4.9
4.6
Travel Information
Compare bus and train for Cardiff to Reading
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Cardiff to Reading among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the train, with an average ticket price of $76 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 2h 4m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the train is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.0 - 0.1kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a train costs an average of $76, while a bus costs an average of $76.
Distance: 95 miles (153 km)
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Bus | Driving |
|---|---|---|
$76 Average price Cheapest | $76 Average price | $40 Average price (fuel + tolls) |
2h 4m Average total duration Fastest 1h 34m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 45m Average total duration 4h 15m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 2h 10m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
0.0 - 0.1kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.2 - 0.4kg CO2 emissions | - CO2 emissions |
 Most popular train company |  Most popular bus company | Your own car or car rental |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Compare ways to travel from Cardiff to Reading
Compare the available ways to get from Cardiff to Reading, with the key details around price, speed, convenience, and direct service.
This is compared to other travel options from Cardiff to Reading:
A train is $1 (€1) less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Cardiff to Reading costing on average $76 (€64).
Other travel options to Reading take longer:
Bus takes on average 4h 45m.
You'll arrive about 36m sooner (1h 34m by train vs 2h 10m by car). Tickets start at around $76 (€64) compared to roughly $40 (€33) 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.
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.
Travel optionsfrom Cardiff to Reading
How to get from Cardiff to Reading by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
The best way to travel from Cardiff to Reading is by taking a bus because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
1:00 PM 2h50 Cardiff 3:50 PM Reading $12 1 One-way 0 transfers
Cheapest
1:00 PM 2h50 Cardiff 3:50 PM Reading $12 1 One-way 0 transfers
Fastest
1:00 PM 2h50 Cardiff 3:50 PM Reading $12 1 One-way 0 transfers
Other options
4:30 PM 5h17 Cardiff 9:47 PM Reading $54 1 One-way 0 transfers12:40 AM 4h32 Cardiff 5:12 AM Reading $57 1 One-way 0 transfers2:25 AM 4h52 Cardiff 7:17 AM Reading $61 1 One-way 0 transfers
Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, flight, and ferry .
Compare prices and tickets Prices for trains, buses and flights
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FAQs: Travel from Cardiff to Reading
Travel to Reading easily. Whether you want fast, cheap or something entirely different, our travel experts have collected everything you need to know so you can find the best option from Cardiff to Reading.
This is compared to other travel options from Cardiff to Reading:
A train is $1 (€1) less than a bus for this route with tickets for a bus from Cardiff to Reading costing on average $76 (€64).
Other travel options to Reading take longer:
Bus takes on average 4h 45m.
- Around 12 buses per day.
- Around 6 trains per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your route between Cardiff and Reading as scheduled services by bus and train can vary by season or day of the week.
- Trains mostly depart from Cardiff Central (CDF) and arrive in Reading station (RDG).
- Buses mostly depart from Cardiff, Sophia Gardens and arrive in Reading, Blagrave Street.
- Ferries mostly depart from Southampton Vehicle Ferry Terminal and arrive in West Cowes.
- Travel with Great Western Railway to go to Reading by train.
- Travel with National Express, FlixBus to go to Reading by bus.
- 5 direct trains per day with Great Western Railway.
- 0 direct buses per day with FlixBus.
Travelling from Cardiff to Reading: related information
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