---
title: "Chester train stations | EveryRail"
description: "Chester station on City Road is a 10-minute walk from the Rows, with Avanti, TfW, Northern and Merseyrail trains to London, Liverpool and Holyhead."
image: "https://everyrail.com/img/blog-media/v2-cities/chester/featured-pexels-37919942-20261014-claude.jpg"
---
[Home]()[United Kingdom]()Chester
[Home]()[United Kingdom]()Chester
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Last reviewed October 2026
# Train stations in Chester
Chester station on City Road is a 10-minute walk from the Rows, with Avanti, TfW, Northern and Merseyrail trains to London, Liverpool and Holyhead.
![Eastgate Street in Chester lined with black-and-white timber-framed buildings, with the Eastgate Clock above the arch]()
Stations
1
Primary station
[Chester]()
Passenger operators
4
Chester has one station, on City Road, and Avanti West Coast, Transport for Wales, Northern and Merseyrail all use it. The historic centre is around a 10-minute walk away.
## Arriving at Chester station
The city walls are a short walk from the station, and Brook Street lies on its doorstep. Walk towards the centre and you reach the Rows and Eastgate Clock on Eastgate Street in about 10 minutes. The ticket office is open 06:10 to 22:15 Monday to Saturday and 08:10 to 22:05 on Sunday, and ticket machines are available. Bus stops are outside the station. Service 40, the City Rail Link, leaves stand S7 every 15 minutes from 09:15 to 16:45, Monday to Saturday, and reaches the Bus Interchange in 5 minutes and Foregate Street in 8. Stagecoach bus 1 also runs to the Bus Interchange every 20 minutes, every day. PlusBus adds local bus travel to a rail ticket.
## Trains from Chester
These journeys follow the timetable that runs until 12 December 2026. A new timetable starts on 13 December 2026.
- **London Euston:** Avanti West Coast runs a direct train every hour until late afternoon. The last direct train leaves at about 17:30 from Monday to Saturday. The two later evening trains need a change at Crewe. The fastest journey takes 2 hours 3 minutes and the average is around 2 hours 10 minutes.
- **Liverpool:** Merseyrail runs every 15 minutes through the day from Monday to Saturday and every 30 minutes on Sunday, reaching Liverpool Central in about 47 minutes. Transport for Wales runs about hourly to Liverpool Lime Street in about 50 minutes.
- **Manchester:** Transport for Wales runs about hourly in just over an hour, with no change. Northern runs hourly from Monday to Saturday via Altrincham to Manchester Piccadilly in about 1 hour 30 minutes, with fewer trains on Sunday.
- **Holyhead:** The journey takes about 1 hour 45 minutes. Transport for Wales runs hourly, and some Avanti trains also run through. The ferry to Dublin leaves from the port next to the station.
- **Wrexham, Shrewsbury and Cardiff Central:** Transport for Wales runs these routes. Wrexham General is 15 to 20 minutes away with two trains an hour, and Shrewsbury about 1 hour. Direct trains reach Cardiff Central in about 2 hours 40 minutes to 3 hours.
- **Birmingham New Street:** Transport for Wales runs a direct train about every two hours via Wrexham and Shrewsbury, taking about 2 hours 5 to 2 hours 10 minutes. At other times you change at Shrewsbury.
## Engineering works
On Sunday 1 November 2026, buses replace trains between Chester and Crewe, where you join Avanti West Coast for London. Buses also replace Transport for Wales trains to Manchester and to Liverpool South Parkway. Northern trains from Manchester Piccadilly run only as far as Greenbank, with buses on to Chester. On Sunday 1 November, Merseyrail trains from Chester run only to Rock Ferry, with buses on to Moorfields. The North Wales coast line closes from Saturday 9 January to Saturday 6 February 2027. Buses replace trains between Chester and Holyhead for the first three weeks, then between Llandudno Junction and Holyhead for the last week.
## Tickets
Advance tickets usually go on sale up to 12 weeks ahead and are valid only on the date and train named. Anytime tickets work on any permitted train. Off-Peak tickets cost less, and Off-Peak hours vary by route: they generally begin at 09:30 on weekdays in cities and large towns and at 09:00 elsewhere, and weekends and bank holidays are Off-Peak all day. Avanti Advance fares to London start from £44.00, and Northern Advance singles to Manchester Piccadilly start from £5.50. A railcard takes a third off most fares, and the 16-25 Railcard costs £35.
Chester is a penalty fare station, Merseyrail trains included, so buy before you board: at the ticket office, from the machines or online. A penalty fare is £100 plus the full single fare, or £50 plus the single fare if paid within 21 days.
## Rail passes and reservations
As of October 2026, an Interrail Great Britain pass covers Avanti West Coast, Merseyrail, Northern and Transport for Wales, so every operator at Chester is included. None of these trains needs a reservation, including Avanti West Coast to London. If you want a guaranteed seat to London, reserve one free at a station ticket office.
## Where to book
### Train tickets
- Omio
Omio connects you with over 1,000 transport providers - trains, buses, flights, and more - to simplify your travel planning.
[Check times & prices]()
### Passenger train operators
- [Avanti West Coast]()
Avanti West Coast runs London Euston to Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and Edinburgh, with Advance, Off-Peak and Anytime fares.
[Official website]()
[Check times & prices]()
- [Merseyrail]()
Merseyrail runs the Northern and Wirral lines around Liverpool. Buy before boarding or tap MetroCard, contactless or a smart device.
[Official website]()
[Check times & prices]()
- [Northern]()
Northern runs regional and commuter trains to over 500 stations across the North of England, from Advance to Anytime fares.
[Official website]()
[Check times & prices]()
- [Transport for Wales]()
Transport for Wales runs the Wales and Borders rail network, from the Cambrian Coast and Heart of Wales lines to Cardiff, Chester and Manchester Airport.
[Official website]()
[Check times & prices]()
## Train stations in Chester
[![Map showing the location of Chester]()© OpenStreetMap contributors![Transport for Wales]()![Northern]()![Merseyrail]()![Avanti West Coast]()Main stationChester1.0 km from the city centreChester is the main railway station in Chester, served by Avanti West Coast, Merseyrail, Northern, and Transport for Wales.]()
## Find places to stay in Chester
[![Bright bedroom with white bedding and a breakfast tray on the bed]()**Browse stays in Chester**Hotels and apartments via Booking.com]()
## Frequently asked questions
### Is there left luggage at Chester station?
No. Left luggage facilities at the station were withdrawn for security reasons. Carry your bags into town or leave them where you are staying.
### How do I get from Chester station to Chester Zoo?
Take Stagecoach bus 1 from outside the station. It runs every 20 minutes, seven days a week, and reaches the zoo in about 20 minutes. The hourly X1 is a little quicker. A single costs no more than £3. The zoo is a couple of miles north of the city.
### Can I get from Chester to Dublin by train and ferry?
Yes. Take a train to Holyhead, about 1 hour 45 minutes away, and board the ferry there. Holyhead port and station share one building. Transport for Wales sells SailRail, a combined ferry and train ticket for journeys from anywhere in Great Britain to anywhere in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
### Is Chester station step-free?
Yes. It is a category A step-free station with lifts to all platforms. For assistance, meet staff at the Customer Services Office on the main concourse. Staff help is available from 03:00 to 01:00 daily.
### How long does it take to walk the Chester city walls?
The full circuit takes around 45 minutes and the walls are free to walk. They start a short walk from the station and pass Eastgate Clock, Chester Cathedral and the River Dee.
## Other destinations in United Kingdom
- [Train stations in Aberdeen]()
- [Train stations in Bath]()
- [Train stations in Belfast]()
- [Train stations in Birmingham]()
- [Train stations in Bristol]()
- [Train stations in Cambridge]()
- [Train stations in Cardiff]()
- [Train stations in Dover]()
- [Train stations in Durham]()
- [Train stations in Edinburgh]()
- [Train stations in Exeter]()
- [Train stations in Glasgow]()
- [Train stations in Inverness]()
- [Train stations in Leeds]()
- [Train stations in Liverpool]()
- [Train stations in London]()
- [Train stations in Mallaig]()
- [Train stations in Manchester]()
- [Train stations in Newcastle upon Tyne]()
- [Train stations in Nottingham]()
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