- Must visit
Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life
Open-air industrial museum beside a former ironworks, featuring furnaces, workers' rows, and major insight into Scotland's heavy industry.
Cheapest price on Sep 18
€31
Average ticket price on Sep 18
€44
Fastest journey on Sep 18
2 h 21 m
Average journey duration on Sep 18
2 h 44 m
Trains on Sep 18
2
Distance
239 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Preston to Motherwell is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Preston to Motherwell will cost around €44 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only €31.
On Fri, Sep 18, we found 2 trains from Preston to Motherwell, including 2 direct services.
On Fri, Sep 18 the direct trains cover the 239 km distance in an average of 2 h 44 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 2 h 21 m .
On Fri, Sep 18 the slowest trains will take 3 h 7 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.




Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Preston to Motherwell among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the train, with an average ticket price of €54 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 2h 46m. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a train costs an average of €54, while a train costs an average of €54.
Distance: 148 miles (239 km)
Most popular Train | Driving |
|---|---|
€54 Average price Cheapest | €52 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
2h 46m Average total duration Fastest 2h 16m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 2h 53m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
![]() Most popular train company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Preston to Motherwell:
A bus is €25 less than a train for this route with tickets for a train from Preston to Motherwell costing on average €54.
A bus is €585 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Preston to Motherwell costing on average €615.
Other travel options to Motherwell take longer:
Flight takes on average 2h 32m.
Bus takes on average 4h 14m.
You'll arrive about 37m sooner (2h 16m by train vs 2h 53m by car). Tickets start at around €54 compared to roughly €52 in fuel and tolls — so you're paying a bit more, but getting hours of your day back, a city-centre arrival, and the freedom to work or relax instead of drive.
Direct services run with Avanti West Coast, Transpennine Express, Caledonian Sleeper, TransPennine Express.
Driving makes more sense if you're travelling as a group (where fuel costs split several ways), want to stop along the way, or need a car once you arrive.
The table below shows live departures for Preston to Motherwell trains for today, Thursday, September 17. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 10:42 AM Preston | 2h05 | 12:47 PM Motherwell | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train and bus prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Trains from Preston to Motherwell run on average 13 times per day, taking around 2h 16m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at €38 but you can travel from only €26 by bus.
There are 13 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 05:30, the last at 20:54. The fastest train covers the 148 miles (239 km) distance in 2h 5m.
Distance 148 miles (239 km) |
Average train duration 2h 16m |
Cheapest ticket price €38 |
Trains per day 13 |
Direct trains 13 |
Fastest train 2h 5m |
First train 5:30 AM |
Last train 8:54 PM |
Cheapest Month Sep |
Cheapest Day Mon |
High Season Oct - Dec |
Low Season Jul - Sep |
Busiest Day Wed |
Least Busy Day Wed |
Best time to book 28 days |
Discover the best of Motherwell — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Motherwell trip today.
Open-air industrial museum beside a former ironworks, featuring furnaces, workers' rows, and major insight into Scotland's heavy industry.
Modern transport museum with striking architecture and displays covering vehicles, engineering, and Glasgow's civic development.
Award-winning museum telling Scotland's social and industrial story with engaging displays, historic buildings, and family-friendly exhibits.
Large country park with loch views, watersports, woodland trails, and easy access to major heritage sites near Motherwell.
Historic town park with flower displays, broad lawns, and leisure facilities, popular for walks and local events.
Protected wetlands and woodland reserve known for birdwatching, riverside paths, and peaceful nature close to the town centre.
Scotland’s iconic minced sheep offal with oats and spices, traditionally served with neeps and tatties. A Burns Night staple eaten across Lanarkshire.
Mashed swede and potatoes, often served with haggis. This comforting side is a classic part of traditional Scottish home cooking.
A morning roll filled with sliced square sausage. This Lanarkshire and Glasgow breakfast favourite is a familiar local takeaway order.
Popular modern Indian restaurant known for curries, tandoori dishes, and friendly service in a smart but relaxed setting.
Established steakhouse and grill in nearby Hamilton, popular for Scottish beef, hearty mains, and polished casual dining.
Well-liked Turkish and Mediterranean venue serving grilled meats, meze, and seafood in a stylish contemporary atmosphere.
Moderate for the UK. Hotels and dining are usually cheaper than Glasgow or Edinburgh, while local rail and bus costs stay fairly manageable for tourists.
Service is sometimes included at restaurants; if not, tip about 10% for good service. Round up taxi fares. Tipping in cafes is optional.
Official public transport app
Motherwell Railway Station -> Motherwell Civic Centre
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Preston to Motherwell by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Motherwell, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Preston to Motherwell trains use the Preston to Motherwell station pair. Use this guide to compare Preston and Motherwell train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Preston is 1 km from Preston city centre. Public transport options include:
Preston has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Car Rental, Information Desk, and Luggage Carts.
Food options include: Rise, The Olive Tree Brasserie, Turtle Bay
Free. ATMs are available in the train station.
Ticket office support is available at Preston. Information desks are located in the main hall.
Luggage storage is available at Preston. Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Preston: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Preston: Bike Parking, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Preston: Elevators, ramps.
Nearby hotels include Holiday Inn Express Preston - South, Delta Hotels Preston, Macdonald Tickled Trout Hotel.
Motherwell has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Shopping, Parking, Dining, Accessibility, Hotel, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, and Information Desk.
Food and drink options are available at Motherwell.
Wi-Fi is available at Motherwell.
Ticket office support is available at Motherwell. Information desks are information available from staff: Yes - from help point,Yes - from ticket office, Helpline Contact: Tel: 0800 046 1634 and 18001 0800 046 1634 (Deaf and customers who are hard of hearing), Passenger Information Systems: Departure screens, Announcements, Arrival screens.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Motherwell: Parking.
Available at Motherwell: Bike Parking.
Accessibility facilities are available at Motherwell: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Step free access note: This is a Category A station. This station has step-free access to all platforms. The Passenger Assist meeting point is at the Ticket Office Blue Badge parking bays: 3, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: Yes, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: Yes.
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need