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Location notes
This station is on the Great Eastern Mainline between Chelmsford and Ipswich. It is usually the first stop of the Intercity services from London Liverpool Street to Norwich/Great Yarmouth. The nearest town is Colchester, about 5 minutes by bus or car.
Please note you may need a Platform Ticket or Ticket to travel to gain access to this station depending on which member of staff is on and how busy the station is. The station staff are used to enthusiasts but as always please be polite and move if requested to.
Please note you may need a Platform Ticket or Ticket to travel to gain access to this station depending on which member of staff is on and how busy the station is. The station staff are used to enthusiasts but as always please be polite and move if requested to.
Railway type and traffic
Normal traffic through this mainline station are 321/360 Electric Multiple Units. There are also have a regular 170 Working from Liverpool Street Station to Great Yarmouth during Peak times.
There is also a frequent service to Norwich using either Class 86s or more regularly Class 90s. Occasionally the Class 86/90 will be replaced by 170 units especially during peak times. The Class 86s are being phased out now and will only be in service during October.
The line also has a number of Freightliner and DB Schenker services, as well as the odd DRS Nuclear Flask service.
There is also a frequent service to Norwich using either Class 86s or more regularly Class 90s. Occasionally the Class 86/90 will be replaced by 170 units especially during peak times. The Class 86s are being phased out now and will only be in service during October.
The line also has a number of Freightliner and DB Schenker services, as well as the odd DRS Nuclear Flask service.
Environment
Colchester (North) Station is a relatively quiet mainline station during off peak times, although there is always plenty of activity. The station has full CCTV. There is plenty of shelter if it rains and you can still see what is happening from the canopies.
For those train enthusiasts who are wheelchair bound the station is very much accessible, although the staff are not too keen on helping you between platforms. The lifts are not open for public use and so you will require staff assistance to get between platforms 1/2 and platforms 3-6 (please note that platforms 3-6 are all accessible from the lift)
For those train enthusiasts who are wheelchair bound the station is very much accessible, although the staff are not too keen on helping you between platforms. The lifts are not open for public use and so you will require staff assistance to get between platforms 1/2 and platforms 3-6 (please note that platforms 3-6 are all accessible from the lift)
Road directions
To find Colchester (North) Station simply follow the Signs for the Hospital (A+E). On the route to the hospital you will go past that station.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Colchester (North) Station map co-ordinates
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Colchester (North) Station map co-ordinates
Parking
To find parking can be a bit more tricky unless you intend to pay to park at the station. Probably the best bet is in the Industrial Estate very near to the station next to 'Wickes'.
Public transport
The easiest way to get to this location by public transport is obviously by train. If you are coming in from Sudbury by bus then you just need to hop off at the Station Stop just under the bridge. If you are coming in by bus you will need to get a 5,8,8A,65,66,67,67A,78,78A or 753.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
The usual rail station facilities are available including Toilets, Coffee Shop, Café and W H Smith's. Just across the road from the Station is the ASDA store with the usual supermarket facilities. There is also usually a Tea Van in the Wickes car park during the week which can be used. Both are just a couple of minutes walk from the station entrance.
Sun Compass
Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Colchester (North) Station
Streetmap links
Colchester (North) Station general view map
Colchester (North) Station close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Colchester (North) Station
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Colchester (North) Station
Googly map
Colchester (North) Station general view map
Colchester (North) Station close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Colchester (North) Station
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
Photography at the station is normally very good almost all day. The only problems that may prohibit photography is first thing in the morning on a bright day when the sun is rising on the east of the line. The sun rises directly over the track. By about 8 in the morning the sun is at the side of the station and stays in a pretty good spot for getting the movements on platforms 1-4. Platform 5 and 6 can be a little more difficult during periods of intense sunlight. The best places to stand are at the most easterly of platform 4 or westerly end of platform 3. All trains that come into Colchester during the course of a normal day use platforms 1-5, with 5 being at the easterly end. Platform five holds the terminating Walton trains which arrive once an hour. Platform 6 just holds the early morning London services with the siding next to platform 6 holding the rescue thunderbirds when they are in attendance.
The intercity services usually use platforms 2 and 3, although occasionally the Norwich bound services may use platform 1 to either allow a passing service to go through, or to load any wheelchair passengers which may be travelling.
The intercity services usually use platforms 2 and 3, although occasionally the Norwich bound services may use platform 1 to either allow a passing service to go through, or to load any wheelchair passengers which may be travelling.
General views - All photographs © Steven Hughes unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking east
Fig 2 - Looking west
Fig 3 - Looking west
Fig 4 - Looking east
Fig 5 - The sidings
Fig 6 - Sheds
Disclaimer
All information contained within this is site is © Trainspots. The images used on this site remain the property of the original photographer, as credited at the top of the page, and are used with their kind permission.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
