- Must visit
Signal Tower Museum
Museum inside the former lighthouse station, telling the story of the Bell Rock Lighthouse and local seafaring heritage through displays and artefacts.
Cheapest price on 18 Sept
£15
Average ticket price on 18 Sept
£16
Fastest journey on 18 Sept
1 h 32 m
Average journey duration on 18 Sept
1 h 33 m
Trains on 18 Sept
2
Distance
78 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Edinburgh to Arbroath is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Edinburgh to Arbroath will cost around £16 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £15.
On Fri 18 Sept, we found 2 trains from Edinburgh to Arbroath, including 2 direct services.
These direct trains cover the 78 km distance in an average of 1 h 33 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 1 h 32 m .
The slowest trains will take 1 h 33 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.




Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Edinburgh to Arbroath among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the train, with an average ticket price of £19 For those with little time, consider booking a train, which has an average total journey time of 2h 7m. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a train costs an average of £19, while a coach costs an average of £51.
Distance: 78 km
Most popular Train | Coach | Driving |
|---|---|---|
£19 Average Price Cheapest | £51 Average Price | £51 Average Price (fuel + tolls) |
2h 7m Average total duration Fastest 1h 37m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 3h 38m Average total duration 3h 8m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 1h 52m Average total duration (door-to-door) |
Direct Options | Direct Options | Direct Options |
This is compared to other travel options from Edinburgh to Arbroath:
A train is £32 less than a coach for this route with tickets for a coach from Edinburgh to Arbroath costing on average £51.
Other travel options to Arbroath take longer:
Coach takes on average 3h 8m.
The journey is about 15m faster (1h 37m by train vs 1h 52m by car) and roughly £31 cheaper once you factor in fuel and tolls (£19 vs £51). You'll also arrive in the city centre rather than hunting for parking, and you can work, read, or watch the landscape go by instead of concentrating on the road.
Direct services run with London North Eastern Railway Limited (LNER), Caledonian Sleeper, ScotRail.
Driving is still worth considering if you want to stop along the way or need a car once you arrive.
The table below shows live departures for Edinburgh to Arbroath trains for today, Thursday 17 September. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 9:31 Edinburgh | 1h32 | 11:03 Arbroath | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 10:31 Edinburgh | 1h32 | 12:03 Arbroath | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 19:34 Edinburgh | 1h33 | 21:07 Arbroath | 0 changesdirect | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare train and coach prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Trains from Edinburgh to Arbroath run on average 7 times per day, taking around 1h 37m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £13 if you book in advance.
There are 6 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 05:30, the last at 22:28. The fastest train covers the 78 km distance in 1h 25m.
Distance 78 km |
Average train duration 1h 37m |
Cheapest ticket price £13 |
Trains per day 7 |
Direct trains 6 |
Fastest train 1h 25m |
First train 5:30 |
Last train 22:28 |
Cheapest Month Dec |
Cheapest Day Fri |
High Season Jul - Sept |
Low Season Oct - Dec |
Busiest Day Tue |
Least Busy Day Thu |
Best time to book 14 days |
Discover the best of Arbroath — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Arbroath trip today.
Museum inside the former lighthouse station, telling the story of the Bell Rock Lighthouse and local seafaring heritage through displays and artefacts.
Small local museum beside Arbroath Abbey with carved Pictish stones and displays on the village’s early history. A rewarding stop for archaeology lovers.
Contemporary exhibition venue in a historic church building, presenting changing art and community shows in a distinctive setting near the town centre.
Clifftop and seafront walking route south of the harbour, known for sea views, rock formations and easy access to dramatic stretches of the coast.
Sandy beach and promenade area popular for walks, fresh air and views across the bay. A simple, family-friendly outdoor stop near the town centre.
Coastal nature reserve north of town with dunes, beach and birdlife. Ideal for a quieter walk away from the centre with wide sea and estuary views.
Hot-smoked haddock cured over hardwood in the traditional Arbroath method. It is the town’s signature food and a protected regional speciality.
A hearty breakfast pairing Arbroath smokie with poached eggs, often served on toast. It showcases the town’s famed smoked haddock at breakfast.
A creamy soup made with smoked haddock, potatoes, onion and milk or cream. In Arbroath it is often prepared with local smokies for deeper flavour.
Long-established harbour-side smokehouse and shop specialising in Arbroath smokies and smoked fish. Informal, local and rooted in town tradition.
Traditional smokehouse and fish shop known for authentic Arbroath smokies. Casual and focused on local seafood to take away or enjoy simply.
Popular restaurant serving seafood, grill dishes and Scottish favourites in a relaxed town-centre setting. A reliable choice for sit-down dining.
Moderate for the UK. Hotels and dining are usually cheaper than Edinburgh, while local buses and rail are manageable for most visitors.
Tipping is optional. In restaurants, 10-12.5% is common for good service if not already added. Round up taxi fares. Cafe tips are small change, not expected.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Edinburgh to Arbroath by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Arbroath, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Edinburgh to Arbroath trains use the Edinburgh Waverley to Arbroath station pair. Use this guide to compare Edinburgh and Arbroath train stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like train station facilities and services.
Edinburgh Waverley has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Lockers, Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking, Car Rental and Information Desk.
Food options include: Bagel Factory, Burger King, Caffè Nero, Costa Coffee, JD Wetherspoon, The Pasty Shop, The Beer House, M&S, Pret a Manger
Free public Wi-Fi available. ATMs are there are a few ATM machines around the station.
The ticket office is open Mon - Sat: 05:00 - 23:59, Sun: 07:00 - 23:59. Information desks are information booths are located on the concourse. .
Luggage storage is you can leave luggage at Excessive Baggage Company on Platform 2. . Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Edinburgh Waverley: Parking, Taxis, WC.
Available at Edinburgh Waverley: Bike Parking, Car Rental.
Accessibility facilities are available at Edinburgh Waverley: Entrances are step free. Station is equipped with an elevator. Staffed with guide communicators for the deaf. Tactile warning strips are on the platform edges for the blind.
Nearby hotels include Old Waverley Hotel, Jurys Inn Edinburgh, The Scotsman Hotel.
Haymarket is 1 km from Edinburgh city centre. Public transport options include:
Haymarket has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Shopping, Parking, Dining, ATM, Accessibility, WC, Hotel, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking and Information Desk.
Food and drink options are available at Haymarket.
Wi-Fi is available at Haymarket. ATMs are available at Haymarket.
Ticket office support is available at Haymarket. Information desks are information available from staff: Yes - from help point,Yes - from ticket office, Helpline Contact: Tel: 0800 046 1634 and 18001 0800 046 1634 (Deaf and customers who are hard of hearing), Passenger Information Systems: Departure screens, Announcements, Arrival screens.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Haymarket: Parking, WC.
Available at Haymarket: Bike Parking.
Accessibility facilities are available at Haymarket: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Step free access note: This is a Category A station. This station has step-free access to all platforms. The Passenger Assist meeting point is at the automatic ticket gates Blue Badge parking bays: 2, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: Yes, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: No.
Arbroath has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, Accessibility, WC, Lounge, Lost and Found Office, Ticket Office, Bike Parking and Information Desk.
Food and drink options are available at Arbroath.
Wi-Fi is available at Arbroath.
Ticket office support is available at Arbroath. Information desks are information available from staff: Yes - from help point,Yes - from ticket office, Helpline Contact: Tel: 0800 046 1634 and 18001 0800 046 1634 (Deaf and customers who are hard of hearing), Passenger Information Systems: Departure screens, Announcements.
Lost and found is available at the station.
Available at Arbroath: Parking, WC.
Available at Arbroath: Bike Parking.
Accessibility facilities are available at Arbroath: Staff help available: Yes, Step free access coverage: Yes, Step free access note: This is a Category A station. This station has step-free access to all platforms Blue Badge parking bays: 3, Accessible car park equipment: Wheelchair users may require assistance using car park equipment at this station, Accessible ticket machines: There are accessible ticket machines at this station, Accessible toilets: Yes, Ramp for train access: Yes, Wheelchairs available: Yes, Impaired mobility set down / pick up points available: Yes.
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