Cardiff to Portsmouth and Southampton by train

Photos from our destination guides; each links to the page that lists the place.

• Fastest published time2 hr 21 min¹
• Straight-line distanceabout 152 km (94 miles)
• FaresVary: book ahead for Advance²

About this time. National Rail's Cardiff page gives Southampton to Cardiff as 2 hr 21 min and Portsmouth to Cardiff as 3 hr 13 min.¹

The time above is the quickest journey on the National Rail page we read on 1 Nov 2026; it is not a timetable. Some trains take longer and some need a change. Check the National Rail journey planner (opens in new tab) for your date.

Where the trains go from

Which ticket to look for

• Advance. Single tickets for one train on one date. National Rail says you can usually buy them up to 12 weeks ahead and, on many routes, until shortly before departure. You may pay £10 to change one plus any fare difference (as stated on 1 Nov 2026); they are non-refundable unless your train is delayed or cancelled and you choose not to travel.²
• Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak. Not tied to one train, but limited to quieter times. National Rail says off-peak hours generally begin at 09:30 on weekdays in cities and large towns (09:00 elsewhere), and weekends and bank holidays are off-peak all day. Evening restrictions may apply.³
• Anytime. The most flexible and usually the most expensive.⁴

A Railcard can cut many fares by a third. See rail tickets explained, Railcards and the which ticket helper.

Step-free travel and assistance

National Rail’s Passenger Assist lets you book help for the whole journey through one train company, even across several trains. It says train companies accept requests up to 2 hours before the journey starts, and that you can also turn up and go by asking staff or using a Help Point.⁵ See accessible travel.

Other ways to make the trip

Coach. Long-distance coaches are usually slower but can be cheaper. See coaches and long-distance buses for the operators.

Driving. Read driving in Britain first if you plan to hire a car.

• Getting around Portsmouth and Southampton
• Getting around Cardiff
• Portsmouth and Southampton guide
• All journey times between regions

More train routes

• London to Cardiff by train
• Bristol to Cardiff by train
• Bath to Cardiff by train
• Cardiff to Manchester by train

All train routes

Questions

How long is the train from Cardiff to Portsmouth and Southampton?

The fastest journey National Rail publishes takes 2 hr 21 min. National Rail's Cardiff page gives Southampton to Cardiff as 2 hr 21 min and Portsmouth to Cardiff as 3 hr 13 min. Many trains take longer, and some need a change: check the journey planner for your date.

How much is the train from Cardiff to Portsmouth and Southampton?

There is no single fare. Prices depend on the ticket type, time and how early you book. National Rail says Advance tickets can usually be bought up to 12 weeks ahead and are only valid on the train you book; Off-Peak tickets are cheaper than Anytime tickets where they exist.