Birmingham New Street to Exeter St Davids Trains From £18.70*

Travel to Devon’s iconic cathedral city in just around 2 hours and 35 minutes by train. CrossCountry services from Birmingham New Street to Exeter St Davids run every hour. The journey offers a unique experience, with picture-perfect views of the magnificent West Country landscape.

CrossCountry offers regional and intercity trains across stations like Leicester, Newcastle Central, Aberdeen and Penzance. Its network is centred around Birmingham New Street and extends to the North of England, East Anglia, Wales and Scotland. The operator doesn’t serve Greater London.

Departing from Birmingham New Street

The Birmingham to Exeter train departs from Birmingham New Street station. Easily accessible from different parts of the city and surrounding areas, the station has direct access to local bus routes and the free Air-Rail Link shuttle to/from Birmingham Airport. Cabs drop passengers off at the Smallbrook Queensway taxi rank.

Trains at Birmingham New Street station travel to/from places like Reading, Walsall and London. Services are operated by CrossCountry, London Northwestern Railway, Avanti West Coast, Transport for Wales (TfW) and West Midlands Railway.

Main stops

Services from Birmingham New Street to Exeter St Davids may also stop at Cheltenham Spa, Bristol Temple Meads and Taunton. Your train could call at different stations according to the time, operator and route.

Arriving at Exeter St Davids

Hopping on the Birmingham to Exeter train takes you to Exeter St Davids station near the River Exe. Several parts of the station date back to its rebuild in 1864 - including the main façade. As the city’s main station, there are plenty of journey options, from Barnstaple to Sheffield, London, Cardiff or Edinburgh. Trains are operated by CrossCountry, Great Western Railway and South Western Railway.

Exeter is brimming with sights to discover. Stroll along the streets as you pass heritage buildings and cultural gems, including the Gothic cathedral and Roman walls. Venture into the Underground Passages or hire a bike or canoe to enjoy the city from a different perspective.

Exeter St Davids is served by Stagecoach South West buses and also has a taxi rank by the station entrance. It’s about a 25-minute walk uphill to the city centre. You can take bus routes H, 5B or 6.

CrossCountry train classes

• Standard Class: Opting for Standard Class accommodation offers comfortable seating, free Wi-Fi and luggage storage. Most CrossCountry services also have food and drink available to purchase from 06:00 to 20:00.
• First Class: Birmingham to Exeter First Class amenities include roomier, reclining seats, extra table space and complimentary refreshments.

Tickets tend to be released around 12 weeks before the date of travel. Plan ahead or set up a ticket alert to buy cheap train tickets.

CrossCountry train travel advice

• Luggage: Passengers are allowed to bring a small bag, one medium-sized bag and a larger suitcase (90 x 70 x 30 centimetres max.).
• Bicycles: CrossCountry recommends pre-booking a bike space. E-bikes must not exceed 250 watts. Devices such as e-scooters are banned.
• Children: Under-5s travel for free with a fare-paying adult. Most tickets are half price for children aged 5–15. Additional discounts are available for older teens and groups of up to four children and four adults with the 16–17 Saver Railcard or Family and Friends Railcard.
• Pets: Two pets are permitted on board per passenger. They shouldn’t be on seats and must be kept in a carrier or on a lead.
• Passenger Assist: Request help for your journey, from using ramps to moving around the station, online, by phone or via Transreport’s app or webform.

*Information is subject to change. Please check the latest train timetable before your trip.