Inverness to Thurso train with Scotrail

 Trains from Inverness to Thurso

The scenic train journey between Inverness and Thurso has four services a day, each taking just under four hours to travel through the north Highlands to the UK's northern coast.

Inverness to Thurso Train Time: Daily departures

Trains from Inverness to Thurso depart four times a day at approximately four-hour intervals. The first train leaves at 7:00 a.m. and the last just after 6:30 p.m. On Sundays, the service reduces to only one departure a day which leaves just before 6:00 p.m. All trains are direct and require no changes. 

How long is the journey by train from Inverness to Thurso?

The train from Inverness to Thurso takes just under four hours to complete its route. There is only a small variation in duration between the daily journeys: the quickest takes three hours 43 minutes and the longest three hours 59 minutes. As certain stations on the route are request stops, it could be that the travel time varies by a minute or two each way on any journey. 

What are the departure and arrival stations for trains from Inverness to Thurso?

 Departure train station: All trains between Inverness and Thurso depart from Inverness train station. The station is situated in the middle of Inverness city centre and is conveniently located near to both local bus stops and the bus station for wider connections. There is a taxi rank immediately outside the main doors. The station has the usual services, including a ticket office, left-luggage facilities, a café, a newsagent and a heated waiting room.

Arrival train station: Trains from Inverness to Thurso arrive at Thurso train station. The station is located just outside the town centre, approximately 10 minutes' walk from the main shopping street. Thurso station has only basic facilities. It has a ticket office, but passengers should be aware that the ticket office does not open until after the first two departures of the day and there is no ticket machine. There are no shops, but there is a waiting room and toilets.

Which train companies travel from Inverness to Thurso?

ScotRail is the only provider serving the route between Inverness and Thurso. All routes are direct with no changes necessary, and the variation in journey time is negligible.  

ScotRail Inverness to Thurso

All ScotRail trains from Inverness to Thurso are direct and require no changes. There are four trains a day from Monday to Saturday and one on Sundays. All trains have a catering trolley on board where passengers can buy light refreshments and fresh tea and coffee. The North Highland route is not served by high-speed trains, but the beautiful scenery seen from the windows of the train from Inverness to Thurso will make the journey time fly past.

Inverness to Thurso trains: services on board

All ScotRail trains between Inverness and Thurso provide both first and second-class seating and a free seat reservation when booked in advance. Spaces for bicycles are available in all trains on this route: just look for the symbol on the outside of the train. Bikes can be brought on board for no additional fee, but advance reservations are compulsory.

Pets can accompany their owners on board and each passenger may bring up to two cats, dogs or other small animals without any extra charge. All pets must be on a lead or in an appropriate travel cage.

ScotRail's luggage policy is generous and passengers may bring up to three pieces of personal luggage with them for no extra charge. Those wishing to carry more can do so but will need to pay a fee. This applies to any extra item of luggage, additional pet, or any oversized article that measures more than one metre in any dimension.

ScotRail endeavours to have services that are accessible to everyone and each train is equipped with ramps to help those who may find the gap between the train and platform difficult. Wheelchair users can find appropriate spaces and accessible toilets in second-class carriages. Passengers should be aware that there is currently no suitable wheelchair seating in first-class. Assistance at both beginning and end stations can be booked in advance. This should be done at least two hours before the departure time, especially for services that depart before or arrive after the opening hours of the station's offices, which is the case for several services on the Inverness to Thurso route.

 How do I find cheap train tickets from Inverness to Thurso?

To find cheap train tickets between Inverness and Thurso, passengers should book in advance. The best deals are usually available on the non-peak services, or on journeys that take slightly longer. In order to find the best price for a train from Inverness to Thurso, it is recommended to be flexible with both the day and time of travel.