Skip to contentTrainline homepage
RailcardsBusiness

No tickets in your basket.

Why not plan a trip?

My Bookings
Loading...
Loading...

Trains from Colchester to Thurso

Booking.com

ExternalLinkExternalLink

Open Booking.com in a new tab with places to stay on your trip

Avanti West Coast
Caledonian Sleeper

Compare prices from over 270 rail and coach companies in Europe

Icon of trainline-phone-tickets.svg

Buy your tickets with us and easily find them on your phone

Icon of trainline-safe-payments.svg

Safely pay with PayPal, Visa and all international payment cards

Looking for the cheapest date to travel?

Within 7 days

Outbound from

Within 1 month

Outbound from

Within 3 months

Outbound from
Low prices found by our customers
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
12Today14 oct.15161718192021222324252627282930311 nov.2345678
Each fare is the lowest adult economy ticket fare found by our customers on Trainline. Fares booked further in advance than the dates displayed may be cheaper. Prices are updated daily, subject to change and indicative of price last update. Limited availability. Discount cards and coach journeys excluded, prices exclusive of booking fee.
  1. Home
  2. Train times
  3. Colchester to Thurso

Trains to Thurso from Colchester

It takes an average of 18h 42m to travel from Colchester to Thurso by train, over a distance of around 494 miles (794 km). There are normally 3 trains per day travelling from Colchester to Thurso and tickets for this journey start from £140.20 when you book in advance.

First train

04:40

Last train

21:00

Departure stationColchester
Arrival stationThurso
Journey time

From 14h 11m

Distance

494 miles (794 km)

Frequency

3 trains per day

Changes

3 changes

Price

From £140.20

Train operators

Avanti West Coast, Caledonian Sleeper, Greater Anglia, London North Eastern Railway, ScotRail

What are the train times from Colchester to Thurso?

Check out the next trains departing from Colchester to Thurso for Tuesday 20th October 2026 using our handy timetable below, including platform and live travel information. You can view the full day timetable or search for a different date here.
DepartsArrivesDuration
07:2022:2015h 0m, 4 changes
07:4322:2014h 37m, 5 changes
07:4822:2014h 32m, 7 changes
13:0010:5921h 59m, 4 changes
19:3014:2418h 54m, 3 changes
22:0017:5019h 50m, 5 changes

Plan your journey from Colchester to Thurso

Considering a trip to Thurso and need more information on how to take the train from Colchester to Thurso? Start your search with us today!

Usually, the train from Colchester to Thurso takes around 18 hours 42 minutes. Every day, there are around 3 trains running on this popular route.

There will be 3 changes on your journey from Colchester to Thurso, as there are no direct trains.

Trains on this route are operated by London North Eastern Railway, Avanti West Coast, ScotRail and Greater Anglia.

From Colchester to Thurso, tickets start from just £140.20. Booking tickets in advance can be cheaper than buying on the day of travel.

Use our Journey Planner to pick the dates and times you want to travel, and we’ll give you all the options.

What do people frequently ask about the train journey from Colchester to Thurso?

Want to know more about your journey from Colchester to Thurso? We've compiled some of the most frequently asked questions by our customers to help you plan your journey.

How do you get to Thurso from Colchester?

To travel to Thurso from Colchester, you can take the train - on average, the journey takes around 18 hours and 42 minutes, though the fastest trains can take 14 hours and 11 minutes. Use our Journey Planner to get more information.

How long is the train ride from Colchester to Thurso?

Trains from Colchester to Thurso take an average of 18 hours and 42 minutes, although on the fastest services it can take just 14 hours and 11 minutes. You'll usually find 3 trains per day on this route, so use our Journey Planner to check specific dates as times may vary.

How much does it cost to get from Colchester to Thurso by train?

Train tickets from Colchester to Thurso can start from £140.20 when booked in advance, but they’re usually more expensive if bought on the day of travel. Prices may also vary depending on the time of day, route, and class you choose.

What is the quickest journey time between Colchester and Thurso by train?

The quickest journey time between Colchester and Thurso by train is 14 hours and 11 minutes.

How do I find cheap train tickets from Colchester to Thurso?

As most UK train companies increase their prices as the departure date approaches, our Trainline team of experts have put together these tips to help you find the cheapest tickets.

1. Book in advance

Train tickets from Colchester to Thurso start at £140.20§ one way for a Standard Class ticket if you book in advance. UK train companies usually release Advance tickets up to 12 weeks ahead of time, and these can be cheaper than tickets bought on the day of travel.

2. Sign up to Ticket Alert

If you're planning a trip more than 12 weeks ahead, sign up to our Ticket Alert to get notified when Advance tickets are released for your travel date.

3. Use a Railcard

National Railcards offer a 1/3 off eligible train tickets in the UK and can be a great investment if you travel throughout the year. Buy one with us and you'll be able to store it digitally in our app, so you'll always have it on your travels.

4. Book split tickets

Our handy feature SplitSave will 'split' your train journey into multiple tickets, which can be much cheaper than buying a single ticket. Find out more about split tickets.

5. Travel Off-Peak

If you can be flexible with your travel times, Off-Peak and Super Off-Peak tickets are usually cheaper in the UK. Generally, Off-Peak times are any time at weekends and outside of Monday to Friday morning and evening rush hours.

6. Consider a Season Ticket

Best for commuters, if you catch a train on the same route more than 3 times per week, you could save money with a Season Ticket. With annual, monthly, weekly and flexi options available, find out if a Season Ticket for Colchester to Thurso is right for you.

For more money-saving tips on UK and European train travel, read our cheap train tickets guide.

§Advance adult single fare. Excludes booking fee. Prices seen by Trainline customers in the last 30 days. Availability limited.
† 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.

Looking for more ideas?

Europe’s leading train and coach app

We help customers across Europe make more than 172,000 smarter journeys every day.

Get a link