Trains to Colchester

Colchester Train Station lies only fifty-one miles from its most popular train station, London Liverpool Street. The original station opened in 1843, was rebuilt in 1865, and expanded in 1962. As commuting into London took off in the twentieth century, the town’s fortunes also boomed. By 2021, Colchester was granted city status.

This station is not to be confused with its more central sibling, Colchester Town, which is nearer the city centre. This station, named simply Colchester, lies north-west of the city centre.

Colchester Train Station offers a range of amenities and services to its passengers, including:

• A ticket office (opening times: Monday to Friday: 5.00am – 10.00pm; Saturday: 5.30am – 9.00pm; Sunday: 6.00am – 8.00pm). You can book train tickets as well as monthly and annual season ticketsat the ticket office.
• Self-service ticket machines and accessible ticket machines. Plus, you can collect tickets you have bought online from the self-service machines.
• Step-free access to all platforms.
• Boards to check the real-time train timetable.
• Shops and hospitality.
• Post boxes, public wi-fi, and public telephones.
• 576 bicycle storage stands, compounds, and racks.

Colchester Train Station is a twenty-minute walk from the city centre. However, if you prefer, local bus services and taxis also serve this station right outside the main entrance. Making it easy to get around the city after a long journey.

Trains from this station predominantly go to London Liverpool Street and areas in the local vicinity, such as Ipswich, Marks Tey, Manningtree, Norwich, and also Clacton-on-Sea, which runs on the Sunshine Coast Line.

London Liverpool Street to Colchester Train Station

The journey from London Liverpool Street to Colchester takes around one hour and six minutes with Greater Anglia. There are around five trains per hour.

Ipswich to Colchester Train Station

It takes twenty-one minutes to get from Ipswich to Colchester with Greater Anglia.

Three trains leave per hour.

Norwich to Colchester Train Station

On average, the journey from Norwich to Colchester takes one hour and two minutes with Greater Anglia. There are two trains per hour.

Clacton-on-Sea to Colchester Train Station

With Greater Anglia, it takes between twenty-eight and thirty-two minutes to get from Clacton-on-Sea to Colchester. There is one train per hour.

Greater Anglia is the sole operator at this train station. It serves routes to London Liverpool Street and destinations in the local area, such as Ipswich, Chelmsford, Norwich, and Clacton-on-Sea, ensuring easy access to both urban centres and coastal towns, catering to a variety of travel needs.

Colchester is located in Essex, making for excellent connections to central London. Although there’s so much to do in Colchester, you needn’t go to the capital. From its ancient history to its ephemeral gardens.

Colchester has a brilliant and lengthy history. Founded even before the Romans arrived in Britain, the city boasts a Roman wall, medieval gates, and a Norman Castle, all conveniently accessible from Colchester Train Station. The Roman walls stood for 2000 years after Boudicca destroyed the settlement. There’s also a Victorian town hall and Jumbo, a water tower—but not the type you find at waterparks. This tower was built in 1883 and is Britain's largest surviving water tower with an intriguing past.

For nature lovers, head to Colchester Zoological Society, a short drive or bus ride from the station, a zoo with over sixty acres of parkland that’s home to 155 different species, including elephants, Amur leopards, and Bornean orangutans. Have a cup of tea for the soul and visit Beth Chatto’s gardens, a glorious rhapsody to nature, where you can get back in touch with the fauna and flora of an English country garden and enjoy the wonderful plants and flowers.

There’s so much to do in Colchester, you’ll forget London even exists. Yet sometimes the most challenging part of planning a day trip is booking train tickets. That’s why it’s best to use TrainPal to search for and purchase cheap train tickets.

What’s the postcode at Colchester Train Station

The full address for this station is Station Approach Road, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1XD.

How many platforms are at Colchester Train Station?

There are six platforms at Colchester Train Station.

What’s the station code for Colchester Train Station?

The station code for Colchester Train Station is COL.

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