Colchester Town Station is a large commuter station serving the town of Colchester in Essex. Previously known as St Botolph’s, it was renamed in 1991 and is operated by Greater Anglia.
The train station is a short walk to the bustling town centre that boasts many popular bars, clubs and high street shops. The town is also home to the famous Colchester Zoo.
Getting There
Getting to Colchester Town Station is easy and convenient. You can travel by train, bus or coach to get there – just make sure to check out the live arrivals and departures before you head out. You can also save time and money by purchasing your journey in advance online.
Trains at Colchester Town Station leave on a regular basis, so it’s easy to catch one from almost anywhere in the country. To book your tickets, you can use the Moovit app or visit their website.
Is there a direct train between Colchester Town and Camden Road? No, there are no direct trains between Colchester Town and Camden Road. However, there are 63 possible journeys that require a change of train. London Overground and Abellio Greater Anglia are the main train operating companies that offer services between these two locations. Yes, you can bring luggage with you on trains between Colchester Town and Camden Road. There may be restrictions on the number of bags or the size and weight of luggage.
Once you’ve alighted from your train, exit the station through platform 4, turn left and walk down to the main road at the bottom. On the opposite side of the road, you’ll see a layby bus stop. This is where you can board service number 75 for Maldon or Tiptree and Colchester Zoo.
Station Facilities
The station is open each day that trains are running. It is usually staffed until the last train of the day departs and ticket office opening times vary.
Toilets are available at both ends of the concourse. There are also showers on platform 1 for those travelling towards Colchester, London, and Walton-on-the-Naze.
There is a sheltered cycle parking area with five stands located on the forecourt of the station, near to the ticket office window. Colchester Town Station is part of Greater Anglia’s PS1.4 billion investment to transform its train services across East Anglia, with the introduction of a complete fleet of new trains. These include 38 new regional bi-mode trains that operate local services in Suffolk, Norfolk, and Cambridgeshire, and ten new intercity electric trains on services between Norwich, Ipswich, and London. Greater Anglia’s fleet of trains at its Colchester depot has been upgraded with new train servicing facilities, including 40,000-litre fuel tanks, a 14-tonne sanding storage tower, and a 10 metre heated pool for washing and cleaning trains overnight after passenger service.
Residents needing toilets, showers and/or power to charge cell phones can go to the Elmwood Community Center at 1106 New Britain Ave for a “Comfort Station.” The center is open until 8 p.m. on Thursday and will assess whether extended hours are needed, going forward.
Timetables
The station is served by trains from London. It is close to Colchester town centre and attractions, the Bus Station and shops. There is an hourly service to Walton-on-the-Naze and Clacton on the beach, and direct trains to the Essex coast and Suffolk towns.
Colchester Town is also a good base for walking in the woods and countryside of northern Essex or Suffolk. From here there are frequent trains to the coastal resorts of Clacton-on-Sea and Walton-on-the-Naze, as well as to nearby Manningtree for walks in Dedham Vale. There are also trains to the charming Suffolk town of Sudbury, changing at Marks Tey.
Travellers can use Moovit to find the best train timetable for their journey. They can also track their line GREATER ANGLIA (Colchester) train in real time, and get alerted of any delays or disruptions to their planned trip.
The historic ruins of the Roman city at Colchester are displayed in a museum, including a large ‘Jumbo’ water tower. Other highlights include Balkerne Gate, the earliest-preserved Roman entrance arch and the medieval town hall. Open M-Su 1030-1600, closed Sundays except during December. Bus 75 from Colchester Town station or Bus Station, Osborne Street to Cemetery gates (5 minutes journey), then 1/4 mile walk. M-S every 15 minutes, Sun 1/2-hourly. Operated by First. Colchester PlusBus tickets are valid on this journey.
Parking
The official Colchester Station Greater Anglia car park is located a short walk from the station and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It has a total of 1,321 spaces, including 26 dedicated disabled parking bays. This car park offers quick and easy access to the six platforms via pedestrian walkways, making it ideal for visitors to the town or weekday commuters. It is also possible to book season tickets for this car park, providing excellent value and convenience for frequent users.
The smaller of the two train stations serving Colchester, Colchester Town is on the Sunshine Coast Line and was opened in 1866. It was originally named St Botolph’s after the nearby priory and church, but was renamed in 1991 to reflect its location closer to the town centre. It is operated by Abellio Greater Anglia, who run all trains serving the station.
The station has an island platform with an up side and a down side, with the London-end bay platform (Platform 6) being used for a few services each day to and from Marks Tey. The down side of the station has a single platform used by trains to and from Colchester, and another platform for the all-stations service to Walton-on-the-Naze. The station is served by bus 76/X76 from Colchester High Street, and infrequent buses 77.
