Skip to contentTrainline homepage
RailcardsBusiness

No tickets in your basket.

Why not plan a trip?

My Bookings
Loading...
Loading...

Trains from Southend Central to Preston (Lancs)

Booking.com

ExternalLinkExternalLink

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

Avanti West Coast
Chiltern Railways

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

  1. Home
  2. Train times
  3. Southend Central to Preston (Lancs)

Trains to Preston (Lancs) from Southend Central

First train

02:45

Last train

22:36

Departure stationSouthend Central
Arrival stationPreston (Lancs)
Journey time

From 4h 2m

Distance

210 miles (338 km)

Frequency

31 trains per day

Changes

2 changes

Train operators

Avanti West Coast, Chiltern Railways, East Midlands Railway, Greater Anglia, Lumo, TransPennine Express, c2c

Travelling from Southend Central to Preston (Lancs) by train

If you're planning to travel from Southend Central to Preston (Lancs), we're here to help!

On average, the train journey from Southend Central to Preston (Lancs) takes around 6 hours 16 minutes. There are normally 31 trains per day travelling from Southend Central to Preston (Lancs).

You'll have to make 2 changes on your journey to Preston (Lancs), as there are no direct trains.

Avanti West Coast, Lumo, Greater Anglia and East Midlands Railway trains run on this route.

Save money on your train tickets by booking in advance.

Use our Journey Planner to compare ticket prices and find the cheapest fares.

What do people frequently ask about the train journey from Southend Central to Preston (Lancs)?

Want to know more about your journey from Southend Central to Preston (Lancs)? We've compiled some of the most frequently asked questions by our customers to help you plan your journey.

How do you get to Preston (Lancs) from Southend Central?

To travel to Preston (Lancs) from Southend Central, you can take the train - on average, the journey takes around 6 hours and 16 minutes, though the fastest trains can take 4 hours and 2 minutes. Use our Journey Planner to get more information.

How long is the train ride from Southend Central to Preston (Lancs)?

Trains from Southend Central to Preston (Lancs) take an average of 6 hours and 16 minutes, although on the fastest services it can take just 4 hours and 2 minutes. You'll usually find 31 trains per day on this route, so use our Journey Planner to check specific dates as times may vary.

What is the quickest journey time between Southend Central and Preston (Lancs) by train?

The quickest journey time between Southend Central and Preston (Lancs) by train is 4 hours and 2 minutes.

Are there direct trains from Southend Central to Preston (Lancs)?

No, there are no direct trains running from Southend Central to Preston (Lancs), you’ll usually need to make at least 2 changes during the journey.

How do I find cheap train tickets from Southend Central to Preston (Lancs)?

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. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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 Southend Central to Preston (Lancs) 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