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There has been a fort on the hill where Lancaster's famous castle stands since Roman times, so it is fitting that the town's first station, opened in 1846, was known as 'Lancaster Castle'. The name was later changed, but the nearby fortifications continued to exert an influence – not least on the station's sandstone buildings, styled to reflect the castle's battlements.

Today, Lancaster station handles trains to and from London, Glasgow, Manchester, Leeds and Morecambe, as well as services into Cumbria and the Lake District. On the east side, the original station buildings from 1846 are still in use; those on the west side date to 1900 and 1906, and are arguably even more impressive.

Lancaster itself is a riverside university town with fine examples of Georgian architecture, including the Lancaster City Museum – the station is in the west of the city centre, with the main shopping area a few minutes' walk away.

Station details & facilities

Trains to Lancaster station

Lancaster train station is mainly served by Avanti West Coast, TransPennine Express and Northern trains.

Avanti West Coast services connect London Euston to Lancaster in 3h 4m and Glasgow Central to Lancaster in 2h 20m, while TransPennine Express trains serve the routes from Manchester Airport to Lancaster (1h 25m) and Edinburgh to Lancaster (2h 11m). Finally, Northern services run from Preston to Lancaster in 17m and from Morecambe to Lancaster in 10m.

Need more information on how to get to Lancaster by train? Check out our dedicated page to trains to Lancaster.

Lancaster train station departures and arrivals

Want to know when your next train from/to Lancaster station departs? Scroll down this page and click on the ‘Departures’ tab if you want to check all trains departing from Lancaster railway station or click on the ‘Arrivals’ tab for more information about all services arriving into Lancaster.

There are entrances to the west and east of the station. The ticket office is on the east side, but there are ticket machines on the west side, as well as public toilets and a taxi rank. A footbridge with lift access connects the two entrances to Lancaster's five platforms - trains to London generally depart from platform 4, and long-distance trains to Scotland from platform 3. Platform 1 is a bay platform, located next to the north end of platform 2.

Lancaster train station parking

Lancaster train station has two small car parks, which are opposite platform 1. Step-free access is available at both car parks.

Hotels near Lancaster train station

Looking for a hotel near Lancaster railway station? There’s a wide range of hotels you can choose from. Simply click on the button below and book now your accommodation in Lancaster.

Check hotel availability

Frequently asked questions

Is Lancaster station open?

Lancaster station is open every day that services are running to and from the station. The station usually opens just before the first train of the day leaves and then closes after the last train departs. Ticket office opening hours may vary.

Are trains running today from Lancaster station?

Trains arrive into and depart from Lancaster station almost every day, although there may be fewer services during the weekends and bank holidays. Check our live train times for up-to-date information on trains running to and from Lancaster.

Are there toilets at Lancaster station?

Yes, there are toilets available to use at Lancaster station.

Are dogs allowed at Lancaster station?

Yes, dogs are allowed at Lancaster station, but they should be kept on a lead or in a pet carrier at all times.

Departures and arrivals from Lancaster

Want to check the latest departures and arrivals into Lancaster station? Find live information for the next trains departing and arriving at the station below.
Departing toTrainTimePlatformStatus
to London EustonAvanti West Coast05:13On time
to MorecambeNorthern05:19On time
to Barrow-in-FurnessNorthern05:38On time
to Manchester AirportNorthern05:50On time
to Glasgow CentralTransPennine Express05:52On time
Arriving fromTrainTimePlatformStatus
from Preston (Lancs)Northern05:38On time
from Manchester PiccadillyTransPennine Express05:51On time
from MorecambeNorthern06:08On time
from SkiptonNorthern06:31On time
from Glasgow CentralAvanti West Coast06:36On time
† Average savings on advance fares booked at least one week before day of travel vs Anytime fares purchased on day of travel. Subject to availability. Excludes coach.

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