Train stations in Inverness

Inverness station is on Academy Street in the city centre, a couple of hundred yards from the bus station. Trains from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, the Kyle line and the far north all end here, and so do the Caledonian Sleeper and LNER's daily train from London.

Which station to use

Use Inverness (INV). ScotRail manages it and runs most of the trains. The ticket office opens 06:30 to 20:30 Monday to Friday, 06:30 to 18:30 on Saturday and 09:15 to 20:20 on Sunday. There are no lifts, but every platform is step-free.

The only other station you are likely to use is Inverness Airport, at Dalcross, for flights (see below).

From the station into the centre

The station is in the middle of the city, so you step out onto Academy Street in the centre. Inverness Bus Station on Farraline Park is a couple of hundred yards away. The River Ness runs through the city, with Inverness Castle above it.

Trains from Inverness

ScotRail runs the direct trains to the main cities. As of October 2026, on the timetable that runs until 12 December 2026:

• Edinburgh Waverley: about 3 hours 45 minutes, up to 11 trains a day.
• Glasgow Queen Street: about 3 hours 35 minutes, up to 12 trains a day.
• Aberdeen: about 2 hours 20 minutes, up to 11 trains a day, the first at 04:54.
• Kyle of Lochalsh: about 2 hours 40 minutes, up to 4 trains a day, 08:53 to 17:54.
• Thurso: about 3 hours 50 minutes, up to 4 trains a day, the last at 18:31.
• Wick: about 4 hours 23 minutes, up to 4 trains a day, the last at 18:31.

London by LNER or sleeper

LNER's Highland Chieftain runs once a day. On weekdays it leaves Inverness at 07:55 for London King's Cross, about 7 hours 55 minutes away, via Stirling, Edinburgh, Newcastle and York.

The Caledonian Sleeper leaves Inverness at 20:45 from Monday to Friday and at 20:25 on Sunday, and reaches London Euston at 08:00. The journey takes 11 hours 15 minutes, or 11 hours 35 minutes on Sunday. There is no Saturday night service.

Going north, the sleeper leaves London Euston at 21:15 from Monday to Friday and at 21:00 on Sunday, and reaches Inverness at 08:45. The Highland Chieftain leaves King's Cross at 12:00 on weekdays and takes about 8 hours 7 minutes.

Inverness Airport

Trains run from Inverness to Inverness Airport station in about 10 minutes, up to 18 a day from 04:54 to 22:15. From Inverness Airport station, Stagecoach service 1 reaches the terminal in about 6 minutes, hourly, for £2. The same bus runs from City Centre Queensgate to the airport in about 45 minutes.

Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle

Citylink 919 leaves Inverness Bus Station for Fort William five times a day until 23 December 2026, at 08:55, 10:45, 12:45, 15:15 and 17:30, and reaches the Urquhart Castle car park in 38 minutes.

Works and holiday changes

• Saturday 31 October to Sunday 1 November and Saturday 7 to Sunday 8 November 2026: buses replace trains between Perth and Inverness via Aviemore. This affects ScotRail from Edinburgh and Glasgow and the LNER Highland Chieftain. The Caledonian Sleeper runs via Aberdeen instead: on Sunday 1 November it leaves Inverness at 20:15, not 20:25, and the Friday 6 November train from London misses Aviemore and the other Highland Main Line stops, reaching Inverness at 09:27 instead of 08:45.
• Sunday 15 November 2026: the sleeper to London leaves Inverness at 20:54 instead of 20:25.
• Saturday 28 November to Friday 18 December 2026: no trains run between Dingwall and Kyle of Lochalsh. Replacement coaches run from Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh, with a minibus between Stromeferry and Kyle. Trains resume on Saturday 19 December.
• Saturday 5, Sunday 6, Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 December 2026: buses replace trains between Inverness and Dingwall, and an amended train service runs from Dingwall to Invergordon, Tain, Wick and Thurso.
• There are no trains on Christmas Day or New Year's Day, and the last trains on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve leave earlier than normal. The Caledonian Sleeper does not run on 24, 25, 26 or 31 December 2026, or on 1 and 2 January 2027.

Tickets

ScotRail has no peak fares. Anytime tickets cost the same as Off-Peak, and Off-Peak tickets are valid at any time of day. Advance singles from Edinburgh or Glasgow Queen Street start at £21.70, and Inverness to Aberdeen starts at £11.60. ScotRail charges no booking fees on its own website and app. A Two Together Railcard (£35 a year) or a 16-25 Railcard (£30 a year) takes a third off.

Buy before you board. The Sleeper and LNER sell through their own sites at their own prices.

Rail passes and reservations

As of October 2026, Interrail covers ScotRail, LNER and the Caledonian Sleeper, and the Interrail Great Britain Pass covers England, Scotland and Wales. ScotRail and LNER trains need no seat reservation. The Caledonian Sleeper always needs one. A seat has no extra charge but is booked through the Sleeper's Guest Service Centre. A Classic room costs £155 for one or £195 for a twin. Club rooms cost £205 for one or £255 for a twin and are for first class passes only.