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Manchester to Bournemouth by train
How to travel by train from Manchester to the South Coast's premier resort town
What had been a generally hourly service of direct trains has recently been restored on this route.
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Routes
From Manchester to Bournemouth by train
Journey Summary
4hr 45min
Daily
Travel Information
Final Destination: Bournemouth
All trains also call at: Winchester; Southampton Airport Parkway and Southampton
1 x train per hour
Tickets
Book Early and Save: Yes
Online Bookings Usually Open: From 12 weeks ahead of travel of the travel date
Booking Advance Tickets
If you want to travel at the cheapest possible price, look for the 'Advance tickets', though the three key things worth knowing about booking and using 'Advance' tickets in usual circumstances are:
(1) Your ticket(s) will only be valid on the departure you selected when making a booking.
(2) But when travelling by CrossCountry trains, you can amend your ticket free of charge, regardless of when it was booked and when you will be travelling from 2 hours after purchase and up to 15 minutes before your train is due to depart, as long as the stations are the same.
(3) If the train you are booked on is delayed, you cannot then just hop on an alternative train operated by a different company.
Finding a late deal
CrossCountry atypically offers the ability to book Advance tickets until up to 15 minutes before departure.
Reservations
When you book an Advance ticket for this train journey, you will be automatically assigned a seat(s), but if you book the other types of ticket ahead, you can request a complimentary reservation
However, if you buy Off Peak or Anytime tickets just prior to boarding at the station, a seat reservation won't be automatically included with your booking.
Though CrossCountry now offers a service buy which holders of Anytime and Off-Peak tickets can book reservations up to 10 minutes prior to departure time.
Potential changes to ticket booking
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 traffic updates on the CrossCountry website.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| CrossCountry | * | |
| National Rail | * |
On this journey
Travelling On
Good to Know
Some of the trains which used to travel at Bournemouth at being terminated at Reading on the current timetable, but it's worth targeting the remaining direct trains.
In the hours when the direct trains aren't available connections are required at both Reading and Basingstoke.
Much of this journey through the middle of the south of the country showcases that England is indeed a green and pleasant land particularly once the train has passed, but the train won't pass through any outstanding landscapes.
The one highlight comes towards journey's end after Southampton when the railway passes through The New Forest national park, if you're lucky you may catch a glimpse of the wild ponies.
This second version of ShowMeTheJourney is exciting and new, so we are genuinely thrilled that you are here and reading this, but we also need your help.
We’re striving not to let anything get in the way of providing the most useful service possible, hence a facility has been set up with DonorBox which can be used to support the running costs and make improvements.
Instead of advertising or paywalls, your financial support will make a positive difference to delivering an enhanced service, as there’s a lot of ideas which we want to make happen.
So if you have found the info provided here to be useful, please consider saying thank you.
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