a dramatic landscape between Motherwell and Lancaster. See the Journey Information for images and videos.

When is the usual approximate earliest arrival at Birmingham New Street on this journey option?

Before 09:15 on Monday to Saturday
Before14:15 on Sunday
Source: National Rail

How easy is it to travel on from the station in Birmingham?
Birmingham New Street is very conveniently located in the heart of the city - See the Station Guide above for more info, plus easy access to multiple options for booking somewhere to stay in the area around New Street station.

When is the usual approximate latest departure from Glasgow Central on this journey option?

After 15:55 on Monday to Friday
Around 18:40 on Saturday
Around 18:30 on Sunday

How easy is it to travel to the station in Glasgow?
Glasgow Central is very conveniently located in the heart of the city.
See the Station Guide above for more info, plus easy access to multiple options for booking somewhere to stay by the station.

Are tickets cheaper if booked in advance for this journey option?
Yes

How soon ahead of travel are tickets typically placed on sale for this journey option?
12 weeks; See the Ticket Information for more details

What are the child ticket terms for the journey from Glasgow to London on this journey option?
Aged 5 to 15 = 50%; 4 and under = free

Does the ticket for the for this journey option include assigned seats?
Varies according to the type of ticket being booked, but Yes when booking Advance Tickets; See the Ticket Information for more details

Do rail pass users need to book reservations for the journey from Glasgow to London ?
No

Is catering available on the train?
Yes - There is a bar/bistro car: And complimentary at seat catering in 1st class, which typically includes a full meal service.

What else is good to know?
See the general guide to travelling in Britain by train.

Travel Information

Final Destination: London Euston

All trains also call at: Crewe (connect for Chester and Shrewsbury) and Wolverhampton

Pendolino trains are used on most of those services operated by Avanti West Coast

This is a direct journey

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

All that's good to know about travelling on an Avanti West Coast Pendolino

Avanti Pendolino (UK) Train Guide

Avanti Super Voyager (UK) Train Guide

Journey Features

Scenic - YesLandscape (Hills / Mountains)

Good to Know

There is an alternative direct daily train operated by Cross Country, but is more than two hours slower - because it travels via Edinburgh and Newcastle.
On Monday to Saturday it is typically scheduled to depart Glasgow less than 20 mins before these Avanti trains on the much faster route, so it is best avoided, unless it is much cheaper.
However, on Sundays it usually departs later in the morning and fills a gap of more than two hours between the departures of the Avanti trains - but the train which leaves around an hour later, is scheduled to arrive in Birmingham sooner.

Journey description:

For most of the first half 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**.

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. .

Heading south from Carstairs

Approaching the Scottish Uplands

Passing through the Scottish Uplands

Between Lockerbie and 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

Look out on the right for the glimpse of Morecambe Bay

Between Shap and Oxenholme

The highest point of the journey at Shap

Between Carstairs and Lockerbie

Save with Split Ticketing on Trainline When it's possible to save money on rail journeys in Britain, by splitting tickets in one booking, Trainline now automatically offers this option - look out for for the blue symbol!

Save with Split Ticketing on Trainline When it's possible to save money on rail journeys in Britain, by splitting tickets in one booking, T...

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

Tickets Available From: 24* weeks ahead for travel on Mon-Fri; up to 12 weeks ahead for weekend travel.

*This booking ahead period available on the Avanti West Coast trains is longer than that offered by the majority of British train operators.

If you want to travel at the cheapest possible price, look for the 'Advance' tickets; though be aware that this type of ticket can't be refunded if you subsequently change your travel plans.

Though something to be aware of when booking tickets, particularly for journeys by Avanti West Coast with its extended booking periods, is that the more expensive Off Peak and Anytime type of tickets can be placed on sale before the Advance tickets will be available.
If that is the case, it won't mean that the 'Advance' tickets have sold out, instead you won't see them, because they haven't have been placed on sale yet.

Though you won't typically have to book months in advance to obtain the cheapest possible price for a London to Liverpool train journey, particularly if you won't be travelling at business hours.

Choosing a Departure:

There are likely to be significant differences in prices between departures on your travel date, it's often possible to save more than £20 by taking an earlier or later train.

If you can be flexible with your travel times and dates, it's a good idea to use the Best Fare Finder service on the Avanti West Coast website.

The potential to save by splitting tickets on Trainline

It can be worth looking up this journey on Trainline.

It can be possible to save money by using split ticketing, with the booking process being no more complicated than booking conventional tickets - find out more.

Reservations:

When you book an Advance ticket for a Glasgow to Birmingham journey by Avanti West Coast trains journey online, you will be automatically assigned a seat(s) because you will have to travel by that specific departure.

Because Off-Peak and Anytime tickets (usually) allow the freedom to choose between departures, you can request complimentary reservations when booking these tickets - find out more about this.

However, if you buy Off Peak or Anytime tickets just prior to boarding at the station, seat reservations won't be available
That's because reservations at stations need to be booked at least a couple of hours ahead of departure; so also keep that in mind if you will be using a rail pass, including a Britrail or Eurail pass.

Travelling on Saturday-Sunday

Maintenance work on the railway is periodically undertaken, particularly 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 around 10 - 12 weeks ahead and the cheaper '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 Avanti West Coast website.

Making an end-to-end journey will still be possible, though you MAY ultimately have to take a substitution bus service for part of the trip.
It's the confirmation of these alternative travel arrangements which can hold up the release of the tickets for sale.

Receiving Your Ticket(s)

If you book with Avanti West Coast, you will have up to four options for receiving and using your ticket(s) are:

(1) Using e-tickets:
Book a ticket online and you will receive an e-ticket attached to your confirmation email.
Avanti West Coast allows multiple options for using these e-tickets, you can print them off OR download them to your mobile device, so when boarding you can access your ticket(s) on your phone and use it to open the ticket gates.

(2) Using m-tickets:
If you book using the Avanti West Coast trains app, you can activate your ticket within the app and use your mobile device to open the ticket gates.

(3) Collecting from the 'Fast-Track' ticket machines at the station.

You will receive a booking reference number on your order confirmation email and you can use this reference number to collect ticket(s) from a 'Fast-Track' ticket machine.
You will need to enter your reference number into the machine, so make sure you'll have easy access to it when you are using the machine.
You will also need to insert the specific credit or debit card you used when making the booking, so have that with you too.

Showing the email you have received to staff at the ticket gates won't get you on to the train, nor will this be valid if you can only show the email to the conductor when you are on the train.

If you forget to bring your ticket(s) with you to the station, but do have the card with you that you used when booking, you can use the machines to collect your ticket(s).
Take your time and take care that you have picked up all your ticket(s) and seat reservations.

(4) Opt to pay an additional charge to have your tickets posted to you.

More information is available here.

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